THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 149 thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(2),Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions(3),Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(4), in the light of the joint text approved on 9 March 2000 by the Conciliation Committee,Whereas:(1) The Treaty establishing the European Community provides that the latter’s action shall, inter alia, contribute to the development of quality education and training. This was resolutely reiterated by the Treaty of Amsterdam signed on 2 October 1997 which states that the Community is also to promote the development of the highest possible level of knowledge for its peoples through a wide access to education and through a continuous updating of knowledge.(2) By their Decision No 818/95/EC of 14 March 1995 adopting the third phase of the “Youth for Europe” programme(5), the European Parliament and the Council set up an action programme regarding cooperation in the field of youth. It is appropriate to pursue and strengthen cooperation and Community action in that field on the basis of the experience acquired from that programme.(3) The extraordinary European Council on employment held in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 November 1997 adopted a coordinated employment strategy in which lifelong education and training have a fundamental role to play in implementing the guidelines set out in the Council resolution of 15 December 1997(6) for the Member States’ employment policies in order to enhance employability, adaptability and the culture of entrepreneurship and to promote equal opportunities.(4) The Commission in its communication “Towards a Europe of knowledge” set out guidelines on the creation of an open and dynamic European education area capable of achieving the objective of lifelong education and training.(5) In its White Paper “Teaching and learning – Towards the learning society”, the Commission stated that the emergence of the learning society entails encouraging the acquisition of new knowledge and to this end providing motivation to learn at every opportunity. In its Green Paper “Education, training, research: the obstacles to transnational mobility”, the Commission highlighted the advantages of mobility for people and competitiveness in the European Union.(6) There is a need to promote active citizenship, to strengthen the links between measures pursued under this programme and to step up the fight for respect for human rights and against exclusion in all its forms, including racism and xenophobia. Special attention should be focused on removing discrimination and on promoting equal opportunities for women and men.(7) The actions of this programme should reach young people in general and not just the initiated and/or those who belong to youth organisations. The Commission and the Member States should therefore undertake to provide an adequate flow of information and appropriate dissemination for those actions.(8) This Decision establishes a Community framework intended to contribute to the development of transnational voluntary service activities. The Member States should endeavour to adopt appropriate and coordinated measures to remove legal and administrative obstacles in order to further improve young people’s access to the programme and facilitate recognition of the specific nature of voluntary service for young people.(9) Youth exchanges in particular contribute to mutual trust, the strengthening of democracy, tolerance, a willingness to cooperate and solidarity between young people, and they are therefore crucial for the cohesion and further development of the Union.(10) The participation of young people in voluntary service activities is a type of informal education leading to the acquisition of additional knowledge, whose quality should be largely based on appropriate preparatory measures, including those of a linguistic and cultural nature. It helps to determine the future direction of their lives, to broaden their horizons and to develop their social skills, active citizenship and balanced integration into society from the economic, social and cultural points of view, including preparation for working life, and promotes awareness of true European citizenship.(11) In its resolution of 14 May 1998 on the information and communication policy in the European Union(7), the European Parliament stated that, with regard to support and action programmes, the selection of projects should be more transparent and the reasons for the choice should be clearer to those who submit the projects.(12) The Commission and Member States should seek to guarantee complementarity between European voluntary service activities and the various similar national schemes.(13) The European Parliament and the Council, in their Decision No 253/2000/EC on education, and the Council, in Decision 1999/382/EC of 26 April 1999 on training, have established Community action progammes for the education and training fields respectively, which contribute together with the youth programme to a Europe of knowledge.(14) The policy of cooperation in the youth field contributes to the promotion of informal education, and therefore to lifelong learning, and this policy needs to be further developed.(15) The integration of young people into the world of work is an essential part of their integration into society, and this also calls for all their skills and competences acquired as part of their experience of informal education to be recognised and for a high premium to be put on their importance.(16) It is necessary, in order to reinforce the added value of Community action that the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, should ensure coherence and a complementarity at all levels between the actions implemented within the framework of this Decision and other relevant policies, instruments and actions.(17) It is important that the Youth programme committee should consult, on the basis of arrangements to be defined, with the committees responsible for the implementation of the Community vocational training and educational programmes (Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates). It is important that the Youth programme committee be kept regularly informed about Community initiatives taken in the fields of education, vocational training and youth.(18) The European Councils of Essen (9 and 10 December 1994) and Cannes (26 and 27 June 1995) stressed the need for further action to enhance the social and vocational integration of young people in Europe. The conclusions of the European Council of Florence (21 and 22 June 1996) emphasised the importance of making it easier for young people to enter the labour force. The European Council meeting in Amsterdam (15 to 17 June 1997) expressed its support for non-profit-making activities. The European Parliament and Council adopted Decision No 1686/98/EC on 20 July 1998 establishing the Community action programme “European voluntary service for young people”(8).(19) European voluntary service activities are not a substitute for military service, for the alternative service formulas provided in particular for conscientious objectors or for the compulsory civilian service existing in several Member States, and should not restrict or be a substitute for potential or existing paid employment.(20) The grant of residence permits and any visas required falls within the competence of the authorities in the Member States, and the concept of legal resident is defined by national law.(21) The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 2 July 1998 on promoting the role of voluntary organisations and foundations in Europe(9). The voluntary sector should also play an important role in enabling all young people, particularly those with the greatest difficulties, to participate in these programmes.(22) The Commission and the Member States are to ensure that they foster cooperation with non-governmental organisations active in the youth and social fields, as well as in the areas of the environment, culture, sport and combating the various forms of exclusion.(23) The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) provides for greater cooperation in the field of education, training and youth between the European Community and its Member States, on the one hand, and the States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) participating in the European Economic Area, on the other. The EEA Agreement lays down procedures for the participation of the EFTA States participating in the EEA in Community programmes in the field of education, training and youth.(24) Provision should be made to open up this programme to participation of the associated central and east European countries (CEEC) in accordance with the conditions established in the Europe Agreements, in their additional protocols and in the decisions of the respective Association Councils, of Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the procedures to be agreed with that country, as well as of Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.(25) This programme should be monitored and continually evaluated in cooperation between the Commission and the Member States in order to allow for readjustments, particularly in the priorities for implementing the measures.