Press release
MEPs keen to support exchanges of European youth
Youth - 25-10-2005 - 13:39
European Parliament wants to promote active citizenship and mutual understanding among young people across Europe. By adopting a co-decision report by Lissy GRÖNER (PES, DE) on the draft Youth in Action programme for 2007-13 in first reading by overwhelming majority (542 votes in favour, 76 against 12 abstentions), MEPs also ask for more funding than proposed by the Commission.
Instead of a €915 million budget, Parliament is proposing the figure of €1.128 billion which was already suggested by the rapporteur and the EP's Committee on Culture and Education on the basis of Parliament's position on the next long-term budget for 2007-13 - which was enshrined in the report by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE).
Parliament points out that the appropriations indicated in the Commission proposal beyond the year 2006 are subject to the decisions to be taken on the next multi-annual financial framework. MEPs also call for project funding to be paid by the Commission within four months as a rule.
The programme is intended for young people aged between 13 and 30. However, Parliament insists that the main target group should be young people aged 15-28.
MEPs backed the rapporteur's repeated calls for young people with disabilities to be included on equal terms "so as to prevent any form of discrimination".
The programme should also promote sport and cultural activities as a means of fostering social integration, tolerance and non-discrimination, Parliament demands.
In view of the success of European Youth Week, Parliament says this event should become an established part of EU youth policy, focusing on:
- information on the work of the European institutions;
- activities enabling young people to inform MEPs of their concerns
- a prize-giving for the best youth projects promoted by the Youth programme. /AM 58/
Parliament also asks for the name of the Youth of the world action to be changed into Youth in the world.
REF.: 20051020IPR01664