European Union Decisions on Youth Policy

This paragraph will focus on the Decisions made by the European Union related to youth issues. Within the legal framework of the EU, a Decision refers to a legal instrument which is binding upon the individuals to which it is addressed. Decisions are one of the legal instruments that may affect EU law, which have legally binding effects on individuals as well as on states. This means that a Decision does not necessarily include all EU member states, but can include only specific ones. Decisions may be addressed to member states or individuals. The Council can delegate power to make Decisions to the European Commission.  

In the following list, European Union Decisions, related to the field of youth, will be provided organized by year and by its statues, whether or not the Decision has been adopted, refused or is in progress.

1979:
79/642/EEC: Council Decision of 16 July 1979 establishing a second joint programme to encourage the exchange of young workers within the Community.
This program was established to promote the organization of training periods for young workers.
Source: OJ L 185, 21.7.1979, p. 24-26

1984:
84/636/EEC: Council Decision of 13 December 1984 establishing a third joint programme to encourage the exchange of young workers within the Community.
In the third part of this program, the promotion of the organization of training periods for young workers continues.
Source: OJ L 331, 19.12.1984

1987:
87/327/EEC: Council Decision of 15 June 1987 adopting the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (Erasmus). Establishment of the ERASMUS program.
The Erasmus Programme (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) is aEU student exchange program. By the time the Erasmus Programme was adopted, in June 1987, the European Commission had already been supporting pilot student exchanges for 6 years. It proposed the original Erasmus Programme in early 1986, but reaction from the then member states varied: those with substantial exchange programs of their own (essentially France, Germany and the United Kingdom) were broadly hostile. A compromise was established with a majority of member states, and the program was adopted by simple majority in June 1987. This program, built between 1981 and 1986 was pilot to student exchanges, and although it was formally adopted, only shortly before the beginning of the academic year 1987-1988, it was still possible for 3,244 students to participate in Erasmus in its first year. In 2006, over 150,000 students, or almost 1% of the European student population, took part in it. In the past twenty years, over two million students have benefited from Erasmus grants, and the European Commission aims to reach a total of 3 million by 2012.
Source: OJ L 166, 25.6.1987, p. 20-24
87/569/EEC: Council Decision of 1 December 1987 concerning an action programme for the vocational training of young people and their preparation for adult and working life.
This is a five year program established in order to support and supplement, through community-level
measures, the policies and actions of the member states in doing their utmost to ensure the wish of young people to participate in vocational training in addition to their full-time compulsory educations for one year or longer, can make it possible.
Source:  OJ L 346, 10.12.1987, p. 31-33

1988:
88/348/EEC: Council Decision of 16 June 1988 adopting an action programme for the promotion of youth exchanges in the Community - "Youth for Europe" programme.
This Decision promotes youth exchange and encounters of a minimum of one week. The goals of this program are to promote exchange within EU, promote improvements in the quality and encourage diversification. In general YOUTHFOREUROPE.EU was designed to respond to the growing interest of young people, youth groups and organizations for active participation in international projects at an European level. It is a platform based on the expected evolution of the European Youth policy with regards on young people's own European experience and the "Youth in Action" Programme (2007-2013) .
Source: OJ L 158, 25.6.1988, p. 42-46

1989:
89/663/EEC: Council Decision of 14 December 1989 amending Decision 87/327/EEC adopting the European Community action scheme for the mobility of university students (Erasmus).
Amendment of 1984 decision.
Source: OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 23-27

1991:
 91/395/EEC: Council Decision of 29 July 1991 adopting the ' Youth for Europe' programme (second phase).
This Decision is the second stage of implementation of the 'Youth for Europe' Programme. The financial budget was set at 25 million ECU.
Source: OJ L 217, 6.8.1991, p. 25-30
91/387/EEC: Council Decision of 22 July 1991 amending Decision 87/569/EEC concerning an action programme for the vocational training of young people and their preparation for adult and working life (Petra). Amendment of 1987 decision. 8 articles are changed. 6 changes follow in the same year.
Source: OJ L 214, 2.8.1991, p. 69-76
91/611/EEC: Council Decision of 28 October 191 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Austria establishing cooperation in the field of education and training within the framework of the Erasmus programme.
Throughout the years, since the establishment of the Erasmus Programme, agreements, between specific member states, have been made in order for its improvement. In this specific case, agreements were made with Austria. 
Source: OJ L 332, 3.12.1991, p. 1-1

1992:
• 92/240/EEC: Council Decision of 28 April 1992 amending Decision No 90/233/EEC establishing a trans-European mobility scheme for university studies (Tempus).
From 1990 till 2006, Tempus has funded 6500 projects, involving 2000 universities from the EU and its partner countries. Between 2000 and 2006, 788 joint European projects and 1492 individual mobility grants were funded. In addition, during the same period, Tempus supported 270 structural and complementary measures across all regions. Tempus IV (2007-2013) carries on with the activities launched during the previous phases of the program that started in 1990.
Source: OJ L 122, 7.5.1992, p. 43-43

1993:
• 93/246/EEC: Council Decision of 29 April 1993 adopting the second phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus II) (1994 to 1998)
Source: OJ L 112, 6.5.1993, p. 34-39

1995:
• Decision No 818/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 1995 adopting the third phase of the 'Youth for Europe' programme.
In the third phase of the 'Youth for Europe' Programme several measures were taken to raise awareness about the potential role of the youth.
Source: OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 1-9 

• Decision No 819/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 1995 establishing the Community action programme 'Socrates'.
The 'Socrates' Programme is an educational initiative of the European Commission in which 31 countries took part. The initial 'Socrates' Programme ran from 1994 until the 31st December of 1999 being replaced by the 'Socrates II' program on the 24th of January of 2000, which ran until 2006. The Lifelong Program came to replace the 'Socrates II' Programme having started in 2007 and ending in 2013.

1997:
• 97/739/EC: Council Decision of 6 October 1997 concerning the conclusion of bilateral agreements between the Community and Cyprus on Cyprus's participation in Community programmes in the fields of education, training and youth.
This Decision includes three agreements between the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus concerning the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in the Leonardo da Vinci, 'Youth for Europe' and 'Socrates' Programmes.
Source: 99, 4.11.1997, p. 21-21
• 97/739/EC: Council Decision of 6 October 1997 concerning the conclusion of bilateral agreements between the Community and Cyprus on Cyprus's participation in Community programmes in the fields of education, training and youth.
This Decision regards the full or partial participation, from the earliest possible date by Turkey, in the 'Youth for Europe' Programme in its current form to the extent permitted by negotiations, as well as the launch of preparatory measures or measures to increase awareness with a view on such participation or to the view provided for the future framework program (2000 to 2004).
Source:  OJ L 299, 4.11.1997, p. 21-21

1998:
Decision No 1686/98/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 20 July 1998 establishing the Community action programme 'European Voluntary Service for Young People'
This Decision establishes the Community action program `European Voluntary Service for Young People' concerning European voluntary service activities within the community and in developing countries for young people legally resident in a member state.
Source: OJ L 214, 31.7.1998, p. 1-11

2000:
 Decision No 1031/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 April 2000 establishing the 'Youth' Community action programme.
This program shall contribute to the promotion of a Europe of knowledge by developing a European area of cooperation in the field of youth policy, based on informal education and training. It shall promote lifelong learning and the building of knowledge, skills and competences that would likely foster active citizenship and employability
Source: OJ L 117, 18.5.2000, p. 1-10

2000/630/EC: Council Decision of 28 September 2000 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Community and Malta adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Malta in Community programmes in the fields of training, education and youth.
This Council decision is the conclusion of the agreement between the European Community and Malta concerning the participation of Malta in the Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates and Community programs in the fields of training, education and youth.
Source: OJ L 267, 20.10.2000, p. 46-46

Decision No 253/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 January 2000 establishing the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education 'Socrates'
Source:  OJ L 28, 3.2.2000, p. 1-15

2001:
 2001/84/EC: Council Decision of 22 December 2000 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in Community programmes in the fields of training, education and youth
A conclusion was reached between the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus concerning the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in EU Community programs in the fields of training, education and youth.
Source: OJ L 29, 31.1.2001, p. 38-39

2004:
Decision No 790/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 establishing a Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level in the field of youth
The Treaty establishes citizenship of the Union and provides community action in the field of education, vocational training and youth. All these measures shall be aimed to the encouragement of the development of youth exchanges and of exchanges of socio-educative instructors.
Source: OJ L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 24-30

2006:
Corrigendum to Decision 1719/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 establishing the Youth in Action programme for the period 2007 to 2013
The 'Youth in Action' Programme is the program the EU 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 program for all. Every year, promoters submit thousands of projects in order to get financial support from the Programme; a selection process aims at granting the best projects. The 'Youth in Action' Programme is the EU's mobility and non-formal education program targeting young people between the ages of 13 and 30. The 'Youth in Action' Programme is build up by five actions or programs: 'Youth for Europe', 'European Voluntary Service', 'Youth in the World', 'Youth Support Systems and Support for European Cooperation in the Youth Field'.
Source:  OJ L 337, 5.12.2006, p. 68-68

2006/964/EC: The EU-Canada Programme, For Transatlantic Exchange Partnership (TEP) and Transatlantic Degree Partnership (TDP)
The EU-Canada program funds joint study and training programs allowing transatlantic exchanges between European and Canadian education institutions. The agreement focuses on four activities to benefit higher education students, vocational education and training teachers, trainers and administrative staff: - development of curricula, including development of double/joint degrees, - student exchanges with provision for credit recognition, - faculty exchanges, - international internships.
Source: OJ L 397, 30.12.2006, p. 14-14

2007:
Decision No 779/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 establishing for the period 2007-2013 a specific programme to prevent and combat violence against children, young people and women and to protect victims and groups at risk (Daphne III programme) as part of the General Programme Fundamental Rights and Justice
The decision concerns: physical, sexual and psychological violence against children, young people and women, including threats of coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether it occurred in public or private life, constituting a breach of their right to life, safety, freedom, dignity and physical and emotional integrity and a serious threat to the physical and mental health of the victims of said violence. Such violence, being so widespread throughout the community, constitutes a genuine violation of fundamental rights, a health scourge and an obstacle to the enjoyment of safe, free and just citizenship.
Source: OJ L 173, 3.7.2007, p. 19-26

2008:
• Decision No 1349/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 amending Decision No 1719/2006/EC establishing the 'Youth in Action' programme for the period 2007 to 2013

• Decision No 1298/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing the Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries (Text with EEA relevance) 2009-2013
This Decision establishes the Erasmus Mundus Programme for the promotion of quality in European higher education and intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries on the one hand and for the development of third countries in the field of higher education on the other. The Erasmus Programme should be implemented in line with objectives of academic excellence while taking into account a geographical representation of beneficiaries that are as balanced as possible.
Source: OJ L 340, 19.12.2008, p. 83-98

• Decision No 1357/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 amending Decision No 1720/2006/EC establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning (Text with EEA relevance)
The 'Lifelong Learning' Programme is the successor of Socrates', 'Leonardo da Vinci' and 'ICT / Open & Distance Learning' (2000-2006) meaning that theLifelong Learning Programme replaced the Socrates Programme as the overall umbrella under which the Erasmus Programme supports learning opportunities from childhood to old age in every single life situation. 'The Youth In Action' Programme is part of the 'Lifelong Learning' Programme.
Source: OJ L 350, 30.12.2008, p. 56-57

• 2008/785/EC: Commission Decision of 9 October 2008 amending Commission Decision 2005/56/EC setting up the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency for the management of Community action in the fields of education, audiovisual and culture in application of Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003
'The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency' was set up by Commission Decision 2005/56/EC (2). It manages community actions in the fields of education, audiovisual and culture, including projects financed by European external assistance policy instruments, by the ninth European Development Fund and by certain agreements concluded by the community with the United States of America and with Canada. This agency handles: the 'Youth Community Action' program, 'Socrates', 'Leonardo da Vinci', the third phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education, the Community action program to promote active bodies at European level in the field of youth. These projects could be funded under the provisions of the agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada establishing a cooperation framework in the fields of higher education, training and youth. 
Source:  OJ L 269, 10.10.2008, p. 11-13

2009:
• 2009/336/EC: Commission Decision of 20 April 2009 setting up the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency for the management of Community action in the fields of education, audiovisual and culture in application of Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003
Source: OJ L 101, 21.4.2009, p. 26-30

2010:
• 2010/195/: Council Decision of 25 January 2010 on the signing and provisional application of an Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation establishing the terms and conditions for the participation of the Swiss Confederation in the Youth in Action programme and in the action programme in the field of lifelong learning
Source: OJ L 87, 7.4.2010, p. 7-8

2011:
• 2011/82/EU: Council Decision of 31 January 2011 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation establishing the terms and conditions for the participation of the Swiss Confederation in the 'Youth in Action' programme and in the action programme in the field of lifelong learning
Source: OJ L 32, 8.2.2011, p. 1-2

2012:
• 2012/797/EU: Commission Implementing Decision of 18 December 2012 amending Commission Decision No 2009/336/EC setting up the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency for the management of Community action in the fields of education, audiovisual and culture in application of Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003
Source: OJ L 349, 19.12.2012, p. 68-71

2013:
• 2013/776/EU: Commission Implementing Decision of 18 December 2013 establishing the 'Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency' and repealing Decision 2009/336/EC
This Decision entrusts the 'Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency' with the responsibility for the implementation of the following programs and actions: Erasmus+, the 'Creative Europe' Programme, the Europe program for citizens, the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps — EU Aid Volunteers, projects in the field of higher education under external cooperation instruments. The Commission amended the 'Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency's mandate on several occasions, extending it to cover the management of new projects and programs in the field of education, audiovisual, citizenship and youth.
Source: OJ L 343, 19.12.2013, p. 46-53