What is the Youth in Action Programme?

Youth in Action is the new EU Programme in the field of youth, is implemented from 1 January 2007 until 31 December 2013 with a total budget of 885 million euros. It is the successor of the YOUTH Programme (2000-2006).

The Youth in Action Programme makes an important contribution to the acquisition of competences and is therefore a key instrument in providing young people with opportunities for non-formal and informal learning with a European dimension.

Objectives of the Youth in Action Programme:

• Promote young people's active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular;
• Develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, in particular in order to foster social cohesion in the European Union;
• Foster mutual understanding between young people in different countries;
• Contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field;
• Promote European cooperation in the youth field.

Priorities of the Youth in Action Programme:

• European Citizenship - making young people aware that they are European citizens and giving them opportunities to reflect upon European topics;
• Participation of young people - active participation of young people in civic life of their community and support for various forms of learning to participate;
• Cultural Diversity - facilitating joint activities among young people from different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds which aim to develop the intercultural learning;
• Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities - participation of young people from less-privileged educational, socio-economic, cultural or geographical backgrounds, or with disabilities into Youth in Action activities.

Who can participate?

Programme Countries:

• 27 EU Member States;
• Participating countries of the EFTA members of the EEA: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland;
• Candidate countries for accession to the EU: Croatia and Turkey.

Neighbouring Partner Countries:

• Eastern Europe and Caucasus (EECA): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine.
• South East Europe (SEE)
• Mediterranean Partner Countries (EuroMed)

Partner Countries from EECA can cooperate with Programme Countries and with Partner Countries from the other three regions (but Youth in Action Programme promotes especially projects which involve Partner Countries from one of the regions).

What kind of support is available?

The aim of the SALTO Resource Centres is to help improve the quality of projects funded under Youth in Action Programme. The SALTO Centres provide resources, information and training in specific areas for National Agencies and other actors involved in youth work, and foster the recognition of non-formal learning throughout Europe and beyond. Check out more here!

For detailed information on the Youth in Action Programme, please consult the European Commission web site or the EAC Executive Agency web site

 

Cooperation within the Youth in Action Programme with EECA countries

AIMS OF COOPERATION WITH EECA

• To promote universal peace through encouraging dialogue, tolerance & solidarity among young people;
• Building long-lasting, solid partnerships;
• Exchanging youth work expertise & know-how between non-Governmental and governmental structures in the EU and EECA countries;
• Developing the voluntary sector and civil society in the EECA region;
• Direct benefits for participants - a better understanding of their own situation & culture.

2 ACTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COOPERATION WITH EECA:

• Action 2 - European Voluntary Service

• Action 3.1 - Cooperation with the Neighbouring Countries of the European Union

European Voluntary Service - it supports young people's participation in non-profit, unpaid activities.

Cooperation with the Neighbouring Countries of the EU - it is support for activities in the youth field (mainly for Youth Exchanges and Training and Networking Projects).

HOW TO APPLY?

Grant applications for projects are submitted by one of the Programme Country partner's organisations to their own National Agency of the Youth in Action Programme, on behalf of all partners.

New deadlines for project applications per year

Since 2012 there are only three deadlines for project applications.

For projects submitted to National Agency they are on:

• 1st  February
• 1st May
• 1st October

The earliest possible date for start of a project is 3 months after deadline.

For projects submitted to the Executive Agency they are on:

• 1st February
• 3rd June
• 3rd September

The earliest possible date for start of a project is 6 months after deadline.

NOTE! Project should start not earlier than 3 months after the deadline of submission.


Changes in Programme Guide 2013 & Eastern Partnership Youth Window

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Read about the opportunities for cooperation between Eastern Europe & Caucasus and Programme Countries in frames of Youth in Action Programme here in EECA local languages: Armenian, Azeri, Belarusian, Georgian, Moldovian, Russian, Ukrainian.