Youth in Action

The Commission has issued a call for proposals covering the Youth in Action programme 2007-13. This call for proposals concerns programme action 4.1, whereby bodies active at European level in the field of youth will receive support.

As previously stated the 'Youth in Action' programme aims to promote active citizenship in young people, encourage solidarity and tolerance, foster mutual understanding between young people from different countries and develop European cooperation on youth matters. In addition the programme will contribute to improvements in the quality of support systems for youth activities and further develop the capabilities of civil society organisations working with youth.

The programme provides bodies pursuing an aim of general European interest in the field of youth with support for their regular activities in this field. These activities must help encourage young people to participate as citizens in public life, in society, and in the development and implementation of EU cooperation actions in the broadly defined field of youth. Tendering bodies are particularly encouraged to develop initiatives linked to active citizenship amongst young people, the involvement of young people in democratic life, recognition of cultural diversity and the inclusion of young people who have fewer opportunities. An annual grant may be awarded to help such bodies meet their operating costs. These bodies may be:

• a non-profit-making body working solely for the benefit of young people or a body with broader aims whose work includes activities dedicated to young people;
• a European network representing non-profit-making bodies working for the benefit of young people

To be eligible for an operating grant, a body must:

• be non-governmental;
• have been legally established for at least one year;
• be non-profit-making;
• be a youth organisation, or a network with a wider scope but focusing part of its activities exclusively on young people;
• involve young people in managing activities conducted for their benefit;
• have at least one (salaried or non-salaried) permanent member of staff. An exception will be made
• for bodies that have never received a grant provided as support for bodies active at European level
• in the field of youth and intending to recruit a permanent member of staff if the grant is awarded.

Eligible activities
Organisations must schedule within their annual programme a series of activities which comply with the principles underpinning Community activity in the field of youth. Such activities must be connected with the priority themes of the programme presented in section 8.1. The main activities that are likely to contribute to the strengthening and effectiveness of Community action are:

• Group 1: representation of the views and interests of young people in all their diversity at Community level;
• Group 2: youth exchanges and voluntary service;
• Group 3: informal and non-formal learning and youth activity programmes;
• Group 4: promoting intercultural learning and understanding;
• Group 5: debate on European matters and EU policies or youth policies;
• Group 6: dissemination of information on Community action;
• Group 7: actions promoting participation and initiative by young citizens.

However please be aware that at the moment this call is similar to several that relate to programmes due to run between 2007-13 where the final legislative ratification of their budget and their content has yet to be made. Neither the Commission nor the Agency (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency) are legally bound by this call for proposals which refers to grants to be awarded for 2007. It may be cancelled and calls for proposals with different specifications may be issued, with appropriate time limits for response, should the legal basis be substantially altered by the EU legislature.

Applications must be sent to the Commission no later than 22
December 2006.

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