Youth in Action 2007-2013:

Non-formal education for all young people

Granted financial allocation: 885 Million €

New elements• “Youth in Action” integrates the activities of the

« YOUTH » and « Youth NGO support» programmes

• Instrument for the European cooperation in the youth field and European youth policy

• New actions and measures• Extended geographical scope• Extended age access (13-30 years)• One additional target group: youth policy

administrations/policy-makers

Important features

• Non-formal learning• Recognition of the non-formal learning (Youth pass)• Visibility of the Youth in Action Programme • Valorisation and dissemination of results• Anti-discrimination• Gender equality• Protection and safety• Multilingualism

Programme Countries

• EU Member States: 27

• European Economic Area: 3 (ISL, LI, NO)

• Accession candidate: 1 (TR)

Extended geography: Partner Countries

• Neighbouring Partner Countries (SEE, EECA, Mediterranean Partner Countries)

• Other Partner Countries in the world

Openness to ALL young people“The Commission and the participating

countries will ensure that particular efforts are made with regard to young people who, for educational, social, physical, psychological, economic, cultural or geographical reasons, have particular difficulties taking part in the programme.”

continuation of “Inclusion Strategy”

Priorities - permanent• European citizenship

• Participation,

• Cultural diversity

• Inclusion

Priorities - annual• 2007: European Year of Equal opportunities

(addressing discrimination with emphasis on discrimination from a gender perspective);

• 2007: improving young people’s health through physical and outdoor activities as tools to achieve the Programmes objectives.

• 2008: European Year of Intercultural Dialogue • ….?

Objectives

• Active citizenship, European citizenship• Solidarity, tolerance• Mutual understanding• Support systems, civil society organisations• Promote European cooperation in the youth field

Actions• Action 1 - Youth for Europe

• Action 2 - European Voluntary Service

• Action 3 - Youth in the World

• Action 4 - Youth workers and support systems

• Action 5 – Support for policy cooperation

Age brackets (years)• Youth exchange: 13-25 (exc. 26-30)

• Youth Initiatives: 18-30 (exc. 15-17)

• Youth democracy projects: 13-30

• EVS: 18-30 (exc. 16-17)

• Support systems: no age limits

• Youth seminars: 15-30

Action 1 – Youth for Europe

• 1.1. Youth exchanges

• 1.2. Young people’s initiatives

• 1.3. Youth democracy projects

• Pilot projects on thematic networking

Action 2 - European Voluntary Service

• European Voluntary Service with Programme Countries

• International cooperation with Partner Countries

• Individual and group activities with up to 100 volunteers.

Action 3 – Youth in the World

Youth exchanges, youth worker exchanges, training, networking, cooperation, innovation in youth work:

• 3.1. Cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the enlarged Europe– Youth exchanges (1.1)– Training and networking projects (4.3)– Minimum one EU Member state

• 3.2 Cooperation with other countries (not covered by the neighbouring policy)

– Priority to Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, and Asia

Action 4 – Youth workers and support systems

• 4.1. Support for bodies active at European level in the field of youth

• 4.2. Support for the European Youth Forum• 4.3. Training and networking of youth workers• 4.4. Projects encouraging innovation and quality• 4.5. Information activities for young people and

youth workers• 4.6. Partnerships• 4.7 Support for the structures of the programme• 4.8 Valorisation of the programme

4.3 Training and networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations

– Objective 1: Promote exchanges, cooperation and training in European youth work

– Objective 2: Supporting project-development under the Youth in Action Programme

4.3 – eligible activities• Job shadowing• Feasibility visits• Evaluation meetings• Study visits• Partnership-building activities• Seminars• Training courses• Networking

Action 5 – Support for European cooperation in the youth field

• 5.1 Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy

• 5.2. Support for activities to bring about better understanding and knowledge of the field of youth

• 5.3. Co-operation with international organisations

Budget 2007

• Action 1: EUR 45 mio. (1.1: EUR 26 mio.)

• Action 2: EUR 37 mio.

• Action 3: EUR 10 mio.

• Action 4: EUR 31 mio. (4.1: EUR 2,4 mio.; 4.2: EUR 2,24; 4.3: EUR 12 mio.; 4.7: EUR 13 mio.)

• Action 5: EUR 5 mio. (5.1: EUR 4 mio.)

Application process

• 5 deadlines at national level: 1.2., 1.4., 1.6., 1.9., 1.11.2007

• 3 deadlines at European level: 1.2., 1.6., 1.9.2007

• Funding system: largely based on fixed amounts and flat rates.

New opportunity: MMAs

• Multimeasure financing agreements in Actions 1 and 4.3

• Action 2: similar (project = umbrella for one or several activities)

Combination of various activities is possible in the same project within each Action

Visibility and dissemination

• Dissemination of project examples and best practices as an important feature and obligation

• New structuring elements (thematic networking in Action 1, EVS project formats, financial support for dissemination, etc.)

• More systematic use of measures to increase project visibility, e.g. through media contacts, websites, COM/EAC/Youth logos

In addition, there is: YOUTH POLICY

• European Youth Policy: White Paper on Youth (2001) • Open Method of Coordination (Youth) among national

governments (since 2002)• Common European objectives: youth participation,

information, voluntary activities, better knowledge on youth.

• European Youth Pact (2005) and corresponding Council resolution of 15 November 2005 - link of youth policies to EU Lisbon agenda for growth and jobs

• Youthpass as recognition instrument of Youth in Action• Europass-Youth as general European recognition

instrument in youth work.• Structured dialogue between policy-makers and young

people (European Youth Week June 2007)

…and many useful tools like:

• European Youth Portal – www.europa.eu.int/youth

• SALTO YOUTH Resource Centres www.salto-youth.net

• Training kits on project management, financial management, European citizenship, voluntary service, inclusion etc. http://www.training-youth.net/INTEGRATION/TY/Publications/T_Kits.html

Contact:

European CommissionDirectorate General of Education and Culture

Unit D.2 - Youth: programmeshttp://europa.eu.int/comm/education/youth.html

jens.mester@ec.europa.eu