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| Youth in Action (2007–2013) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Youth in Action |
| Years | 2007–2013 |
| Budget | €885 million |
| Successor | Youth in Action successor programme |
Youth in Action (2007–2013) was a European Union youth programme launched to promote mobility, active citizenship, intercultural dialogue and participation among young people across the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and candidate countries. Designed as part of the EU's external and internal cooperation frameworks, the programme connected schools, European Commission, Council of the European Union, national agencies and non-governmental organizations such as European Youth Forum and Salto-Youth to deliver grants, training and exchanges. Operating alongside instruments like the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013 and the Youth Guarantee, it aimed to complement initiatives from institutions such as the European Parliament, Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee.
Youth in Action sought to support the objectives articulated by the Treaty of Lisbon and the White Paper on Youth Policy of various member states by encouraging cross-border mobility, civic engagement and social inclusion. The programme prioritized interaction among young people from different regions such as Balkans, Iceland, Norway and the Republic of Turkey and promoted values associated with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Its stated goals resonated with initiatives endorsed by the European Youth Week, the Council of Europe, and policy frameworks influenced by figures like Martti Ahtisaari and institutions including the European Investment Bank.
The programme featured five structured actions modelled after precedents set by the Socrates programme and the Youth Programme (1996–1999). Action 1 (Youth for Europe) funded transnational youth exchanges and voluntary projects, drawing on partnerships similar to those used by Erasmus (programme) collaborators and Comenius networks. Action 2 (European Voluntary Service) supported placements similar to initiatives from United Nations Volunteers and Peace Corps-style schemes. Action 3 (Youth in the World) enabled cooperation with neighbouring countries impacted by processes involving the Eastern Partnership and the Union for the Mediterranean. Action 4 (Support for Youth Policy Cooperation) targeted capacity-building aligned with recommendations from the European Youth Pact and working groups convened by the Council of the European Union. Action 5 (Support for NGOs and Networks) financed non-profit actors including the European Youth Forum, EYF (European Youth Foundation), and national platforms such as Scouting associations.
Eligibility criteria permitted participation from young people aged 13–30, youth workers and youth organizations registered in EU member states and partner countries like Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia (now North Macedonia), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Grants were allocated through national agencies modelled after structures in Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Italy, with co-financing rules referencing standards used by the European Social Fund. Participants included grassroots movements such as Greenpeace, youth wings of political parties like those affiliated with Party of European Socialists, civic organizations like Amnesty International, and cultural networks including partnerships with the EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture). Funding instruments combined direct grants, partnerships and mobility support similar to mechanisms in the Youth Employment Initiative.
Implementation relied on a network of national agencies appointed by member states and overseen by the European Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture. Operational guidance was provided by SALTO Resource Centres such as SALTO Cultural Diversity and SALTO Inclusion & Diversity, while monitoring employed indicators used by the European Court of Auditors and policy reviews that mirrored procedures in programs evaluated by OECD. Management involved cooperation with stakeholders including the European Youth Forum, national parliaments like the Bundestag, regional authorities represented at the Committee of the Regions, and advisory committees reminiscent of work by the European Advisory Committee on Youth.
Evaluations conducted by external contractors and agencies referenced frameworks comparable to studies by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions and the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop). Reported outcomes included increased mobility measured against baselines used in Eurostat datasets, growth in voluntary placements paralleling trends identified by the UNESCO, and enhanced civic participation similar to metrics tracked by the European Social Survey. Statistical highlights cited higher linguistic competence, intercultural skills and employability indicators used by research institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Amsterdam, Sciences Po and Central European University. Impact assessments referenced case studies from regional partners like Catalonia, Bavaria, Lombardy, Transylvania and cooperation with non-EU neighbors including Ukraine.
The programme's legacy informed successor instruments within the EU policy cycle and influenced the design of programmes such as Erasmus+ (2014–2020) and strategic priorities reflected in the Europe 2020 strategy. Its networks persisted through platforms maintained by the European Youth Forum, national agencies in Portugal, Greece, Hungary and civil society partners like YOUNG EUROPEAN FEDERALISTS and Council of European Municipalities and Regions. Lessons learned were incorporated into recommendations by the European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education and future funding models overseen by the European Commission and audited by the European Court of Auditors.
Category:European Union youth programmes Category:2007 establishments in the European Union Category:2013 disestablishments in the European Union