AR 20 06 ANNUAL REPORT 2006

RESPONSIBLE EDITOR: EDITORIAL TEAM

Luiza Bara Diogo Pinto Patricia Sanchez Renaldas Vaisbrodas

CREATIVITY, LAYOUT AND CONCEPT

Marta Gomez Patricia Sanchez Copies of this annual report are available in English and French from the European Youth Forum Secretariat: rue Joseph II, 120, B - 1000 , ; TRANSLATION AND PROOFREADING Tel. +32 2 230 64 90, Anne Debrabandere Fax +32 2 230 21 23, Mark Perera email: [email protected].

This publication has been produced with the fi nancial support of the . Texts represent the opinions of the European Youth Forum and do not necessarily refl ect the views of the EU. Editorial

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) is its abolition of visa regimes within . On Editorial MEMBERS! This statement was particularly these cross-cutting topics, the YFJ voiced important for the leadership of the Forum the concerns, expectations and views of as a new strategic path was drawn up for young people and youth organisations. The the organisation. This effort required a solid Forum’s political impact can be appreciated and extensive understanding and proactive by recognising the shift in institution’s engagement from everyone in our structure. policies, and by assessing the established While marking its 10th anniversary the YFJ pre-condition for the involvement of young redefi ned its vision, mission and core values, people in the discussion on issues that affect and laid down objectives for the years to their daily lives. Structured dialogue with come. The YFJ has subsequently adopted young people would not have been possible a strategy that will shape the work of the without the concerted efforts of YFJ Member organisation and that places it in the driving Organisations. This dialogue brings us even seat to deliver the change that is expected closer to the realisation of a long standing by many young people on this continent. ambition to represent youth organisations Renaldas Vaisbrodas, President of the at the highest decision making levels, not Maintaining a clear policy focus, the Forum European Youth Forum only in the , but also in the championed a number of policy fi elds over the European Union and beyond. past year - non-formal education, mobility, employment, participation, human rights, “All different - All equal” was the slogan and intercultural for the youth dialogue. Through movement a wide-ranging in 2006. series of activities, Discouraged the YFJ further and enriched its policy disillusioned base, debating and young people approving common in Europe policy documents require more on Social Inclusion, action while Diversity and the necessary Renaldas Vaisbrodas speech at the 10th Anniversary Equality, Violence, means celebration, September, Brussels Sustainable for their Development, greater civic and Tobacco. The organisation agreed upon participation are created, and this a future vision for youth policy development participation encouraged; while combating in general, and within the EU in particular, all forms of discrimination; and while and joint positions were established on the ensuring the necessary respect for the promotion of a culture of peace in the Middle diversity that young people represent. East and on the development of global youth Through co-ordinated effort, YFJ Member co-operation. Through a focus on policy Organisations were at the forefront of development, the European Youth Forum the Council of Europe youth campaign ‘All contributed to a number of institutional different – All Equal’, and were building a processes: shadow reports were drafted great case for change on the local, national on the basis of EU-wide consultation with as well as European levels. youth organisations on the successes and A Europe without borders is a vision worth failures of the open method of co-ordination striving for. Members of the YFJ articulated in the fi eld of youth policy. The YFJ further the unspoken truth of discrimination on the lobbied for the implementation of the basis of nationality and the intolerable cases European Youth Pact; the recognition of of misconduct by visa-issuing authorities. competences acquired through non-formal A joint campaign has gathered momentum education; the acknowledgment of the and through further actions in 2007, should need to promote healthy lifestyles; and the 3 Editorial

achieve measurable results in reducing and political support. obstacles for youth mobility in Europe. The European Youth Forum is a recognised Challenges remain, as one of the greatest leader of global youth co-operation, defeats for the youth sector in 2006 was and continues to promote greater the reduction of the budget for the EU interdependence and solidarity among Youth in Action programme for 2007-2013. continents and young people. The YFJ has While the fi gures might thus been promoting models be misleading, the of democratic participation expected expansion outside Europe and debating of the programme will the ways and means to urge youth structures achieve the Millennium to achieve more Development Goals and for less and be the address common challenges sector that will again through common action. “over-achieve”, but In the report below you will will remain “under- Renaldas Vaisbrodas with the fi nd an extensive description appreciated”. President of at the YFJ of the work that was carried General Assembly The democratic youth out by the YFJ in 2006. It is movement received a important to acknowledge all serious blow in , where the National those that have contributed to this common Youth Council “RADA” was dissolved following success: the Member Organisations, their a politically-motivated decision by the representatives in different YFJ commissions Supreme Court. The suppression, prosecution and working groups, trainers, youth leaders, and termination of youth organisations is a youth workers, and volunteers. Special daily reality and those organisations that recognition should also be given to the choose to stay functional should ‘choose’ members of the Bureau and Secretariat who to stay loyal to the government. Against have consistently given their all to make the backdrop of condemnation of the this organisation what it is today. The work government of Belarus by the European of the European Youth Forum will never be Union, the Council of Europe, and the completed, therefore 2006 represents just Organisation for Security and Co-operation one step on the long road ahead, as the in Europe, RADA remains outlawed, but the Forum continues to represent and advocate democratic youth movement will continue for the needs and interests of all young to function and to this end, the YFJ and its people in Europe, through their positive and Members are allocating substantial resources active participation.

Renaldas Vaisbrodas with Bettina Schwarzmayr and James Doorley, Vice presidents of the YFJ 4 Contents

Contents

Editorial 3-4 European Union 7-10 Council of Europe 11-12 European Commission and Council of Europe 13 14 Youth Policy in Europe 15-17 Education 18-19 Training policy 20-21 Mobility 22 Employment and Social Inclusion 23 Equality and Human Rights 24 Health 25 Sustainable Development 26 Youth Work Development 27-29 Global Youth Work Development 30-31 Membership Development 32 Press and Communication 33-34 Finances 35 The Bureau 36 The Secretariat 37

55 EUROPEAN YOUTH FORUM

What is the European Youth Forum?

Independently established by youth organisations, the European Youth Forum is made up of more than 90 National Youth Councils and International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations, which are federations of youth organisations in themselves. It brings together tens of millions of young people from all over Europe, organised in order to represent their common interests.

Representation, internal democracy, independence, openness and inclusion are among the main principles for the functioning of the European Youth Forum and its Member Organisations. Our mission

The European Youth Forum works to empower young people to participate actively in the shaping of Europe and the societies in which they live, and in improving the living conditions of young people as European citizens in today’s world. Our aims

• Increase the participation of young people and youth organisations in society, as well as in decision-making processes; • Positively influence policy issues affecting young people and youth organisations, by being a recognised partner for international institutions, namely the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations; • Promote the concept of youth policy as an integrated and cross-sectoral element of overall policy development; • Facilitate the participation of young people through the development of sustainable and independent youth organisations at the national and international level; • Foster the exchange of ideas and experience, mutual understanding, and equal rights and opportunities among young people in Europe; • Uphold intercultural understanding, democracy, respect, active citizenship and solidarity; • As the biggest regional youth platform in the world, we work to deepen while at the same time contributing to the development of youth work in other regions of the world. Our work

• The European Youth Forum performs functions that are complementary to those of its Member Organisations and its main focus is on articulating and voicing the concerns of its membership into the political agenda of governmental institutions, namely the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

• The European Youth Forum provides a space for organisations to develop sustainably, and offers strategic support for capacity building, networking and the dissemination of good practice to build a strong and united youth movement in Europe. It empowers youth in their ability to come together and build independent, democratic, representative and inclusive associations.

• The European Youth Forum is a place for debate which leads to the elaboration of policies and positions, which are based on the opinions, experiences and expertise of young people from all over Europe. 66 European Union

European Union Building on the work done in 2005, the FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES European Youth Forum continued to 2007—2013 cooperate intensively with the institutions After the European Council agreed on of the European Union, being recognised as its position on the fi nancial perspectives the principal interlocutor on an increasing for 2007—2013 at its meeting of 15—16 number of policy areas affecting youth. December 2005, seriously cutting the While the YFJ continued to follow-up closely budget lines covering Youth in Action and the main EU processes in the core youth the educational programmes, the European fi eld, such as the White Paper, the YOUTH Youth Forum was in constant touch with and Youth in Action programmes, and the the Council, and the European Youth Pact, 2006 was also a year Commission during the negotiations on a in which the YFJ consolidated its work fi nal inter-institutional agreement. The with the EU in other relevant areas such as YFJ also engaged its Member Organisations James Doorley, education, social inclusion, employment, in the lobby effort and strongly pressed Vice President of anti-discrimination, mobility, health and for increased funding for the budget lines the Youth Forum sustainable development covering youth and education. STRATEGY AND THE In the end, the fi nal agreement which was EUROPEAN YOUTH PACT reached in April foresaw a small increase On the basis of the European Commission’s in the overall budget, including extra funds 2006 Annual Progress Report which included for the educational programmes and the analysis of the national reform programmes, Culture, Citizenship and Youth programmes, the European Council discussed the Lisbon which compensated in part the earlier Strategy at its Spring Summit of 23—24 cuts. This deal was rubber-stamped by the March. Since the Commission’s Annual Council and by the European Parliament in Progress report did not further the Pact, but May. The YFJ welcomed the increases that narrowed it even more, the YFJ proceeded to were agreed, but expressed regret that the lobby intensively the Austrian EU Presidency; new ambitions of the Life-Long Learning and eventually, the European Youth Pact did Youth in Action programmes would not be receive more attention and was given a realised. higher priority by the European Council. The EU PROGRAMMES Conclusions of the European Council stated that more progress was needed on the Beside fi nancial concerns, the European implementation of the Pact and encouraged Youth Forum was also closely following Member States “to reinforce links between the fi nalisation of the content of the EU policies on education, training, employment, programmes of signifi cance for youth — fi rst social inclusion and mobility, so as to develop and foremost, the Youth in Action programme more effective cross-sectoral strategies. of course, but also the integrated Life- The Commission and the Member States Long Learning programmes and the Europe are requested to involve young people and for Citizens programme. TheYFJ was also youth organisations in the implementation engaged in the evaluation of the YOUTH of the European Pact for Youth”. programme, which ended in December 2006. The YFJ welcomed these Conclusions in a press release, but also pointed out that YOUTH AND YOUTH IN ACTION while the European Council agreed on these PROGRAMMES goals in March, it was also important to The Youth in Action Programme (YiA) ensure that the EU budget was in line with was offi cially adopted in October 2006, these priorities, as the December European entering into force in January 2007. Its Council meeting had cut funds in Lisbon structure is very similar to the previous priority areas. YOUTH programme, with fi ve actions and 7 European Union