(26) In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as defined in Article 5 of the Treaty, since the objectives of the proposed action concerning the development and strengthening of a cooperation policy in the youth field, including European voluntary service and youth exchanges both within the Community and with third countries, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States because of the complexity and diversity of the youth field, they can therefore be better achieved by the Community owing to the transnational dimension of Community actions and measures. This Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives.(27) This Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the programme, a financial framework constituting the prime reference for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure, within the meaning of point 33 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure(10).(28) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(11),HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:Article 1Establishment of the programme1. This decision establishes the “Youth” Community action programme, hereinafter referred to as “this programme”, concerning cooperation policy in the youth field, including European voluntary service and youth exchanges both within the Community and with third countries.2. This programme shall be implemented over the period starting on 1 January 2000 and ending on 31 December 2006.3. This programme shall contribute to the promotion of a Europe of knowledge by developing a European area of cooperation in the field of youth policy, based on informal education and training. It shall promote lifelong learning and the building up of the knowledge and skills and competences likely to foster active citizenship and employability.4. This programme shall support and supplement action taken by and in the Member States while fully respecting their cultural and linguistic diversity.Article 2Objectives of the programme1. In order to allow young people to acquire knowledge, skills and competences which may be one of the foundations of their future development, and to exercise responsible citizenship so as to become an active part of society and bearing in mind the importance of promoting equal opportunities, the objectives of this programme are as follows:(a) to promote an active contribution by young people to the building of Europe through their participation in transnational exchanges within the Community or with third countries so as to develop understanding of the cultural diversity of Europe and its fundamental common values, thus helping to promote respect for human rights and to combat racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia;(b) to strengthen their sense of solidarity through more extensive participation by young people in transnational community-service activities within the Community or with third countries, in particular those with which the Community has concluded cooperation agreements;(c) to encourage young people’s initiative, enterprise and creativity so that they may take an active role in society and, at the same time, to stimulate recognition of the value of informal education acquired within a European context;(d) reinforce cooperation in the field of youth by fostering the exchange of good practice, the training of youth workers/leaders and the development of innovative actions at Community level.2. This programme shall also contribute to attaining the objectives of other relevant areas of Community policy.Article 3Community actions1. The objectives of this programme as set out in Article 2 shall be pursued by means of the following actions, the operational content and the application procedures of which are described in the Annex:- Youth for Europe,- European voluntary service,- youth initiatives,- joint actions,- support measures.2. These actions shall be implemented through the following types of measures, which may, where appropriate, be combined:(a) support for the transnational mobility of young people;(b) support for the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the youth field;(c) support for the development of cooperation networks at the European level permitting mutual exchange of experience and good practice;(d) support for transnational projects to promote citizenship of the Union and the commitment of young people to the development of the Union;(e) promotion of language skills and understanding of different cultures;(f) support for pilot projects based on transnational partnerships designed to develop innovation and quality in the youth field;(g) development, at a European level, of methods of analysis and follow-up of youth policies and their evolution (e.g. databases, key figures, mutual knowledge of “systems”) and of methods of disseminating good practice.Article 4Access to the programme1. This programme is aimed at young people, in principle between the ages of 15 and 25, as well as those involved in youth work, who are legal residents of a Member State. The age limits may be slightly adjusted, where justified by the specific circumstances of certain projects.Within the framework of actions 1.2, 2.2 and 5 set out in the Annex, this programme may also be aimed at young people, in principle aged from 15 to 25, and those involved in youth work who reside in third countries, without prejudice to the competences of the Member States.2. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that all young people, without discrimination, have access to the activities of this programme.3. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that special efforts are made to assist young people who, for cultural, social, physical, mental, economic or geographical reasons, find it more difficult to participate in relevant action programmes at Community, national, regional or local level, as well as to assist small local groups. The Commission shall accordingly take account of the difficulties faced by these target groups, thus contributing to combating exclusion.4. The Member States shall endeavour to take appropriate measures so that participants in the programme can have access to health care in accordance with the provisions of Community law. The Member State of origin shall endeavour to take appropriate measures so that participants in the European voluntary service can retain their social protection.Article 5Implementation of the programme and cooperation with the Member States1. The Commission shall ensure the implementation of the Community actions covered by this programme in accordance with the Annex.2. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall take the steps described in the Annex (action 5) in order to make the best use of what has been achieved through Community cooperative action in the youth field.3. The Commission and Member States shall take appropriate action to develop structures established at Community and national level to achieve the objectives of the programme, in a user-friendly way, so as to facilitate access to the programme for young people and other partners at local level, to evaluate and monitor actions called for under the programme and to apply transparent consultation and selection arrangements.The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that they take measures to facilitate young people’s access to transnational mobility through measures designed adequately to inform them and raise their awareness of this subject. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that appropriate information and publicity is provided about actions supported by the programme.4. The Member States shall take the necessary steps to ensure the efficient running of the programme; they shall also endeavour, as far as possible, to adopt such measures as they deem necessary and desirable to remove legal and administrative obstacles to access to this programme.5. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure the transition between those actions carried out within the framework of the previous Community programmes in the youth field (Youth for Europe III and European voluntary service) and the actions to be implemented under this programme.Article 6Joint actionsAs part of the process of building up a Europe of knowledge, the measures of this programme may be implemented in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 8 as joint actions with related Community programmes and actions in the areas of youth, education and vocational training.Article 7Implementing measures1. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision relating to the matters referred to below shall be adopted in accordance with the management procedure referred to in Article 8(2):(a) the arrangements for implementing this programme, including the annual plan of work for the implementation of the programme’s actions;(b) the general balance between the different actions of the programme;(c) the criteria applicable for establishing the indicative breakdown of funds among the Member States for the purpose of the actions to be managed on a decentralised basis;(d) the arrangements for implementing the joint actions;(e) the arrangements for evaluating the programme;(f) the arrangements for attesting to participation of young volunteers.2. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision relating to all other matters shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 8(3).Article 8Committee1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months.3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.4. The committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.Article 9Funding1. The financial framework for the implementation of this programme for the period specified in

