New “Youth in Action” programme stimulates young Europeans to become involved in the community
The Commission welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament, during its plenary session of 25 October, of the new ‘Youth in Action’ programme, the latest generation of the Commission’s youth programme. It covers the period 2007 - 2013. With its budget of 885 million euros, the Youth in Action programme is simpler and more flexible than its predecessor. It will be accessible to young people aged between 15 and 28 (13-30 for some specific actions), and is also open to a wider selection of partner countries.
Mr Ján Figel’, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism[1] said, “I am glad that this new Youth programme begins as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Union, and I notice that it addresses the first generation of young people that has grown up after the fall of the Berlin Wall. This new programme aims at encouraging young people to work together to acquire new skills through non-formal education activities, for a common project, for the defence of cultures, for a future of prosperity, understanding and peace. It fosters the idea of belonging to the European Union, and promotes social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, both inside and outside Europe. Since young people represent 20% of Europe’s citizens, they are called to play a more active role; this programme gives them the opportunity to play an active, constructive role in the future of Europe.”

Social tensions and the threat of unemployment in an ever-changing, competitive world economy, disproportionately affect the young. For this reason, efforts are underway at Member State and EU levels to promote a more active involvement of young people in the society in which they live. The European Commission’s action programmes in the field of youth in particular add value through their ability to facilitate the implementation of multinational, Europe-wide initiatives for young Europeans.

The Youth in Action programme will give funding support to projects under five headings:

Youth for Europe: This action is geared to reinforcing the active civic participation of young people by supporting appropriate exchanges, mobility and initiatives for young people and their projects.
European Voluntary Service: This well-known action, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in December this year, continues in the new Youth in Action programme. It aims to develop young people’s solidarity, active engagement and mutual understanding. It can take the form of either individual or collective projects to enable young people to express their personal commitments but also to involve them in the EU’s solidarity actions.
Youth of the world: This fosters young people’s mutual understanding and active engagement through an open-minded approach to the world. It opens up the programme to projects with the neighbouring countries of the enlarged Europe.
Youth workers and support systems: This action helps youth organisations that are active at the European level to promote the development of -
exchange, training and information schemes for youth workers, and
projects to stimulate innovation and quality and partnerships with regional or local entities.
Support for policy cooperation in the field of youth: This promotes co-operation among decision-makers on youth policy, preparing the participation of young people in democratic life. It also develops representative structures for young people throughout Europe. Furthermore, this action gives assistance to encourage structured dialogue between young people and those responsible for youth policy, and helps co-operation with international organisations, thus promoting discussion and reflection on the European Union’s work for young people.
The legal basis for the Youth in Action programme provides for a flexibility clause so that the programme can be adapted to any new priorities that may emerge, ready to be adapted to changing demands. The content of the programme will not be fixed for its duration; rather the initiative remains “live”.

Society changes and evolves; consequently, the Youth in Action programme is now open to a wider range of young people, from adolescence to adulthood. The new programme is cohesive, and it is now accessible to third countries, encouraging maximum participation throughout Europe and beyond.
More information:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/newprog/index_en.html