several sub-actions. Throughout 2006, the LIFELONG LEARNING INTEGRATED YFJ contributed actively to the various PROGRAMMES — “JUNIOR ERASMUS” consultation processes and was involved, in The European Youth Forum continued to particular, in the consultative group on the follow up the developments related to the YiA programme guide. “individual pupil mobility” action that will be In parallel to this, the Forum was in regular launched under the Comenius programme, contact with the Education, Audiovisual in the framework of the newly adopted & Culture Executive Agency, cooperating Lifelong Learning integrated Programmes. on, among other issues, the drafting of In 2006, the YFJ presented its contribution application forms or calls for proposals for to the review and fi nal design of the the YiA Programme. “Junior Erasmus”, for which the European

Two Information and & Networking Days Commission launched a 2-year pilot project on the YiA programme were organised in at the end of 2006 to evaluate the relevance 2006, providing Member Organisations of maintaining this action. with a space for consultation, exchange of ideas and proposals in order to contribute EU PRESIDENCIES to the development of the Programmes and the Programme Guide. In addition, an Austrian Presidency

Information and Training day on Funding In the fi rst half of 2006, the European for INGYOs also offered the possibility to a Youth Forum was able to cooperate very number of organisations (not only from the closely with the Austrian Ministry of Social European Youth Forum) to gather information Security, Generations and Consumer about the Youth in Action programme and Protection, responsible for youth issues in particular about Action 4.1 “Support to in the Member State. The most signifi cant bodies active at European level in the fi eld results of the Austrian EU Presidency were of youth”. The day gave the participants the the reinforcement of the Youth Pact in the possibility to learn more about the European Lisbon Strategy, the adoption of a Council Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe, Resolution on the recognition of non-formal the European Social Fund and the European and informal learning, and the fi nalisation of Foundation Centre. the Youth in Action programme, including an YOUTHPASS agreement on its budget.

The YFJ followed the work of the Advisory Upon invitation from the Austrian Presidency, Group on the Youthpass, and of some of its the European Youth Forum presented its sub-groups, which resulted in the creation proposals for the Resolution on non-formal of a Youthpass for the current Actions 1 and and informal learning to the Council’s 2 - developed, tested and evaluated; Action Youth Working Party in March. In June, the 5 - tested; and Action 3 - developed. The YFJ presented its views on the outstanding YFJ also participated in a training course points on the Youth in Action programme to on the recognition of non-formal learning in the Youth Working Party, before the fi nal Youth in Action—Youthpass. text was adopted. EVALUATION OF THE YOUTH As for each Presidency, the YFJ was able PROGRAMME to profi t from close cooperation with the National Youth Council and the joint In addition to the national evaluation Presidency Project Offi cer, who effectively reports on the Youth programme, a European liaised between the YFJ, the National Youth evaluation is now being carried out. The YFJ Council (ÖJV) and the relevant offi cials in was part of the Steering Committee for this the Austrian Presidency. evaluation process at the European level. 8 European Union

In the framework of the Presidency, the YFJ EU “Young Active Citizenships” Meeting, organised a seminar on youth employment, 1—4 July, Hyvinkää, precarious work and social inclusion in June, The aim of the EU meeting “Young Active in cooperation with ÖJV and with the support Citizenships” — which incorporated the of the Austrian Presidency. This seminar Presidency Youth Event — was to strengthen brought together representatives from EU the tripartite cooperation between youth and Member State administrations, NGOs and administrations, youth researchers and young youth organisations. people, within European decision-making; a Austrian Presidency Youth Event, & second goal was to analyse different forms Bad Ischl, 28—31 March of “young active citizenship” and how these could be promoted. The Youth Event of the Austrian EU Presidency took place in Vienna and Bad Ischl in March Of the twelve mixed working groups across 2006, in parallel with the Informal Youth- three themed groups — “Young Active Ministers Meeting, and included a Joint Citizenships”, Democracy Education; Conference with youth delegates and youth Openness, Transparency and ministers or their representatives. The YFJ Democracy in EU Youth Policy and the Austrian Youth Council contributed — six were chaired by YFJ Bureau actively to the organisation of the Youth and Secretariat members. Event. European Youth Forum Troika Under the general heading “The Future of The YFJ Troika brings together the Youth Policy in Europe” three topics were National Youth Councils and/or discussed: “Youth and Jobs”, “the value Presidency Project Offi cers (PPOs) and signifi cance of informal and non-formal Participants to the Austrian from the previous, current and upcoming Youth Event, March, learning”, and “the future of youth in Presidency countries, to coordinate work Vienna and Bad Ischl Europe”. A “Declaration of Vienna and Bad with consecutive EU Presidencies. Two Troika Ischl”, with concrete proposals in these meetings took place in 2006, which produced three areas, was prepared and presented to a number of concrete recommendations the Youth Ministers. to improve the cooperation between the Finnish Presidency YFJ and the NYC in the country holding the Presidency. Finland took over the Presidency of the European Union on 1 July and held its Youth EUROPEAN UNION AFFAIRS Event at the opening of its Presidency. The COMMISSION work of the Finnish Presidency in the fi eld The European Union Affairs Commission of youth was focussed on the drafting of a (EUACOM) plays a key role in advising, Council Resolution on “implementing the supporting and advancing the policies common objectives for participation by and and work of the European Youth Forum. In information for young people in view of 2006, the EUACOM met on three occasions, promoting their active European citizenship”. in February, in May and in September. The The YFJ contributed to the development of EUACOM advised and provided feedback on this Resolution at various stages, and was the various EU related working areas and invited by the Finnish Presidency to present provided input for the European Youth Forum its views to the Council’s Youth Working Party policies and actions on the European Youth in September. Pact, the future Youth in Action programme, As during the Austrian Presidency, the YFJ the evaluation of the Open Method of cooperated closely with the Finnish National Coordination in the youth fi eld, mobility and Youth Council – Allianssi - with whom it jointly the mainstreaming of youth policy. Together employed a Presidency Project Offi cer, with the COEACOM, the EUACOM also provided who liaised between the different Finnish valuable input on the YFJ’s Policy Paper on ministries, the YFJ and Allianssi. its general approach to youth policy and on the Forum’s work on non-formal education. 99 European Union

In 2006 the members of the EU Affairs Commission were:

MEMBERS OF THE EU AFFAIRS COMMISSION IN 2006 SURNAME NAME ORGANISATION MANDATE EXPIRES James DOORLEY Chair Kerli ALBIN EEE-YFU 30-04-2008 Roger ALBINYANA I SAIGI LYMEC 30-04-2008 Silvia AYALA I RUBIO CNJC 30-04-2007 Erik Vad BRAENDGAARD DUF 30-04-2009 Chiara Stella CIPOLLETTA FNG 30-04-2008 Maria FARRUGIA JEF 30-04-2008 Mikaël GARNIER-LAVALLEY CNAJEP 30-04-2007 Ewa GASIOROWSKA WAGGGS 30-04-2008 Christoffer GRONSTAD LNU 30-04-2007 Tanja HELD YEU 30-04-2007 Michal KADERA EFIL 30-04-2008 Tania MATIAS CGJL 30-04-2009 Cédric MIFSUD KNZ- 30-04-2007 Ana MOHEDANO ESCOBAR CJE 30-04-2006 Marianne MOUNA Allianssi 30-04-2008 Stella-Leda PAPADOPOULOU IFMSA 30-04-2007 Tasmin PEARCE IFM-SEI 30-04-2009 Joint EUACOM and COEACOM meeting, September, Kay RITCHIE BYC 30-04-2008 Luca SCARPIELO OBESSU 30-04-2008 Tim SCHROCK IFM/SEI 30-04-2008 Violet SOEN VJR 30-04-2007 Nina SVENSSON LSU 30-04-2009 Roberta TEDESCO TRICCAS EDS 30-04-2006 Pedro VAZ CNJ 30-04-2009 Marie-Louise VAN MOOK Dutch NYC 30-04-2007 Martina VUK ECOSY 30-04-2008 Peter WOOD ECYC 30-04-2007