Article 1
Establishment of the programme
1. This decision establishes the “Youth” Community action programme, hereinafter referred to as “this programme”, concerning cooperation policy in the youth field, including European voluntary service and youth exchanges both within the Community and with third countries.
2. This programme shall be implemented over the period starting on 1 January 2000 and ending on 31 December 2006.
3. This programme shall contribute to the promotion of a Europe of knowledge by developing a European area of cooperation in the field of youth policy, based on informal education and training. It shall promote lifelong learning and the building up of the knowledge and skills and competences likely to foster active citizenship and employability.
4. This programme shall support and supplement action taken by and in the Member States while fully respecting their cultural and linguistic diversity.

Article 2
Objectives of the programme
1. In order to allow young people to acquire knowledge, skills and competences which may be one of the foundations of their future development, and to exercise responsible citizenship so as to become an active part of society and bearing in mind the importance of promoting equal opportunities, the objectives of this programme are as follows:
(a) to promote an active contribution by young people to the building of Europe through their participation in transnational exchanges within the Community or with third countries so as to develop understanding of the cultural diversity of Europe and its fundamental common values, thus helping to promote respect for human rights and to combat racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia;
(b) to strengthen their sense of solidarity through more extensive participation by young people in transnational community-service activities within the Community or with third countries, in particular those with which the Community has concluded cooperation agreements;
(c) to encourage young people’s initiative, enterprise and creativity so that they may take an active role in society and, at the same time, to stimulate recognition of the value of informal education acquired within a European context;
(d) reinforce cooperation in the field of youth by fostering the exchange of good practice, the training of youth workers/leaders and the development of innovative actions at Community level.
2. This programme shall also contribute to attaining the objectives of other relevant areas of Community policy.

