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| European Commission's Youth in Action | |
|---|---|
| Name | Youth in Action |
| Type | Programme |
| Established | 2007 |
| Closed | 2013 |
| Predecessor | Youth Programme (1996–2006) |
| Successor | Erasmus+ (2014–) |
| Region | European Union |
| Parent | European Commission |
European Commission's Youth in Action Youth in Action was a European Union initiative administered by the European Commission to support youth mobility, non-formal learning, and participation across the Member States. Launched in 2007 and running until 2013, the programme funded exchanges, volunteering, and training projects that linked young people with networks such as the European Youth Forum and institutions including the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. It acted alongside instruments like the Lifelong Learning Programme and later merged into Erasmus+.
Youth in Action operated across the European Union and partner countries, engaging stakeholders such as the European Commission, European Youth Forum, Council of Europe, European Parliament, European Court of Auditors, and national agencies in implementation. The initiative targeted young people aged 13–30 and youth workers connected to organisations such as Scouts of Europe, European Voluntary Service, and local NGOs collaborating with municipalities like Barcelona and Berlin. Projects were informed by policy frameworks including the Lisbon Strategy, the Open Method of Coordination, and the Youth Pact.
The programme evolved from earlier EU actions including the 1996 Youth Programme (EU), responding to policy developments at summits such as the Nice European Council and the Laeken Declaration. Negotiations involved the Barroso Commission and stakeholders from civil society, including representatives who had participated in World Youth Day dialogues and Council of Europe youth conferences. Evaluations by bodies like the European Court of Auditors and academic studies from institutions such as the European University Institute informed reforms prior to incorporation into Erasmus+ under the Europe 2020 strategy.
Youth in Action aimed to promote active citizenship, solidarity, tolerance, and employability among young people via non-formal learning, aligning with policies advocated by actors such as Jacques Delors in earlier European integration debates and echoed in resolutions of the European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education. The structure comprised five Key Actions modelled with input from agencies including the European Youth Card Association and national youth councils. It emphasized links with cultural actors like the European Cultural Foundation and transnational networks such as Youthpass and SALTO Training and Cooperation.
Funding decisions were made by Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency units and national agencies in Member States including France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Sweden. Eligible participants included youth organisations, local authorities, schools, higher education institutions such as University of Oxford partners, and informal groups; target demographics covered migrants, disadvantaged youth, and refugees with ties to fora like European Youth Event. Budget oversight referenced rules from treaties such as the Treaty of Lisbon and audits by the European Court of Auditors.
Key Actions encompassed youth exchanges, European Voluntary Service placements, youth initiatives, training and networking of youth workers, and support for youth policy cooperation with entities such as European Social Fund projects and United Nations Volunteers schemes. Activities connected to international events including European Year of Volunteering, collaborations with organisations like Amnesty International and Red Cross EU Office, and cultural projects with partners such as the European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom.
Implementation relied on a network of national agencies, the European Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture, and stakeholders including the European Youth Forum and civil society organisations like Fédération Internationale des Mouvements Catholiques d’Action Paroissiale affiliates. Management procedures followed EU financial regulations and involved monitoring by entities such as the European Anti-Fraud Office and evaluation by the European Commission's independent experts and university research centres like Centre for European Policy Studies.
Evaluations by independent researchers at institutions such as the European University Institute and policy analyses from think tanks like Bruegel and Bertelsmann Stiftung highlighted positive outcomes in intercultural competence and civic participation among alumni, including links to careers in institutions such as the European Commission, Council of the European Union, and European External Action Service. Criticisms from NGOs and national youth councils concerned bureaucratic complexity, unequal access for marginalised groups, and budgetary limits versus programmes like Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013. Debates in the European Parliament and among member states informed the consolidation of Youth in Action into Erasmus+.
Category:European Union youth programmes