EUACOM meeting, May,Brussels 10 Council of Europe

As a privileged partner of the Council of YFJ’s work for 2006, as was the case for the Council of Europe Europe (CoE) in youth affairs, the YFJ Youth Event in St. Petersburg (September continued in 2006 to actively cooperate with 2006), organised by the Russian Presidency the Directorate of Youth and Sport (DYS), of the CoE Committee of Ministers, and for remaining involved in developing its policies the Diversity Youth Forum in October 2006 and implementing programmes. in Budapest. The YFJ also facilitated the involvement of its Member Organisations by Particular attention was given to the disseminating information on the campaign preparation and implementation of the and providing them with regular updates. European youth campaign All Different – All Equal, for diversity, human rights As a general contribution to the campaign, and participation, running between June the YFJ dedicated an edition of Youth 2006 and September 2007. The YFJ also Opinion to the campaign’s main themes. The

continued to contribute to and follow up publication in its English, French and Russian Bettina Schwarzmayr, the work of the statutory bodies of the DYS, versions has been widely distributed and Vice President of the participating as an observer in all meetings well received among stakeholders and the Youth Forum of the Programming Committee on Youth as general public. The YFJ has also engaged in well as of the Advisory and Joint Councils on the process of developing recommendations Youth. for the inclusiveness of youth organisations, offering guidelines and examples of good The YFJ was also satisfi ed to note that practice for inclusive and non-discriminatory the co-management system of the CoE work in the youth fi eld. This document will youth sector has been recognised as a accompany the manifesto ‘From Diversity to functional arrangement which enables youth Equality, the Missing Link’, elaborated in the organisations to be included effectively in past months and adopted at the YFJ General decision-making at the highest level. In his Assembly in November 2006 in . 2006 report “Council of Europe – European Union: A Sole Ambition for the European COOPERATION WITH THE YOUTH Continent”, Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime SECTOR OF THE COE IN 2006 Minister of stated that the The partnership between the YFJ and the DYS CoE “has perfected a working model which continues to be based upon an Administrative can be used to promote participation by Agreement, which was renewed for the third young people in democratic institutions and time in 2006. The planning of the concrete processes throughout Europe”. actions in this cooperation was achieved EUROPEAN YOUTH CAMPAIGN “ALL through the annual coordination meeting DIFFERENT - ALL EQUAL” between the YFJ and the DYS in January 2006. The All Different – All Equal campaign, the result of YFJ endeavours to follow up Furthermore, throughout 2006, the YFJ Launch of the campaign All on the 1995 anti-discrimination campaign followed developments on several fronts Different + All Equal, June, with the same title, started successfully in of the DYS mandate and/or participated Strasbourg 2006, has been at the forefront of the 2006 in meetings of various expert groups, YFJ – CoE partnership, and its programme notably on youth policy; the participation will continue well into the year 2007.The of young people in local and regional life; campaign was offi cially launched on 29 June the role of national youth councils in youth 2006 in Strasbourg, in the framework of the policy development; and on human rights Parliamentary Assembly summer plenary education. session. FINANCES The YFJ actively participated in the European The CoE works on a zero-growth budget: Steering Group of the campaign, as well as in with annually rising costs of staff, the the National Campaign Committees meetings. political decision to keep the European Court Participation in the planning and running of of Human Rights exempt from budgetary campaign-related events was also part of the restraints, and the planned renovation of 1111 Council of Europe

the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, the Norwegian Youth Council – LNU); the the budget for the organisation’s activities latter being organised together with the - including in the youth fi eld - is actually EUACOM. decreasing. In the past year, the COEACOM engaged In view of this, the YFJ reinforced its itself on and directed its advocacy towards lobbying of CoE Member States, urging them three major issues: fi rst, youth policy and to increase their voluntary contributions to the YFJ contribution to the elaboration of the European Youth Foundation (EYF). In a CoE document on youth policy, which is order to facilitate its Member Organisations to be completed for adoption at the next to lobby similarly their governments, the YFJ Conference of Youth Ministers in 2008; produced a leafl et outlining the importance second, activities of the Directorate of Youth of the EYF for youth non-governmental and Sport and their relevance for the current organisations (INYGOs) and drawing on the situation in the NGO fi eld; and third, the Balducci report, which acknowledged the CoE budget situation which, as mentioned effi ciency and enormous multiplying effect above, requires a search for new fi nancing of the EYF. possibilities.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE AFFAIRS Among other activities, the COEACOM also COMMISSION (COEACOM) continued to contribute to and closely follow the work of the Advisory Council on The Council of Europe Affairs Commission Youth, as well as the implementation of the held two meetings in 2006, the fi rst in All Different – All Equal campaign. February in (hosted by the National Youth Council of Moldova – CNTM), and the In 2006 the members of the CoE Affairs second in September in Norway (hosted by Commission were: MEMBERS OF THE COEACOM IN 2006 SURNAME NAME ORGANISATION MANDATE EXPIRES Bettina SCHWARZMAYR Chair Denis BARINOV NYCR 30-04-2009 Gaja BARTUSEVICIUTE LiJOT 30-04-2007 Georg BOLDT OBESSU 30-04-2008 Igor CASAPU CNTM 30-04-2008 COEACOM meeting, February, Nuno DA SILVA YEU 30-04-2007 Moldova Johan EKMAN Allianssi 30-04-2008 Etienne GENET CNAJEP 30-04-2009 Cory GREENLAND KNZ-Malta 30-04-2007 Kathrin GROTH DNK 30-04-2009 Regula HEGGLI CSAJ/SAJV 30-04-2009 Aninna HIRVONEN ECYC 30-04-2008 Aleksandar JOVANOVIC FYEG 30-04-2008 Martin KAASGAARD NIELSEN DUF 30-04-2009 Iren Tove LEA WAGGGS 30-04-2009 Gerard OOSTERWIJK Dutch NYC 30-04-2008 Christine ØVERLI ERIKSEN LNU 30-04-2008 Gediminas PLECKAITIS JECI-MIEC 30-04-2007 WOSM 30-04-2009 Fidel ROMANO ECOSY 30-04-2008 Nahn Nha RUYTER EEE-YFU 30-04-2009 Marija STAMBOLIEVA ESIB 30-04-2008 Bram VERMEIREN VJR 30-04-2007 1212 Kaspars ZALITIS LJP 30-04-2007 European Commission & Council of Europe

The European Youth Forum has been very the working meetings of the Covenant. European active in promoting its strategic vision for Under the Training pillar of the Covenant, Commission & the future of the European Commission- the European Youth Forum has been involved Council of Europe Framework Partnership Council of Europe in the Evaluation and in the development of agreement in the fi eld of youth - otherwise Framework the Curriculum of the European Citizenship known as the Covenant. Modules, which will now be developed Partnership A contribution for the Future Covenant outside the Covenant, as proposed by the agreement on on Youth, adopted by the Bureau, was YFJ. Trainers from the YFJ Pool of Trainers Youth published by the European Youth Forum have been active in running some of these and widely distributed to the stakeholders training modules. Following a proposal from of the Covenant, in the framework of the the YFJ, the Training area of the Covenant stakeholders and management meetings. will now mostly focus on innovative activities The Youth Forum also submitted a proposed and will no longer organise large-scale framework of activities with concrete training modules. The European Youth Forum proposals. Both have been taken into has also maintained its involvement on the account and have proven to be an essential editorial board of the Coyote magazine, contribution to the drafting of the 2007 providing contributions to recent issues. Work Plan of the Covenant. The YFJ made a The European Youth Forum has been substantial contribution active in all the Covenant consultation and to the Research dimension decision-making structures (Sectorial Group of the Covenant, with meetings and Consultative meetings), but YFJ representatives unfortunately not in its management board participating in the despite numerous requests being made. Research Seminars Such requests have however resulted in the organised throughout representatives of the statutory bodies of the the year (‘Human Council of Europe now taking part in some of rights, Diversity and Participation’, ‘Young People and Active European Citizenship’ and ‘Young people with fewer opportunities and volunteering’). The YFJ also closely followed developments around the European Knowledge Centre on Youth Policy, and was active in the Researchers network.

Co-organising a Euromed Seminar on Human Rights, Diversity and Participation, and advocating for a widening of the priority regions of the Covenant to Eastern Europe and Caucasus as well as South-East Europe, the Forum also maintained an active role in developments on the Euromed dimension of the Covenant.

1313 United Nations

United Nations Throughout 2006, the European Youth to the Youth Development Indicators Expert Forum maintained regular dialogue with Group Meeting. the United Nations Secretariat and System, 2006 also saw the launch of the World with the Department of Economic and Social Bank’s annual World Development Report Affairs (DESA) - in which the Focal Point on (WDR) entitled ‘Development and the Next Youth is located - its main partner within Generation’, which focussed on youth. The the Secretariat. The Forum participated in YFJ participated in the launch event in the forty-fourth session of the Commission Brussels, expressing constructive criticism on for Social Development which marked the the report, and engaged in dialogue with the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Bank to review the involvement of the Youth Decade for Poverty Eradication, and the 61st organisations in the Youth Development Session of United Nations General Assembly. Peace (YDP) network and its impact in the In terms of the specifi c UN Agencies, WB policies regarding youth. The YFJ also Funds and Programmes, with whom the contributed to the YDP network ‘Capacity YFJ worked, these were the International building for youth organisations’ workshop. Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural With regards to cooperation with other Organisation (UNESCO), the United Nations agencies in the UN system, the YFJ Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World participated in the establishment of the Bank. The YFJ also held meetings with the UNESCO Joint Programmatic Commission on newly appointed responsible for the UN Youth. Youth Focal Point and actively contributed

Renaldas Vaisbrodas at the vernissage of “Chasing the Dream” project, November, Brussels

