2 2 1 2 8 6 Official]ournal of the European Communities ^ o C ^ 2 8 ^
O p i n i o n o n t h e p r o p o s a l f o r aCounc i lDec i s ion adop t ingan ac t ionprogrammefor the
promotion of vouth exchanges in the Communi ty— VES for Europe— 1^8^ to 1^89^
^ 8 6 B C ^ 2 8 ^
On 24 M a r c h l 9 8 6 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee on
the abo^ementioned proposal
The section for Social Questions,which was responsible for preparing the Committee'swork
on the subject, adopted its opinion on l^ ]u !^1986 in the light of the report h^ Mr Schwar^
At its 2^9th plenary session ^meeting of 1^ September 1986^, the Economic and Social
Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously
1, General comments
1BL The Committee welcomes the action pro
gramme for the promotion of ^ o u t h e ^ c h a n g e s i n t h e
Community — ^es for Europe — 198B^tol989 under
consideration in the light of t h e ^ ^ o ^ A d o n i n o Com
mi t t eeR-epor tona ^eop le ' sEurope ' adop tedb^ the
Council of Milan, ]une 198^ and the subsequent
Comett and Erasmus proposals. The latter together
w i t h o n g o i n g v o u n g workers 'e^changeprogrammes
and ^ES for Europe will complete the spectrum of
provision for all ^oung people within the Community,
L2, f h e Committee recognises theproposed aims
and ob^ectnBes of ^ES for Europe as consistent with
existing policies of the Communi t^s^eop le ' sEurope ' ,
preparation for adult andworkingl i fe ' / lOeclarat ion
o fEuropeanUnion '^ r^ , in that the^ reinforce the twin
pillars of the informal learning processes and encourage
growing empathy andawareness amongst ^oung people
across Member States,
1,^, The Committee supports the following ke^
elements, presented in t h e ^ E S for Europe proposal
— a n i m p r o ^ e m e n t i n q u a l i t ^ a n d q u a n t i t ^ o f ^outh
exchanges within the Community for an initial
three^ear phase, 198^ to 1989,
— a target group embracing all ^oung people between
1 6 a n d 2 ^ e a r s o f a g e ,
— a programme in^ol^ing bilateral, multilateral,
reciprocal and^orone^wa^ exchanges f r o m a m i n i
mum of 1 to ^ weeks to a maximum of several
months,
and
— structured learning experiences involving planning,
preparation and evaluation, in order to gain under
standing at first h a n d o f the economic, social and
cultural life of other Member States through direct
contact with the local community in the host
country
^ o i ^ D e ^ , ^ , ^ m ^ ^ D ^
1,4, The Committee urges the Commission to
encourage local initiative in developing these cross^
frontier exchange programmes through ^outh clubs,
^outh associations, ^outh movements and other rel
e^ant organisations.
Leo, In this connection, the establishment of national
agencies ought to assure access to all relevant inform
mation and opportunities and stimulate local responses^
and s o , i n a s e n s e , t h e agencies should act as^honest
brokers'within the initiative.
1,6, it is essential, in the light of existing exchange
programmes variable as the^ are in nature and distri
bu t ion^ , tha t^ES for Europe should not be seen as an
alternative vehicle or substitute but rather as a new
andaddi t ionale lement i n t h e p r o m o t i o n o f a ^oung
Europe',
1,B5 f h e Committee acknowledges in the proposala
pragmatic approachdesigned toachie^ef le^ibi l i t^of
operation coupled wi thades i re to achieve progression
in bringing ^oung Europeans closer together.
1,8, The Committee recognises important impli
cations emanating from the proposal which are directed
at Member States regarding^
— the need to facilitate more language teaching,
— the allocation of appropriate finance,
— the designation of effective agencies,
and
— the removal of administrative and financial
obstaclesparticularl^ for the ^oung unemployed,
for example the loss of sociaPsecurit^ income
support.
2, Specific comments
2,1, The Committee approves the implementation of
exchange programmes as envisaged b^ the Commission,
No C 328/46 Official Journalof the European Communities 22. 12. 86
2.2. In order to develop more the specifically Com-
munity character of the programme, the Committee
thinks that in addition to the national agencies, pro-
vision should be made for the machinery needed to
ensure, from the very start of the programme, the
growth, support and effective coordination of multi-
lateral exchanges, particularly those organized by
European non-governmental organizations.
2.3. The Committee recognizes a clear need for firm
guidelines to be provided by the Commission to
national agencies regarding:
— dissemination of information techniques to enable
the widest possible participation by young people
and their organizations,
and
— the selection of programmes based on quality of
content and preparation.
In this way will parity of provision and opportunity be
achieved across Member States.
2.4. In the absence of any proposed European
agency, concern must be voiced regarding the degree of
staffing provision as defined in the Annex (Item 7)
through which the Commission will administer YES for
Europe. The Committee encourages the Commission
to consider the seconding of some of its staff to assist
in the dissemination of information, monitoring and
evaluation of programmes etc. Proper use should also
be made of the Commission information offices in the
Member States for promotiong 'YES for Europe'.
2.5. The Committee would urge, in order to ensure
the effective coordination and growth of multilateral
youth exchanges which lie at the heart of YES for
Europe, that consideration be given at the review stage
to the establishment of a European agency.
2.6. The public funds necessary for the YES for
Europe programme should not be secured by cut-backs
in other youth exchange programmes (such as those
sponsored by the EEC Youth Forum, the European
Youth Centre and the Europaisches Jugendwerk (Euro-
pean Youth Foundation).
Done at Brussels, 17 Septembre 1986.
2.7. The Committee recommends that a European
advisory committee be established (as is also the case
for the Erasmus proposals) in order to assist in the
monitoring of programmes, identification of exemplars
and analysis of annual reports.
2.8. In the pursuit of flexibility the Committee re-
cognizes a need for individual negotiations to take place
regarding priority factors when claims for weighting
are being considered. To this end such criteria as youth
population, average distances involved and cost of
living appear appropriate.
2.9. The Committee encourages the Commission to
reconsider its proposal to require a minimum of six
Member States to take part in any multilateral
exchanges of a voluntary work camp nature. A mini-
mum of four appears to be a far more realistic and
appropriate figure.
2.10. The Committee supports the proposal to pro-
vide training programmes at all levels for those who
organize youth exchanges, e.g. youth workers. It is
essential that professional development operates within
the initial phase and beyond as the leaders are. the
agents for change and progression.
2.11. It is clear that the initial phase of YES for
Europe is perceived by the Commission as operating
collectively and exclusively for all young people within
the Member States. The Committee encourages the
Commission at the three-year review stage to consider
extending the European and international field of
operation.
2.12. The Committee applauds the notion of encour-
aging young people to be directly involved in the plan-
ning, preparation, delivery and evaluation of exchange
programmes and to this end the Committee rec-
ommends that the process of application for sponsor-
ship be as simple as possible.
2.13. The Decision states that after three years of
operation an interim report will be prepared for sub-
mission by the Commission to the Council and Parlia-
ment. This report should be submitted to the Commit-
tee also.
The Chairman
of the Economic and Social Committee
Gerd MUHR
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy