Youth in Action - The Programme

Youth in Action 2007-2013

 Introduction

Youth in Action is the Programme the European Union has set up for young people. It aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future. It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU's borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the inclusion of all young people, regardless of their educational, social and cultural background: Youth in Action is a Programme for all.
Every year, thousands of projects are submitted by promoters in order to get financial support from the Programme; a selection process aims at granting the best projects.

Objectives

The YOUTH IN ACTION programme is the EU’s mobility and non-formal education programme targeting young people aged between 13 and 30 years. Its general objectives are the following:

• 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.

Actions

In order to achieve its objectives, the Youth in Action Programme foresees five operational Actions.

• Action 1 - Youth for Europe
• Action 2 - European Voluntary Service
• Action 3 - Youth in the World
• Action 4 - Youth Support Systems
• Action 5 - Support for European cooperation in the youth field

Depending on the Programme Action, the selection process of projects is initiated in one of the following ways:

• for most Actions, the Programme Guide acts as a permanent call for proposals.
• for some Actions, specific calls for proposals are published.

More information on who can participate? and How to apply?.

Responsible entities for the management of the Programme

DG Education and Culture is responsible for the running of the Youth in Action Programme. It manages the budget and sets priorities, targets and criteria for the Programme on an ongoing basis. Furthermore, it guides and monitors the general implementation, follow-up and evaluation of the Programme at European level.
The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is responsible notably for the implementation of the permanent and centralised actions of the Youth in Action Programme and for launching the specific calls for proposals. It is in charge of the complete life cycle of selected projects, from analysing the grant request to monitoring projects on the spot.
The National Agencies are responsible for the implementation of the permanent and decentralised actions of the Youth in Action Programme.
They are in charge of the complete life cycle of selected projects, from analysing the grant request to monitoring projects on the spot.
To know more about the roles of the Executive Agency and the National Agencies, please consult Part A of the Programme Guide.