14 Youth Policy in Europe

In 2006, the European Youth Forum was one of the recent foci in the work area Youth Policy in developed a coherent and holistic approach during the last year. Europe to youth policy, leading to the defi nition of The YFJ organised a seminar in , a YFJ approach to the issue which will be , hosted by the Czech Council further developed and implemented over for Children and Youth (CRDM), which the coming years. It also developed targeted tackled various aspects of participation such actions and activities on youth participation as its impact, the culture of participation, and volunteering, while contributing to the and partnerships with local and regional development of the institutional agenda and authorities. The seminar, entitled processes in the youth policy fi eld. ‘Participation Works!!!’, aimed at opening This new coherent approach to youth spaces for sharing experiences and views, to policy was defi ned in the main within the cater for the varied interests of participants YFJ Policy Paper ‘Meeting young people’s and also to raise awareness on the diverse needs’, adopted by the General Assembly aspects of youth participation. The theme in 2006. The policy document outlines was also addressed with respect to tools a comprehensive approach to the topic, and processes such at the Open Method of Jaakko Weuro, Bureau Member of the Youth independent of existing processes and Coordination - OMC, the Revised Charter on Forum applicable at local, regional, national, the Participation of Young People in Local European and international levels. It defi nes and Regional Life, and the World Programme the key principles and the cross-sectoral Action for Youth. framework for a coherent and global youth Stronger relationships were initiated by policy, and aims at determining a common the European Youth Forum with different framework regarding youth policy - spurning bodies, in order to deepen the work on the a narrow conception for a more holistic participation of young people at the local approach. and regional levels, with, for instance, In the process of seeking to ensure better the Assembly of European Regions and the mainstreaming of youth issues, the European Congress of local and regional authorities. Youth Forum contributed to the preliminary VOLUNTEERING note of the report to be published in 2007 on ‘Investing on youth: from childhood to Volunteering is at the core of each and every adulthood’, being drawn up by the Bureau of Member Organisation of the European Youth European Policy Advisors (a body attached to Forum. As a follow-up to the 2004 Policy the President of the European Commission). Paper on volunteering and also in view of the evaluation of the voluntary activities priority In this new framework approach to youth of the OMC, a volunteering Action Plan has policy, the development of national youth been developed and led to the production of policy was also enhanced by the YFJ building a Shadow Report on volunteering (also see knowledge and resources on the issue. The OMC chapter). YFJ also contributed in this regard to the revision of the International Youth Policy The YFJ collaborated with the European Reviews and the Advisory Missions of the Parliament in organising a hearing on Council of Europe. volunteering, ’Mainstreaming Volunteering in European Union Policy‘, which took place PARTICIPATION on 5 December - International Volunteer Youth participation is a key transversal Day. Around fi fteen representatives of issue in the work undertaken by the YFJ and YFJ Member Organisations attended the represents the promotion of the inclusive hearing, and in follow-up, a roadmap for and effective involvement of young people actions is being developed and worked on in the decision-making processes that have by the informal Intergroup on volunteering an impact on youth. The implementation of of the European Parliament and civil society the principle of youth participation at all partners - namely the YFJ, the European levels, based on existing tools and processes Volunteer Centre (CEV) and the Association 15 Youth Policy in Europe

of Voluntary Service Organisations (AVSO). EU OPEN METHOD OF The YFJ also began a cooperation process COORDINATION (OMC) IN THE with CEV, focusing mainly on the promotion YOUTH FIELD of the Manifesto on Volunteering. Study on OMC evaluation

In 2005, following an open call, the YFJ contracted two Finnish researchers from the Finnish Youth Research Society to work on the study on the evaluation of the Open Method of Coordination in the youth fi eld, and their report was delivered in 2006. This study is a crucial tool in the further developments of the OMC in the youth fi eld and over the long term regarding European youth policies. The fi nal results and outcomes of this Jaakko Weuro at the EP Hearing on independent study were published in Volunteering September 2006 and disseminated. The study is available on the YFJ’s website.

1. Information and Participation INFORMATION priorities

In the fi eld of information for young Shadow report on the implementation of the people, the European Youth Forum initiated two fi rst priorities of the OMC, Information collaboration with other organisations such and Participation as the European Youth Card Association The YFJ published a shadow report in April (EYCA). 2006 on the implementation of the Common RESEARCH Objectives: Information and Participation.

Besides its involvement in and follow up of This report is based on the national reports the work of different networks of researchers produced by National Youth Councils (NYCs), - such as the European Network for Youth and was used to elaborate the future policy Knowledge and the Network of experts on on EU youth policy and lobby the European youth research - and its participation in Commission in relation to the upcoming various research seminars, the YFJ also Communication on the review of the OMC contributed to the consultation regarding the and active citizenship. 8th theme social sciences and humanities of European Commission Communication the 7th Framework Programme for research on European policies concerning youth (2007-2013). participation and information

FUTURE OF EU YOUTH POLICY Published in July 2006, this communication DEVELOPMENT defi nes the means and objectives for improving

A Policy Paper on the Future of EU Youth the information for and participation of policy development was adopted by the young people, in order to secure their full Council of Members in April 2006 and involvement in democratic life - both at the established the European Youth Forum national and European levels. It calls upon vision for the coming years, in particular Member States to pursue actions aimed at on the issue of structured dialogue and the procuring better information; at encouraging improvements necessary for an effective and civic participation among the young; and ambitious Open Method of Coordination. The at introducing a structured dialogue with paper also reiterates that the OMC is part of young people on the European agenda. The youth policy in Europe and that the YFJ is YFJ contributed to the development of the advocating for cross-sectoral youth policy, content of the communication through its 16 own shadow report and Policy Paper on the and the mainstreaming of youth issues. Youth Policy in Europe

Future of EU Youth policy development, and youth organisations, and to envisage the delivered its reaction following publication future development of such networks. of the communication. Information and Networking Days Council Resolution on European Citizenship In the framework of the follow-up to the – 14 November White Paper on Youth, the YFJ continued The European Youth Forum submitted a to organise information and networking reaction to this resolution which underlines days for its Member Organisations. In 2006, the positive steps ahead but regrets the the fi rst took place in March, in Ljubljana, lack of involvement of civil society. In the hosted by the Slovenian Youth Council resolution itself, Member States commit to (MSS). The activity focused on voluntary produce national action plans/strategies to activities, resulting in the production of an better implement, monitor and evaluate the action plan on voluntary activities for 2006, OMC, particularly in regards to information which included the Shadow Report process and participation. on voluntary activities, and implementation 2. Voluntary activities priority of the YFJ Policy Paper on Volunteering. A Shadow Report on the implementation of second information and networking day was the third priority of the OMC Voluntary organised in May, and its main outcomes Activities were the development of the guidelines and guiding questions for the Shadow The YFJ produced guidelines and guiding Report on Volunteering and questions for the evaluation on the OMC’s the contributions to the third priority area - Voluntary activities. Volunteering Action Plan The Shadow Report was launched on 5 2006. A fi rst introduction to December (International Volunteer Day) the fourth priority area of during a hearing at the European Parliament the OMC - better knowledge on volunteering. This report details the of young people - was also situation vis-à-vis youth volunteering across provided during the activity. Europe, tackling various issues such as recognition, promotion, and also the legal Council of Europe’s Agenda status of volunteers, and relevant mobility 2020, “white paper on and visa issues. youth”

3. Research, knowledge & understanding of The Council of Europe is young people currently in the process of “European Network for Youth Knowledge developing a broad and more (EuNYK)” coherent, global approach to youth policy. Early in the Example of a copy The European Commission launched the related refl ection period, the European of the Shadow European Network for Youth Knowledge Youth Forum contributed by producing Report on 13 March 2006, with the fi rst meeting a position and giving its perspective and gathering researchers and representatives views on the process, calling for the latter from several Ministries and youth to lead to a Framework Convention on organisations. The main aim of this meeting youth policies which would ensure a legal was to get a picture of the existing youth framework to develop youth policy within researcher networks in Europe, and of their CoE Member States. collaboration with decision makers and

17 Education

Education Following adoption in November 2005 of In view of the developments in the work of the Policy Paper “Recognition of non-formal the European Youth Forum in the fi eld of NFE education: Confi rming real competences of since 2000 and, in particular, the adoption of young people in the knowledge society”, the Policy Paper on NFE in November 2005, the European Youth Forum has actively the YFJ decided to organise an inaugural worked on promoting and implementating dialogue on the recognition of NFE, which the recommendations in the paper, in its brought together representatives of Member engagement with its institutional partners Organisations of the YFJ together with – i.e. the European Union, the Council of offi cials from the European Commission, the Europe, and also the World Bank. Promotion Council of Europe, trade unions, the World consisted in making the YFJ policy known and Bank, CEDEFOP, and the European Association visible, while implementation lead to several for the Education of Adults, among others. actions and activities, such as contributing to several Non-formal education (NFE) related This dialogue initiative, providing a space for expert groups or to the organisation of an networking between these actors, focused inaugural dialogue on the recognition of NFE. on the recognition of NFE and the skills and The YFJ was also invited to present the Policy competencies acquired through it. In this Paper during the EU Youth Working Party, in framework, the activity also contributed to the framework of the Council’s resolution the further development of tools such as on the values of non- formal and informal the Portfolio for Youth Workers and Youth learning; as well as within the framework of Leaders, the Youthpass, and the Europass; the development of the Europass youth. the development of quality standards or quality indicators in the fi eld of NFE; and RESOLUTION ON THE VALUES OF NON- to engagements to pursue further research FORMAL EDUCATION AND INFORMAL on the impact of NFE. This dialogue has LEARNING established a process, with further similar sessions foreseen in the future. The YFJ closely followed the process leading to the Council’s adoption, under the Austrian EUROPEAN PORTFOLIO FOR YOUTH EU Presidency in May 2006, of the resolution WORKERS AND YOUTH LEADERS on the values of non formal and informal learning, which invites the EU Member States The European Portfolio for youth workers and the Commission to encourage further and youth leaders was developed, tested by research on the impact of non-formal and practitioners, and evaluated, and has recently informal learning and motivate the social been reviewed and re-designed accordingly. partners to acknowledge the quality and The Portfolio is now in its fi nalisation stage diversity of non-formal and informal learning; and will be offi cially launched in spring 2007. similarly, to recognise its social and economic As a member of the expert group which added value. The European Youth Forum sees developed the Portfolio, the European Youth this resolution as an important step forward in Forum very much welcomed the initiative as the recognition of NFE process. Furthermore, an innovative and valuable self-assessment the Forum contributed to the drafting tool in the framework of non-formal process and focused its input on three main education. issues: the role of youth organisations as a main provider of non-formal education, the EUROPASS YOUTH difference between non-formal learning and non-formal education, and on non-formal The European Youth Forum actively education in a life wide perspective. contributed to the working group on the ‘Europass youth’, initiated by the European INAUGURAL DIALOGUE ON THE Commission, whose’ role is to develop a RECOGNITION OF NON-FORMAL comparable and transparent youth-specifi c EDUCATION element within the current18 Europass - 18 to identify and recognise the skills and Education competences acquired by young people TRAINING through non-formal and informal learning in the youth fi eld, while taking into account the The ‘Vocational and Education Training’ specifi c situation in each Member State. The (VET) is a result of the Copenhagen and results of the working group will provide a Bologna processes, and forms part of the map of the fi eld in different Member States, initiatives developed under the ET 2010, an operational level for recognition, and a which integrates all actions in the fi elds of content base for the further developments education and training at European level, of Europass in the youth fi eld. It should also including VET. In the context of a large-scale build substantial links between youth and research project, the ‘MoVE-iT: study on education and training. mobility obstacles and solutions in Vocational Education and Training’ carried out for KEY COMPETENCES the European Commission and focusing on identifying existing obstacles to the Since the adoption of a proposal for a mobility of apprenticeships across Europe, recommendation on ‘Key competences for the European Youth Forum was invited to Lifelong Learning – A European Reference contribute to the main recommendations and Framework’ by the Commission in November conclusions of the research: this contribution 2005, the European Youth Forum followed is currently under development. the various developments around these ‘Key Competences’ up to the adoption of LIFELONG LEARNING INTEGRATED the proposal by the European Parliament PROGRAMMES – ‘JUNIOR ERASMUS’ in September 2006. This recommendation provides a European reference tool on key Building on previous consultation processes competences that, for instance, young people with the European Commission, and following need for adult life, for further learning and the adoption of a Position Paper on Junior for participating actively in society. Erasmus (JE) by its Member Organisations in April 2005, the European Youth Forum EDUCATION AND TRAINING 2010 – continued to follow-up the developments LIFELONG GUIDANCE GROUP related to this “individual pupil mobility” action that will be launched under the The European Youth Forum participated in Comenius programme - in the framework the Lifelong Guidance Group, which is aimed of the newly adopted Lifelong Learning at strengthening guidance polices, systems integrated Programmes. The European and practices as part of the implementation Commission, after a two-year pilot project of the ‘Council Resolution on the promotion that began at the end of 2006, will evaluate of enhanced European co-operation in the relevance of maintaining this action, vocational education and training’ and the and the European Youth Forum has duly put follow-up to the Commission’s Communication forward its contribution to the review and on Lifelong Learning. fi nal design of Junior Erasmus.

