European Youth Portal - Europe
In May 2004, the European Commission launched the European Youth Portal. Developed with and for youth seeking to access information relevant to them, this online tool includes links, resources, and interactive processes that encourage reflection and discussion about such questions as: How can I do voluntary work in Estonia? How can I find a summer job in Italy? How can I exchange views on the enlarged Europe with young people from other countries? How can I create a project in my local community?
Communication Strategies
Available in 22 languages as of this writing, the European Youth Portal is at its centre an interactive process. For example, an Internet chat features the two Commissioners who set up the programme (Viviane Reding and Dalia Grybauskaite) exchanging views with young people across Europe. The links available include national, regional, and local level information and are presented under headings such as Studying, Working, Volunteering and Exchanges, Your Rights, Portals for Young People, Travelling Europe, and Info on Europe. Data on the 25 EU Member States is featured. In addition, the public can submit its own contributions, participate in discussion forums, and ask questions of information experts in their own country.
The European Youth Portal is part of a wider EU policy on youth. When adopting a new method of cooperation in the youth field, the Member States identified 4 thematic priorities (participation, information, voluntary activities, and a greater knowledge and understanding of youth). Objectives have been endorsed by the Council for the 2 first priorities - participation and information - and are starting to be implemented at national level. To that end, youth participation was central in the initial stages of this effort. The European Youth Portal has been developed with and for young people in association with Eurodesk and the European Youth Forum (please see Partners section below). Youth networks of the Commission in Europe and beyond helped to provide 10,000 links (as of this writing) to national, regional, and local websites; the portal is updated and expanded over time.
Closely associated with and supported by this portal is the YOUTH programme, EU's mobility and non-formal education programme addressing young people between the ages of 15 and 25 years. An entire section of the portal is designated for information and exchange on this programme, which offers possibilities to young people in the form of both group exchanges and individual voluntary work, as well as support activities. Through the projects funded by YOUTH, young people undertake activities together, exchange experiences, act as European Volunteers, and seek training and support. Since the year 2000, more than 400,000 young people have participated in more than 40,000 projects.
With a view to the follow-up to the current Programme, the communication on "Citizenship in action", adopted in March 2004, outlines the Commission's priorities concerning future programmes in the field of youth, culture, media, and civic participation. Through mobility actions, the European Voluntary Service, and actions to improve the quality of support structures for young people, the programme promotes the active participation of young people aged between 13 and 30 in civic society, the values of tolerance and solidarity among young people, and intercultural dialogue. The Programme is open to youth in 30 European countries.
The European Youth Portal is part of a wider EU policy on youth. When adopting a new method of cooperation in the youth field, the Member States identified 4 thematic priorities (participation, information, voluntary activities, and a greater knowledge and understanding of youth). Objectives have been endorsed by the Council for the 2 first priorities - participation and information - and are starting to be implemented at national level. To that end, youth participation was central in the initial stages of this effort. The European Youth Portal has been developed with and for young people in association with Eurodesk and the European Youth Forum (please see Partners section below). Youth networks of the Commission in Europe and beyond helped to provide 10,000 links (as of this writing) to national, regional, and local websites; the portal is updated and expanded over time.
Closely associated with and supported by this portal is the YOUTH programme, EU's mobility and non-formal education programme addressing young people between the ages of 15 and 25 years. An entire section of the portal is designated for information and exchange on this programme, which offers possibilities to young people in the form of both group exchanges and individual voluntary work, as well as support activities. Through the projects funded by YOUTH, young people undertake activities together, exchange experiences, act as European Volunteers, and seek training and support. Since the year 2000, more than 400,000 young people have participated in more than 40,000 projects.
With a view to the follow-up to the current Programme, the communication on "Citizenship in action", adopted in March 2004, outlines the Commission's priorities concerning future programmes in the field of youth, culture, media, and civic participation. Through mobility actions, the European Voluntary Service, and actions to improve the quality of support structures for young people, the programme promotes the active participation of young people aged between 13 and 30 in civic society, the values of tolerance and solidarity among young people, and intercultural dialogue. The Programme is open to youth in 30 European countries.
Development Issues
Youth, Rights, Education, Economic Development, Cultural Exchange.
Key Points
The European Youth Portal was conceived in the European Commission's White Paper "A new impetus for European Youth". The programme aims to give as many as possible of the 75 million young people in Europe quick and easy access to relevant youth-related information. Commissioner Viviane Reding describes the Portal as "facilitat[ing] young people's access to information and advice in the area of citizen's rights, education, training, volunteering, exchanges and travelling in Europe."
There are National Agencies for the YOUTH programme established in all 30 Programme Countries. The Agencies assist with the promotion and implementation of the Programme at national level. The Euro-Med Youth programme II, involving 27 Euro-Mediterranean partner countries, is one of the YOUTH programme's main activities. National Coordinators based in the 12 Mediterranean partner countries facilitate the implementation of this Programme. The YOUTH programme also supports co-operation activities with other developing countries in South East Europe (SEE), the Eastern Europe and the Caucasus (former CIS - Commonwealth of Independent States) and Latin America (LA).
The Commission has created 8 Resource centres within the YOUTH National Agencies. Called SALTO-YOUTH, these Resource centres provide resources and support to improve the quality of YOUTH projects. Examples of offerings include training courses, training tools, information on good practices, networks and partnerships development, and partner finding. They work in close cooperation with the National Agencies and the National Coordinators to reach the users of the YOUTH programme.
Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite said: "the YOUTH programme is contributing positively particularly to youth exchanges, to the engagement of young people into solidarity actions and to youth initiatives. This portal will help thousands of young people to give a European dimension to their activities".
There are National Agencies for the YOUTH programme established in all 30 Programme Countries. The Agencies assist with the promotion and implementation of the Programme at national level. The Euro-Med Youth programme II, involving 27 Euro-Mediterranean partner countries, is one of the YOUTH programme's main activities. National Coordinators based in the 12 Mediterranean partner countries facilitate the implementation of this Programme. The YOUTH programme also supports co-operation activities with other developing countries in South East Europe (SEE), the Eastern Europe and the Caucasus (former CIS - Commonwealth of Independent States) and Latin America (LA).
The Commission has created 8 Resource centres within the YOUTH National Agencies. Called SALTO-YOUTH, these Resource centres provide resources and support to improve the quality of YOUTH projects. Examples of offerings include training courses, training tools, information on good practices, networks and partnerships development, and partner finding. They work in close cooperation with the National Agencies and the National Coordinators to reach the users of the YOUTH programme.
Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite said: "the YOUTH programme is contributing positively particularly to youth exchanges, to the engagement of young people into solidarity actions and to youth initiatives. This portal will help thousands of young people to give a European dimension to their activities".
Partners
European Commission. The Eurodesk network in collaboration with European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA) and the European Youth Card Association (EYCA) conducted the research for the content of the portal and are responsible for regularly updating the contents of the portal. They contribute to its translation and promote the portal.
Sources
"European Youth Portal: new tool for EU's 75 million young people", PublicTechnology.net, May 27 2004. Forwarded to the Young People's Media Network on May 28 2004 (click here for the archives).
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