"Youth for Europe Programme" (third phase), 1995-1999

This third phase of "Youth for Europe" is proposed in the context of the Commission Decision of 5 May 1993 to establish three separate Community programmes covering the fields of education, vocational training and youth.

"Youth for Europe III" builds on, and widens the scope of, the previous two phases of the action programme, 1988-1991 and 1992-1994. It also adopts a more dynamic approach, designed to guarantee a better rationalization and cohesion between the different actions in the field of youth which, until now, were scattered under different Community programmes or budgetary lines.

Conforming to Article 129 of the EC Treaty, as modified by the Treaty on European Union, the programme aims at encouraging the development of youth exchanges and the training of socio-educational youth workers, in order to contribute to the development of quality education and to heighten the awareness among young people of their European identity.

In addition to promoting youth exchanges, both within and outside the Community, "Youth for Europe III" places an emphasis on actions aimed at developing and reinforcing cooperation at the Community and Member State levels. It also aims at supporting the implementation of a "youth policy". This policy consists of actions geared towards the following:

- Encouraging young people to play an active role in society and its institutions;
- Encouraging independence, creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit among young people, in particular at the social, civic, cultural and environmental levels;
- Allowing young people to express their opinions on the organization of society and encouraging the various public authorities involved to facilitate this;
- Combating all forms of exclusion, including racism and xenophobia;
- Encouraging young people to become aware of and recognize the intrinsic value of cultural diversity;
- Encouraging young people to view the European Community as an integral part of their political, cultural and social environment.

"Youth for Europe III" integrates certain actions covered by the PETRA and TEMPUS programmes and will include special measures to promote the learning of foreign languages, in addition to those covered by the LINGUA programme.
To contribute to the further development of quality education by developing exchange activities within the Community, by other supplementary activities in the youth policy field connected with such activities, and by exchanges with non-member countries with whom the Community has cooperation agreements.
Five actions:

- Intra-Community exchanges directly involving young people:
. Youth exchanges and mobility;
. Spirit of initiative, creativity and solidarity among young people (youth initiatives and periods of voluntary service);

- Youth workers:
. Indirect support for the activities under the first action;
. Direct support for European cooperation on training youth workers;

- Cooperation between member States' structures;

- Exchanges with non-member countries;

- Information for young people and youth research.
The Commission is responsible for implementing the programme, assisted by a Committee of an advisory nature consisting of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission. A nominee of the Council of Europe and of the Youth Forum of the European Community are invited to participate in the Committee as observers. Decisions on the general balance of Member State participation in the programme and in the different types of actions are decided by the Commission, after consulting the advisory committee.

A budget of ECU 157 million has been allocated to the programme for the five year period. It is broken down between the various actions as follows: Intra-Community activities directly involving young people ECU 80 million; Youth leaders ECU 12.45 million; Structural cooperation between Member States ECU 3.4 million; Exchanges with non-member countries ECU 43.3 million; Information for young people and research into youth issues ECU 8.15 million.

The programme budget is broken down between the five years as follows: 1995 ECU 27 million; 1996 ECU 29 million; 1997 ECU 31 million; 1998 ECU 34 million; 1999 ECU 36 million.

A sum of ECU 9.7 million, taken from the overall budget, is set aside for financing accompanying measures in support of the programme. These consist of:

- Technical expertise and the necessary support for the implementation of the system of grants and subsidies;
- Support for activities carried out by national agencies;
- Meetings of experts and conferences.

Projects are normally jointly financed by the Community to a maximum of 50% of the total costs. An exception is made for projects involving disadvantaged young people, where the Community's contribution may amount to 75% of the total costs incurred.

A substantial part of the financial resources allocated to the various actions covered by the programme are set aside for the benefit of disadvantaged youths. This group is defined as those young people who experience the most difficulties in participating in the existing action programmes at Community, as well as at national, regional, and local levels, because of cultural, social, physical, mental or geographic reasons.

Actions to promote youth exchanges and mobility for young people aged between 15 and 25 will be further developed under the programme. Bilateral and multilateral exchanges, lasting at least one week and taking place on the basis of joint projects within the Community between groups of young people from two or more Member States, are eligible for Community support of up to 50% of the total costs involved. Additional support may be granted to support exchanges of disadvantaged young people.

The Community will also support exchange activities with non-member countries, in particular those in Central and Eastern Europe, in Latin America and the Mediterranean countries. Financial assistance is made available for exchange activities, study visits, in-service training and other training courses, seminars, conferences, production of suitable materials and information campaigns.

Activities conducted within the domain of youth research focus on the analysis and dissemination of data to be used for socio-economic research purposes and the promotion of exchanges of know-how among the Member States and between the Member States and the Commission. In implementing the programme, the Community will also cooperate closely with the Council of Europe and other international organizations active in the fields of youth research and information.

The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that the activities covered by the programme are compatible with, and complementary to, other actions undertaken for young people by both the Member States and the Community. In addition, the Commission shall encourage the Member States to preserve and develop structures already established to support the objectives of the previous phases of the "Youth for Europe" action programmes. Support is also given to the Member States' efforts to develop youth policy in those regions where few opportunities have formerly existed.

The programme's activities shall be continuously evaluated and monitored by the Commission. During the third year of the programme, the Commission shall draw up an evaluation report covering the first two years of the programme's implementation.