Looking at the increasing need to better GLOBAL EDUCATION follow-up actions and developments in the fi eld of Education and Training, meetings Recognising its on-going cooperation with with the Directorate General Education and the North-South Centre of the Council of Culture (DG EAC) of the European Commission Europe, as well as its increasing work on took place in order to further examine the Global Education, the European Youth Forum possibility for the YFJ to actively contribute has decided to join the Global Education to the work of the group. Week Network (GEW) of the NSC. In this context the YFJ has also agreed to engage in EDUCATION AND TRAINING 2010 a consultation process on the development – VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND of guidelines for Global Education. 19 Training

Training policy TRAINING POLICY AND STRATEGY OF Organisations was organised in July in and strategy of THE EUROPEAN YOUTH FORUM Brussels. Recommendations for ensuring inclusiveness in Youth Organisations were the European Continuing the involvement of the Pool further developed by the Bureau and the Youth Forum of Trainers in the different policy areas Secretariat of the YFJ, building on the work of the European Youth Forum and further of the sub-group. developing the services provided to Member Organisations were the main objectives A Subgroup meeting of the PoT on Global of the Training area in 2006. Very positive Education and a meeting with Asian and concrete results have been achieved, trainers on Euro-Asian cooperation in the reinforcing the role of Training as a cross- Training area were organised in October, sectorial dimension of youth work and in the framework of the University on youth policy. The YFJ continued to bring its Youth and Development in Mollina. ASEF, perspective to the work of its institutional the Asia-Europe Foundation, organised the partners in the training area, at the same participation of Asian trainers and emerged time widening the range of those partners this year as a new partner for the Training and identifying new partner institutions. area of the YFJ. The work on Global Education Peter Torp Madsen, Bureau Member of allowed the follow-up of initiatives from the Youth Forum THE POOL OF TRAINERS (POT) 2005 and the proposal of Training schemes aimed at mainstreaming global education in The Pool of Trainers 2005-2006, composed Youth Organisations. of 40 trainers from the YFJ Member Organisations, ended its mandate in The last sub-group meeting of the PoT 2005- December 2006 having provided high-quality 2006 took place in , in November, training expertise to the YFJ’s Member and focused on Training Capacity Building Organisations and Institutional partners and the development of training methods throughout the year. and methodologies to foster the training dimension of Youth Organisations in South The annual meeting of the Pool of Trainers East Europe. took place in April in Preddvor, , and was hosted by MSS, the National Youth The Pool of Trainers has continued to Council of Slovenia. The main meeting provide a valuable service to the Member focused on the evaluation of the training Organisations of the European Youth Forum activities delivered by the PoT, the review of and to its Institutional Partners (Council the previous action plan, and the defi nition of Europe, European Commission) who of an action plan for 2006, with the trainers continued to identify the Pool as a high- being introduced to different working areas quality training resource. This was endorsed of the YFJ such as Health, Youth Work for example by the fact that PoT members Development and on the All Different All facilitated the Austrian EU Presidency youth Equal campaign. event, and by the numerous requests for trainers received this year. Similarly, this was Subgroup meetings were also organised, refl ected by the survey launched in May, on following the successful introduction of the needs of MOs in terms of training, their that concept in 2005. Three sub-groups, training policies, and on their use of the PoT; gathering six trainers and, depending on the results of this survey were an essential the issue tackled, other experts from the contribution to the further defi nition of the YFJ Commissions or Working groups, were YFJ’s work in the training fi eld. organised in 2006. COOPERATION WITH OUR A Subgroup meeting of the PoT on the INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS IN THE development of a code of conduct FIELD OF TRAINING 20 to promote inclusiveness in Youth Training

Throughout 2006, the European Youth Forum engaged in different cooperation processes with new partners in the training fi eld (e.g. South East Europe training coalition, ASEF), and continued to work with its main Institutional Partners.

TRAINING AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The involvement of the European Youth Forum in the statutory bodies of the Council of Europe in the youth fi eld, as well as the regular meetings held between the YFJ and the Educational teams of the Council of Europe, allowed the YFJ to continue to infl uence the training policies and programmes provided by the DYS. The YFJ has continued to nominate trainers and resource persons to the training teams of Members of the YFJ POT with Asian trainers the DYS, for the regular Training Courses and at the University of Youth and Development for the Field activities unit.

TRAINING AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND SALTO RESOURCE CENTRES

The European Youth Forum participated in the defi nition of the Training Strategy of the new Youth in Action programme as well as in the planning of the training offers of the National Agencies and SALTO resource centres for 2007. It also contributed to the elaboration of the work plan of some of the SALTO centres. The adoption by the Bureau of a strategy for YFJ relations with the regional SALTO resource centres has been a milestone in the development of structured and regular relations with them.

2121 Mobility

Mobility MOBILITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE After the decision of the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council to increase the cost of The work on mobility undertaken in the year visas, in order to help fi nance biometric data 2006 concentrated primarily on activities collection and the furthering of the future and efforts in the framework of the ‘Get VIS, the YFJ issued press releases responding VISAble’ campaign, which focuses on the to the move, and intensifi ed its advocacy removal of visa obstacles for young people. work in the fi eld. Meetings have been held and contacts established with different The www.getvisable.org homepage became political groups in the European Parliament, a resource on mobility, providing information European Commission, immigration/visa on campaign activities and access to experts, and with NGOs specialised in human Jan Kreutz, relevant YFJ and EU documents, along rights. Several MEPs have accepted the YFJ Bureau Member of the with other useful publications on mobility proposal to launch a study on the situation Youth Forum and visa related issues. The discussion of youth mobility in Europe, and the Forum, forum allows young people to share best in cooperation with MEPs, will investigate practice on lobby and advocacy strategies the possibility of introducing amendments and to share experience regarding visa to the Community Code on Visas, with the issuing processes. The website is constantly aim of achieving better recognition for updated and follows developments related youth work, volunteering and civil society to mobility processes, taking account of activities. youth organisation, legislative and scientifi c points of view. The end of the year saw a further European Youth Forum event on mobility, with a A campaign leafl et was also widely distributed seminar in Brussels focusing on recently to all institutions and partners. published legal texts and policy documents related to the theme. The seminar boasted a The European Youth Forum has been closely training dimension, with participants working following developments related to visa on strategic lobby planning, lobby skills, and legislation, and organised several briefi ngs for the identifi cation of relevant lobby targets. MOs on the main developments in visa policy The seminar also provided an opportunity - more specifi cally on the Visa Information for participants to hear of developments on System (VIS); the Common Consular the ‘Get VISAble’ campaign, and to debate Instructions (CCI); the state of affairs in with international NGO representatives the EU visa legislation procedures; and, and lobbyists from Brussels to get a further on the proposal from the Commission for a glimpse of successful EU lobbying methods. Community Code on Visas, replacing the CCI.