Article 3
Community actions
1. The objectives of this programme as set out in Article 2 shall be pursued by means of the following actions, the operational content and the application procedures of which are described in the Annex:
– Youth for Europe,
– European voluntary service,
– youth initiatives,
– joint actions,
– support measures.
2. These actions shall be implemented through the following types of measures, which may, where appropriate, be combined:
(a) support for the transnational mobility of young people;
(b) support for the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the youth field;
(c) support for the development of cooperation networks at the European level permitting mutual exchange of experience and good practice;
(d) support for transnational projects to promote citizenship of the Union and the commitment of young people to the development of the Union;
(e) promotion of language skills and understanding of different cultures;
(f) support for pilot projects based on transnational partnerships designed to develop innovation and quality in the youth field;
(g) development, at a European level, of methods of analysis and follow-up of youth policies and their evolution (e.g. databases, key figures, mutual knowledge of “systems”) and of methods of disseminating good practice.

Article 4
Access to the programme
1. This programme is aimed at young people, in principle between the ages of 15 and 25, as well as those involved in youth work, who are legal residents of a Member State. The age limits may be slightly adjusted, where justified by the specific circumstances of certain projects.
Within the framework of actions 1.2, 2.2 and 5 set out in the Annex, this programme may also be aimed at young people, in principle aged from 15 to 25, and those involved in youth work who reside in third countries, without prejudice to the competences of the Member States.
2. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that all young people, without discrimination, have access to the activities of this programme.
3. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that special efforts are made to assist young people who, for cultural, social, physical, mental, economic or geographical reasons, find it more difficult to participate in relevant action programmes at Community, national, regional or local level, as well as to assist small local groups. The Commission shall accordingly take account of the difficulties faced by these target groups, thus contributing to combating exclusion.
4. The Member States shall endeavour to take appropriate measures so that participants in the programme can have access to health care in accordance with the provisions of Community law. The Member State of origin shall endeavour to take appropriate measures so that participants in the European voluntary service can retain their social protection.

Article 5
Implementation of the programme and cooperation with the Member States
1. The Commission shall ensure the implementation of the Community actions covered by this programme in accordance with the Annex.
2. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall take the steps described in the Annex (action 5) in order to make the best use of what has been achieved through Community cooperative action in the youth field.
3. The Commission and Member States shall take appropriate action to develop structures established at Community and national level to achieve the objectives of the programme, in a user-friendly way, so as to facilitate access to the programme for young people and other partners at local level, to evaluate and monitor actions called for under the programme and to apply transparent consultation and selection arrangements.
The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that they take measures to facilitate young people’s access to transnational mobility through measures designed adequately to inform them and raise their awareness of this subject. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that appropriate information and publicity is provided about actions supported by the programme.
4. The Member States shall take the necessary steps to ensure the efficient running of the programme; they shall also endeavour, as far as possible, to adopt such measures as they deem necessary and desirable to remove legal and administrative obstacles to access to this programme.
5. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure the transition between those actions carried out within the framework of the previous Community programmes in the youth field (Youth for Europe III and European voluntary service) and the actions to be implemented under this programme.