‘GET VISAble’ Campaign logo

Mobility seminar, Brussels, October

2222 Employment & Social Inclusion

In 2006, the European Youth Forum intensifi ed on the active inclusion of the people Employment & its work in the fi eld of youth employment furthest from the labour market and to and social inclusion, increasingly seizing the Commission fi rst stage consultation on Social Inclusion the attention of European policy makers, the reconciliation of professional, private as refl ected in the recommendation of the and family life. In order to facilitate youth Spring European Council to make progress organisations’ access to the European Social on the European Youth Pact implementation Fund, the YFJ initiated a dialogue with and its demand to EU Member States to the European Commission on the matter develop “more effective inter-sectoral and provided youth organisations with strategies” and to “involve young people and information on the fund. youth organisations in the implementation” of the pact”. Throughout the year, the Youth Forum participated in a series of institutional Throughout the year, the YFJ used a series of events, which enabled it to make heard means to infl uence policy makers’ approaches the views of young peoples on employment to youth employment and social inclusion and social inclusion. The Youth Forum Marta Escribano, issues, calling for the mainstreaming of participated in the troika meetings held by Bureau Member of the youth in European social policies and for the Austrian and Finnish EU Presidencies the consideration of youth organisations as immediately to the informal Councils Youth Forum natural partners for policy makers when on employment and social affairs in January dealing with youth employment and social and July. In May, the Youth Forum took an inclusion issues. active role in the European Employment Week 2006, and was then closely involved in In April, based on the work of the Working the preparation of the Commission seminar Group on Social Inclusion, whose last “inclusion strategies for young people meeting was held in February, the Youth with fewer opportunities”, which was Forum adopted a comprehensive Policy jointly organised by DG EAC and DG EMPL Paper on social inclusion through youth in September. It is worth noting that this participation. This Policy Paper set out seminar was an example of more effective clear demands to policy makers regarding inter-sectoral work on youth employment the social inclusion of young people, while and social inclusion at the European level. at the same time underlining the role that In addition, the Youth Forum participated in active civic youth participation can play as the European Union roundtable on poverty an important element of any policy aiming and social exclusion, and in the fi rst ever to improve social inclusion levels for all forum on Europe’s demographic future, young people living in Europe. On the basis which were both held in October. of this Policy Paper, the Youth Forum started an internal refl ection on how to make youth Although the Youth Forum traditionally works work and youth organisations more inclusive on youth employment and social inclusion Marta Escribano with EC and and attractive to young people with fewer issues at the European Union level in 2006, it governmental representatives opportunities. began a dialogue with the Council of Europe at the Employment seminar in Division on Social Cohesion and with the Vienna Another striking example of the Youth OECD regarding youth employment and social Forum contribution to the European debate inclusion issues. The YFJ also considered the on youth employment was the YFJ seminar growing interest of the European Union to on employment – ‘Youth and jobs: The way cooperate with the International Labour forward…’, held in June in , and Organisation on the “decent work” agenda organised with the support of OJV, the in Europe and at the global level, and was National Youth Council in Austria, in the able to contribute to this debate through framework of the Austrian Presidency of the its contributions to the work of the United EU. The event saw the Youth Forum gathering Nations Youth Employment Network. At the together youth organisations, civil society UN level, the Youth Forum also took part in partners and policy makers from the national the Commission for Social Development in and European levels, including an important February. number of government representatives and European Commission offi cials, to engage Across the work in this fi eld, the European in a dialogue on the needs and priorities Youth Forum intensifi ed its partnership with of young people in terms of access to other civil society actors on employment employment. and social inclusion, notably through participating in the meetings of the Social The Youth Forum also closely followed and Platform working group on social policy. The contributed to the work of the European Youth Forum also developed its partnership Union in the framework of the Lisbon strategy and the Open Method of Coordination on with AGE – the European Older People’s social inclusion and social protection. It platform and the European Women’s Lobby contributed to the Commission consultation on demographic change issues. 2323 Equality & Human Rights

Equality & The European Youth Forum further developed The YFJ also actively participated in the NGO its work in the fi eld of equality and human Working Group on Multiple Discrimination in Human Rights rights with the production of a Policy paper order to develop more knowledge on the on Equality and Diversity, which encapsulates concept of multiple discrimination, and bring young people’s vision on how to embrace the the perspective of youth organisations’ into existing diversity of Europe. This landmark the debate. The possibilities for running joint Policy Paper was the basis of a series of projects to combat multiple discrimination actions, which allowed the Youth Forum to with the fellow NGO platforms taking part in position itself as a key promoter of Equality this group were also explored - the members and Human Rights in Europe. of this working group being: Age Europe, the European Women’s Lobby, the European The YFJ thus ensured a policy framework Network Against Racism, ILGA Europe and for its contribution to the Council of Europe the European Disability Forum. campaign ‘All different – All equal’ and the Hiroshima Mandee, European Union campaign ‘For diversity - Youth organisations are convinced Bureau Member of the Against discrimination’, and also engaged promoters of gender equality, and with Youth Forum in fruitful cooperation with the European the aim of becoming a leader organisation Commission to secure a signifi cant youth in the promotion of gender equality, the dimension to the 2007 European Year of Equal Youth Forum decided to develop internal Opportunities for All. Similarly, it began mechanisms to monitor the gender balance work to mobilise its Member Organisations of participants in statutory YFJ meetings; to ensure the full contribution of the furthermore, closer dialogue was maintained Youth Forum to the 2008 European Year on with the European Women’s Lobby on gender Intercultural Dialogue. The Forum was also issues. The Youth Forum also participated engaged in a constructive dialogue with the in the Commission conference held in May Council of Europe regarding the White Paper to launch the European Union roadmap on on Intercultural Dialogue which is foreseen gender equality 2006-2010, and welcomed to be fi nalised by the end of 2007. the European Council’s adoption of a European Pact for Gender Equality in March. In 2006, the YFJ engaged with new institutional partners in the fi eld of Equality Following the adoption of a Memorandum and Human Rights - assisting the UNESCO of Understanding between the YFJ and the section for Youth with the preparation European Disability Forum, the Youth Forum of the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Forum also contributed to the organisation of the held in in November; and initiating European Day of People with Disabilities constructive dialogue with the OSCE Offi ce 2006, the focus of which was young disabled for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights people. (ODIHR), with the view to creating an OSCE Youth Forum. The YFJ also contributed to the Reacting strongly to several acts of open General Policy Recommendation on racism at discrimination against young Lesbian, Gay, school produced by the European Commission Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). Europe, the European Youth Forum adopted a resolution against Homophobia in November. When engaging with its institutional partners on Equality and Human Rights issues, the An additional focus of the Forum’s work in Youth Forum always promoted the work done the Equality and Human Rights fi eld has been by the Faith Based Expert Group, in which violence, with the YFJ convening an Expert Group meeting on violence in July and the YFJ continued to play a facilitating role adopting a comprehensive Position Paper on in 2006. the issue, in November. This Position Paper highlights the role youth organisations can Besides institutional partnerships, the play in preventing and combating violence Youth Forum engaged in closer cooperation and will form the basis for all further YFJ processes with civil society partners, for action on this theme - such as its involvement example, following and contributing to the in the Council of Europe Campaign to combat work of the Social Platform Working Group on violence against women that was launched in 24 Fundamental Rights and Non Discrimination. November. Health

HEALTH Their mandate ended during the year with the Health production of a report on alcohol policy. This The European Youth Forum continued its report included a series of recommendations, active work on health issues by focusing based on the results of the questionnaire sent specifi cally on two fi elds of work while laying out to youth organisations around Europe, the basis for future actions within other the results of which were analysed by an areas. alcohol policy researcher. The Working Group contribution was included in the fi nal report TOBACCO of the Bridging the Gap project and is being used as the basis for a future YFJ position The largest project organised this year paper on alcohol. was the ‘Young People for a Life without Tobacco?’ project, carried out in the The Working Group was made possible framework of the European Commission’s through cooperation with Eurocare, who Help campaign and aimed at gathering also established an alcohol advocacy training young people’s opinions on tobacco policy course for youth organisations, to which the and engaging youth organisations in policy YFJ contributed by selecting making. In order to support the project participants and trainers implementation, a Steering Group composed from youth organisations. of four representatives from YFJ Member This training course took Organisations was established in 2005, and place ahead of the fi nal continued to follow the project during 2006. conference of the three year A dedicated website with information and a Bridging the Gap Project discussion forum was also set up, and these (BtG), which itself aimed tools supported to the central part of the at supporting a network of project: consultations carried out across the European actors working EU by the Member Organisations of YFJ. The on alcohol policy; the YFJ formats of the consultations ranged from visits maintained engagement to schools, questionnaires, conferences, and with this project throughout Participants at the European Conference on seminars. Based on the views of the thousands its lifespan. Tobacco of young Europeans consulted between January and April, national manifestos on During 2006, the YFJ also tobacco policy were elaborated. took part in several other meetings related to alcohol policy, such as the Pathways to In May, around 180 of the people involved Health Project which aims at building up a in the national consultations met in a fi nal database of innovative ways of working with convention in Brussels in order to agree on alcohol policy, and the Alcohol Policy Network a joint European Manifesto. The European meeting in . Manifesto also laid the basis for the Position Paper of the YFJ on Tobacco that was adopted OTHER HEALTH AREAS during the General Assembly. The paper outlines the important negative effects The work undertaken on Tobacco and Alcohol tobacco has on young people as well as the related issues clearly raised the profi le of role youth organisations can play within this the YFJ as an active organisation within the domain. health policy area, and led to an increased understanding of the benefi ts of involving ALCOHOL youth organisations when working on health issues. The YFJ also monitored debates in Alcohol policy has become an area in which other health areas and duly took part in the YFJ is now recognised as an important general discussions on health within the actor. In 2006, this was refl ected in the EU – in, for example, the two Health Policy alcohol policy roundtables organised by the Forums organised during the year, as well YFJ ahead of the Commission alcohol strategy, as the meetings of the stakeholder peer- and in the press release produced ahead of review group of the European Commission’s the College of Commissioners discussion on Directorate General for Health and Consumer the strategy. Protection. Contacts were also established with actors working on Sexual and Much of the work in this policy area has been Reproductive Health and Rights, and the YFJ focused on the work done by the YFJ Working participated in the two roundtables on Safer Group on alcohol policy, composed of 6 Sex organised by the European Commission at representatives25 of Member Organisations. the end of 2006. 25 Research Sustainable DevelopmentResearch

Sustainable The adoption of a Policy Paper on Sustainable Development Development in April 2006, marked a major The YFJ has also continued to follow the step forward in the work to include the issue global sustainable development agenda as a cross-sectoral dimension of the YFJ. The by taking part in the UN Commission for Policy Paper was built during a consultation Sustainable Development (CSD) and has process and based on the Guidelines for the further developed its knowledge on issues Policy Work of Sustainable Development such as climate change and energy. adopted by the YFJ earlier in the same year. The paper outlines the importance MDGS of sustainable development issues (such as poverty, climate change, environment) The YFJ has taken a more active role in for young people as well as the role youth promoting the Millennium Development organisations can play in this regard. The Goals (MDG), with its commitment outlined paper has been distributed to relevant actors in an internal MDG-plan. In 2006, the and has also been used in lobbying activities YFJ also strengthened its contacts with Leif Holmberg, carried out concerning the EU Sustainable the UN Millennium Campaign through a Bureau Member of the Development Strategy. The paper has Memorandum of Understanding focusing Youth Forum resulted in a more outward and active work on cooperation between the two partners of the YFJ on Sustainable Development. Apart in order to promote the MDGs. Through from policy-work, an internal environmental funding from the Millennium Campaign, the plan has also been implemented in the view YFJ organised Information and Networking of including sustainable development in all Days in March in Bonn, during which Member work of YFJ. Organisations discussed how they could promote the MDGs. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The YFJ also produced two materials relating STRATEGY to the Millenium Development Goals: a brochure on the MDGs and a more elaborate In 2006, the EU adopted publication focusing specifi cally on youth a reviewed sustainable involvement in development issues. development strategy, representing a more long- Regarding the work done on the MDGs, the Cover page of the publication ‘Development term commitment to the YFJ looked more at the need for a youth needs youth!’ issue, and which can be seen dimension in development policy; as such, as the overall framework for relevant contacts were established with EU policies such as the Lisbon the European Commission, with the Forum Strategy. Through participation in meetings, giving feedback to specifi c EU development lobbying, and direct contacts with Member policies and also participating as observers in States, the YFJ pushed for a youth dimension the Concord policy working group. A further to be present in the strategy, which was not example of the work done in this area was the the case for the former one. The Council YFJ’s presence during the EU Development decided to add a special paragraph on Days, which gathered participants from the youth that highlights the importance of development community and governments, the Youth Pact and invites young people to and at which the Forum organised a side- feed into sustainable development policies event on the Africa Europe Youth Summit that concern them during each Presidency. together with the North South Centre of the Moreover, the European Youth Forum is one Council of Europe and manned an exhibition of the few civil society organisations that is stall. directly mentioned in the strategy. 2626 262626 YouthResearch Work Development Research

DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH WORK IN TRAINING EVENTS EUROPE Youth Work Continuing the cycle of capacity building Development The development of youth work and youth events organised within the framework policy are two intertwined elements, that of youth work development, the YFJ co- indicate the level of sustainability of youth organised a Training event on Improving NGOs and the state of youth civil society National Youth Work – Exchange of Knowledge at local, national, and international levels and Practice, together with Youth Society Europe-wide. for Peace and Development in the Balkans (a Bulgarian member organisation of EBCO). Throughout 2006, the European Youth Forum The event was held in Varna, in September, based its Youth Work Development (YWD) work and brought together representatives of YFJ on the following three pillars: a proactive Member Organisations in order to share good approach to YWD; recognition that the YFJ practice for capacity building and infl uencing is strong when its Member Organisations national youth policy agendas. The event and youth work in Europe are strong and focused on fi ve main themes: the YFJ’s that through its work, the YFJ can build a work with Member Organisations; advocacy Mariana Turcan, comprehensive picture of the situation of and lobby work; monitoring youth policy Bureau Member of the youth work - as a key international player; implementation; cross-pillar cooperation Youth Forum and the creation of support mechanisms for and bringing European policies into practice the sustainability of youth work and policy at national and local level. in Europe. An Information and Networking Day on The sustainability of youth organisations South East Europe was organised in Skopje, throughout Europe, and the development of Macedonia, in June 2006, with the support of solid partnerships between youth NGOs and the National Agency for Youth. The activity public authorities have remained at the core fostered networking between Member of the work undertaken in the YWD area by Organisations active in the region, whilst the European Youth Forum. raising awareness on the need for increased national coordination of youth NGOs. WORKING GROUP ON YOUTH WORK Participants shared best practice and drafted DEVELOPMENT follow-up action plans.

In the context noted above, the Youth Work Two geographic areas were identifi ed as Development Working Group 2005-06 held priority regions in the YFJ Work Plan2005- the three fi nal meetings of its mandate in 2006, recognising the need for stronger Zagreb (March 2006), (May 2006) investment in YNGOs and their working and Utrecht (September 2006), all combined environment. These regions were Southeast with meetings with Member Organisations Europe and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, and state representatives from Croatia, which are duly the primary benefi ciaries of Finland and the , respectively. most YFJ actions taken within the framework of youth work development. However, The Working Group drafted recommendations continuous attention and work has been for the attention of the YFJ Bureau, related dedicated to Central European countries and to violations of the independence of youth Europe in general. NGOs in Europe, and also developed a tool for ensuring the sustainability of youth YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT IN organisations, based on national youth policy EASTERN EUROPE AND CAUCASUS and youth work examples collected from (EEC) Member Organisations. Other topics were addressed, including the EU Neighbourhood No or little administrative support from Policy, and27 the Development Cooperation governments, a lack of continuity in state 2727 programmes of new EU Member States. policy, a lack of a sustainable environment Youth Work Development

for the development of youth NGOs, a undertaken, by the YFJ, both before lack of communication and coordination and after the court ruling. These actions between international institutions, and the included: raising awareness on the closure marginalization of youth participation as a of RADA; lobbying of the EU; lobbying of the pillar of civil society development are a few Council of Europe; reactions from Member of the many obstacles to the development Organisations and partner youth NGOs; an of sustainable youth work in the EEC. The inquiry across YFJ MOs on the situation of European Youth Forum has thus proactively their branches/partners in Belarus, and the sought for innovative tools to address them. exchange of best practice; meetings with the Open Society Institute on civil society support The European Youth Forum has followed the in Belarus; liaison with other relevant NGOs; development of the Eastern and the production of a briefi ng note and European Youth Cooperation, subsequent regular updates on the situation where the seven countries in the country for members and partners of (Moldova, , , the YFJ. Belarus, , , and ) have created a The YFJ also conducted a support visit to common pool of information, RADA in order to learn more on the current gathered trainers for the situation of the platform and of youth NGOs region, and built their in Belarus, with an action plan of further capacity through different support being duly drafted; the Forum then thematic activities. The continued to provide essential support to European Youth Forum has youth NGOs in Belarus, involving its Member been present at several Organisations. The RADA case has also meetings and provided served as the basis for the YWD Working Members of the Working Group on Youth Work Development input, where relevant. Group to develop a paper on responding to infringements of YNGO independence. The series of study visits undertaken in the region of Eastern Europe YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT IN and the Caucasus was concluded with a study SOUTH EAST EUROPE visit to Russia, in October 2006, aimed at building knowledge on the situation of youth The YFJ has been approaching the region on work in this country. The National Youth a country-by-country basis, identifying the Council of Russia hosted and coordinated realities in the fi eld of youth, conducting meetings with its Member Organisations, country study visits, and giving input to Federal authorities, Regional and local policy development in the region. authorities and youth NGOs in the Yaroslavl region; a report from the study visit was A study visit to Croatia was conducted in subsequently distributed to members and March 2006, and meetings with the Croatian partners of the European Youth Forum. Youth Network (CYN) as the national umbrella structure in development, national and local SUPPORT TO YOUTH WORK IN public authorities and youth organisations BELARUS – RADA from Zagreb and Kutina were held. As part of the follow-up, the YFJ attended the National On 2 February, the Supreme Court of the Conference on Youth in Bjelolasica, Croatia, Republic of Belarus ruled that RADA, the organised by the Croatian Ministry for national youth council in Belarus, be closed Family, War veterans and Intergenerational down, based upon a long list of charges Solidarity, which hosted a large number of brought against it by the State. youth NGOs from all over the country.

Constant communication was maintained A study visit to Macedonia was conducted in 2828 with RADA, and coordinated actions October, with meetings held with national YouthResearch Work Development Research

and local authorities, and national and local Forum and these respective institutions, but NGOs in Skopje, Prilep and Bitola. During also aiming to involve these institutions the study visit, the YFJ met other actors in concrete joint activities supporting the involved in the fi eld of youth, such as the development of youth policy and youth work Danish Refugee Council and World Learning, at the national level in European countries in order to learn of their approach to youth – and particularly, in SEE and EEC. policy and youth work in Macedonia. NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONAL FOLLOW-UP National Youth Policy development has In support of youth policy development in become a bold agenda point in the work of SEE, the YFJ attended the Youth Net and both the YFJ and its Member Organisations. Interkulturelles Zentrum seminar on youth The Forum strongly advocated for a coherent employment and capacity building in Vienna; legislative framework, and a comprehensive the consultative meeting on national cross-sectoral youth policy that ensures youth policy development in SEE, organised the full involvement and participation of by the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the youth organisations. Despite the diversity of CoE; as well as the initial meeting organised models and challenges to youth policy, the by the German Community for Technical European Youth Forum assisted its Member Cooperation (GTZ) and the Bosnia and Organisations in the processes of development Herzegovina government on establishing a and implementation of National Youth Policy training coalition for SEE. in their respective countries, and lobbied for the recognition of the role and importance The constant YFJ presence in the region, of independent and strong youth work the amount of information collected and and youth organisations. The YFJ further experience gained creates a good basis for supported Member Organisations in raising future YFJ developments in this priority youth policy on domestic political agendas region. and re-establishing fruitful cooperation with state authorities. INSTITUTIONAL CO-OPERATION IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH WORK Following the needs identifi ed by Member DEVELOPMENT Organisations, the European Youth Forum focused on four main aspects: support for the Following study visits and requests from consolidation of youth NGOs at the national Member Organisations, the European Youth level; consultation on the development of Forum initiated institutional coordination national legislation; work with institutional meetings with the aim of ensuring coherence partners in the fi eld of National Youth Policy; among international actors whose work and the development and provision of new impacts on the development of youth tools with which youth NGOs can work and policy and youth work at the national level. lobby on National Youth Policy. Coordination meetings on different topics were organised with the Council of Europe In 2006, the European Youth Forum was, Directorate for Youth and Sports (Youth Policy through a proactive approach, able to Unit, European Youth Foundation, Field provide the necessary expertise on national Activities Unit), UNICEF, and the European youth policy to members and partners Commission (Youth Unit, SALTO regional in Croatia, , Macedonia, , centres for EEC and SEE), deepening not only , and ; such monitoring and the cooperation29 between the European Youth support will continue in 2007. 2929 Global Youth Work Development