Article 6
Joint actions
As part of the process of building up a Europe of knowledge, the measures of this programme may be implemented in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 8 as joint actions with related Community programmes and actions in the areas of youth, education and vocational training.

Article 7
Implementing measures
1. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision relating to the matters referred to below shall be adopted in accordance with the management procedure referred to in Article 8(2):
(a) the arrangements for implementing this programme, including the annual plan of work for the implementation of the programme’s actions;
(b) the general balance between the different actions of the programme;
(c) the criteria applicable for establishing the indicative breakdown of funds among the Member States for the purpose of the actions to be managed on a decentralised basis;
(d) the arrangements for implementing the joint actions;
(e) the arrangements for evaluating the programme;
(f) the arrangements for attesting to participation of young volunteers.
2. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision relating to all other matters shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 8(3).

Article 8
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months.
3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
4. The committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 9
1. The financial framework for the implementation of this programme for the period specified in Article 1 is hereby set at EUR 520 million.
2. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective.

Article 10
Consistency and complementarity
1. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and without prejudice to the individual character and specificity of each programme, shall ensure overall consistency and complementarity with other relevant Community policies, instruments and actions. Particular attention shall be paid to the promotion of equality and to equal opportunities for women and men.
2. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure consistency between the implementation of this programme and the other Community activities relating to youth, in particular in the area of culture and the audiovisual sector, the completion of the internal market, the information society, environment, consumer protection, SMEs, social policy, employment, and public health.
3. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that the measures of this programme have regard to the employment guidelines adopted by the Council as part of a coordinated strategy for employment.
4. The Commission shall ensure an efficient link-up between this programme and the programmes and actions in the youth field undertaken as part of the Community’s external relations.

Article 11
Participation of the EFTA/EEA countries, the associated central and east European countries (CEEC), Cyprus, Malta and Turkey
This programme shall be open to the participation of:
– the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions established in the EEA Agreement,
– the associated central and east European countries (CEEC) in accordance with the conditions established in the Europe Agreements, in their additional protocols and in the decisions of the respective Association Councils,
– Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the procedures to be agreed with that country,
– Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

Article 12
International cooperation
Under this programme, the Commission, acting in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 7, shall strengthen its cooperation with non-Community countries and relevant international organisations, in particular the Council of Europe.

Article 13
Monitoring and evaluation
1. The Commission shall regularly monitor this programme in cooperation with the Member States.
This monitoring shall include the reports referred to in paragraph 3 and specific activities.
2. This programme shall be evaluated regularly by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States. This evaluation is intended to increase the effectiveness of actions implemented with regard to the objectives referred to in Article 2 and to ensure that equality of access to the programme as laid down in Article 4(2) and (3) is guaranteed.
This evaluation will also examine the complementarity between actions under this programme and those pursued under other relevant Community policies, instruments and actions.
In accordance with criteria established using the procedure described in Article 8(2), there will be regular external evaluations of the results of the Community actions.
3. Member States shall submit to the Commission by 31 December 2004 and 30 June 2007, respectively, reports on the implementation and the impact of this programme.
4. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:
– on the accession of new Member States, a report on the financial consequences of these accessions on the programme, followed, if appropriate, by financial proposals to deal with the financial consequences of these accessions on the programme, in accordance with the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure and with the conclusions of the Berlin European Council of March 1999. The European Parliament and the Council will take a decision on such proposals as soon as possible,
– an interim evaluation report on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of this programme by 30 June 2005,
– a final report on the implementation of this programme by 31 December 2007.

Article 14
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Done at Luxembourg, 13 April 2000.
For the European Parliament
The President
N. Fontaine
For the Council
(1) OJ C 311, 10.10.1998, p. 6.
(2) OJ C 410, 30.12.1998, p. 11.
(3) OJ C 51, 22.2.1999, p. 77.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 November 1998 (OJ C 359, 23.11.1998, p. 75), Council common position of 28 June 1999 (OJ C 210, 22.7.1999, p. 1 ) and Decision of the European Parliament of 28 October 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Decision of the Council of 10 April 2000 and Decision of the European Parliament of 12 April 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(5) OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 1.
(6) OJ C 30, 28.1.1998, p. 1.
(7) OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 230.
(8) OJ L 214, 31.7.1998, p. 1.
(9) OJ C 226, 20.7.1998, p. 66.
(10) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.
(11) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.