Global Youth Work 2006 saw new steps in the consolidation Development of the ongoing processes of global youth YFJ involvement in the Youth Programme of the cooperation and participation in which the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe YFJ is involved. The YFJ also deepened its continued in 2006, through its participation institutional recognition and relations at the in the Executive Committee meetings. global and regional levels. Furthermore, the Forum reaffi rmed its support and contribution to the organisation Through its leading position in the Global of the University on Youth and Development Cooperation Coordination Committee where the North-South Centre plays a crucial (GCCC)1, the YFJ maintained a crucial role role. For the seventh time the University in relation to youth cooperation with other took place in Mollina, in October 2006; regions of the world, and at the same time, providing one week for debate, training, the

Joao Salviano Carmo, mobilised its political will to consolidate the exchange of ideas and the development of Bureau Member of the International Coordination Meeting of Youth joint projects between youth organisations. Youth Forum Organisations (ICMYO) in which it is actively The central theme of the University in 2006 engaged through the task force. was the ‘All Different, All Equal’ campaign.

The ICMYO constitutes a coalition of youth The Working Unit on Global Affairs and organisations that are representative and Cooperation promoted the exchange of legitimate both in the eyes of international good practice and information, and played institutions and of the youth movement a consultative role in the development of worldwide. In 2006, regional youth platforms the YFJ Policy Paper on UN and Global youth and international youth organisations with work development, adopted by the YFJ a global outreach came together for the General Assembly in November 2006. The third annual ICMYO meeting, in Medellín, Working Unit met twice in 2006. Colombia. The meeting reviewed the Global Youth agenda and the crucial role that the ICMYO had played throughout the year in relation to overall coordination with the Regional Youth UN Youth Focal Point, Cooperation the Youth Development and Peace network, The European Youth Forum also works the UNESCO Joint to develop greater understanding and Programmatic Committee solidarity between young people in Europe and the Youth Employment and other parts of the world, and to promote Network. frameworks for bilateral cooperation at the regional level. Part of the larger cooperation framework Roundtable at the EURO-LATIN AMERICAN YOUTH FEULAT with youth organisations COOPERATION in other regions is the 1% Solidarity Fund of the European Youth Forum, which provides The European Youth Forum continued its fi nancial assistance for youth organisations cooperation with the Latin American Youth to carry out development projects and Forum (FLAJ), with this work aimed at contribute to the cooperation and integration strengthening and developing FLAJ and the of youth organisations at the regional or sub- youth movement in Latin America. In order regional levels. In 2006, the European Youth to achieve these goals, concrete actions and Forum Solidarity Fund supported projects activities were developed: e.g. promoting presented by regional youth platforms in the participation of youth organisations Africa and Latin America related to the from Latin America in relevant international priorities expressed by the World Programme activities; facilitating contact between FLAJ 30 of Action for Youth. 3030 and international institutions operating Global Youth Work Development

in the region; and the co-organisation a seminar on youth policy development and of policy and thematic seminars and the youth participation in the context of Euro- regular exchange of information. For the Med youth cooperation; this taking place third time the Euro-Latin American Youth in the larger framework of the University Forum (FEULAT) was organised in Mollina, on Youth and Development. Attending as Spain, in October, in cooperation with the participants, the YFJ also took part in a Spanish Youth Institute, the Ibero-American seminar organised in the context of the Organisation for Youth (OIJ) and the Spanish Framework Agreement, focused on youth Youth Council (CJE). The Forum also policy, youth research and youth work in participated at the FLAJ General Assembly Euro-mediterranean youth cooperation. held during the University of Citizenship Participation in March in Uruguay. Aside from involvement in further similar events, in an effort to enlarge its scope STEERING GROUP ON THE MIDDLE of action in the Euro-Med region, the YFJ EAST YOUTH INITIATIVE signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue The aim of the Steering Group was to support between Cultures in 2006, which expresses the development of youth policies in the mutual interest in fostering relationships in Mediterranean region and to foster Euro- the framework of the EUROMED Mediterranean Youth Cooperation in the Partnership. context of a culture of peace. The members of the Steering Group also contributed to The YFJ also participated in the the elaboration of a policy paper on the EuroMed Civil Forum organised role of the European Youth Forum regarding by the Non-Governmental the development of youth and youth Platform in 2006. organisations towards a culture of peace in the Middle East region. (Footnotes) EURO-MEDITERRANEAN YOUTH 1 The Global Co-operation COOPERATION Co-ordinating Committee Role game at the seminar on Euro-Med cooperation (GCCC) is a network of regional non- During 2006 the European Youth Forum governmental youth platforms from around closely followed the signifi cant changes in the world. The current members are: the management of the Euro-Mediterranean the African Youth Network (RAJ/AYN), Youth Programme and participated in Arab Youth Union (AYU), Asian Students the programme’s selection committees. Association (ASA), Asian Youth Council Moreover, the YFJ participated and (AYC), Caribbean Federation of Youth (CFY), contributed to a meeting organised by European Youth Forum, Latin American SALTO to contribute to the launch and Youth Forum (FLAJ), Pacifi c Youth Council implementation of the third phase of the (PYC) and the Pan-African Youth Movement EuroMed Youth programme. In addition, (MPJ/PYM). The GCCC was established in the YFJ continued its participation in the 1997 and arose from the need for regional monitoring group of the Euro-Mediterranean youth platforms to co-operate and work Youth Platform, a tool created by the together on common global issues affecting European Commission in agreement with young people. The European Youth Forum the Maltese Government to support the convenes the GCCC at least once a year. implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Programme

In conjunction with the Council of Europe and European Commission partnership Framework Agreement, the Forum organised 31 Membership Development

Membership As the representative platform of youth Development organisations in Europe, the European Youth The CBMA met three times in 2006, in Forum remained open to all Youth NGOs with Feburary, June and October, and through an interest in becoming members, on the an extensive though rapid procedure, basis of their internal democracy, level of comprised of membership fi le analysis, a representation, independence, inclusivity, member cross-check survey, study visits and and subject to them working for and being an exchange of views, the CBMA produced led by young people. motivated reports on a signifi cant number of membership applications to the YFJ The greater visibility and success of the YFJ Bureau. in the European arena led to an increasing number of membership applications from a 2006 duly saw CIJOC (International variety of platforms of Youth NGOs. Coordination of ) and EFAY (European Free Alliance Youth) The YFJ Consultative Body on Membership become Observer Members of the European Applications (CBMA) - a statutory body of the Youth Forum. European Youth Forum – subsequently dealt with a high number of applications, analysing The CBMA was chaired by Aljosa Ravnikar in them with respect to the membership 2006 and was supported by the Secretary criteria set out by the Forum’s Statutes. General of the European Youth Forum.

MEMBERS OF THE CBMA 2005-2006 SURNAME NAME David GVINERIA Matina MAGKOU Aljosa RAVNIKAR Mads-Erik SCHIONNEMANN

3232 Press & Communications

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) celebrated methods of jointly promoting the YFJ’s Press & its tenth anniversary in 2006, and its anniversary. Communications communication throughout the year built upon the concept of togetherness and The celebration of the anniversary was itself strengthening bonds within the membership a manifestation of the anniversary motto ‘10 of the Youth Forum. The communication years together’ - recalling the merger of the tools developed throughout the year sought three youth platforms in 1996 which gave to reinforce the internal coherence achieved birth to the Youth Forum in its present form. within the Youth Forum and to refl ect this not A new corporate video was created for the only internally but also towards our external occasion, and a reception was held gathering stakeholders. former and current Bureau and Secretariat members, Member Organisation alumni, A big stride towards the consolidation of and relevant fi gures from the European the Forum’s communications strategy was Commission. the renovation of its corporate image and the harmonisation and modernisation of its communication tools - namely the Youth Forum website, the internal weekly e- mail (the Courier) and YFJ publications in general. With this in mind, guidelines and criteria for the organisation’s visual identity were developed. The redesign of the website however, did not simply entail a ‘makeover’ but also saw new technology being integrated into the site, to deal, inter alia, with the demands on an organisation with such a wide geographical scope. Thus, the site is designed Screen shot of the Courier, the internal weekly newsletter to ensure functionality and simplicity, but remain a solid platform able to incorporate innovative media. TAKING THE MESSAGE OUTSIDE

Secondly, efforts to build a common identity The YFJ’s work with its main institutional continued, using a new Internal Communication partners was supported by strong Plan as its compass. Further developments communication and press activity, with the were made to internal communication tools most visible cases refl ected across European (connecting members with each other, as media. well as with the Secretariat), namely the intranet, the Courier – with a new design in In the context of EU advocacy, two issues line with the Youth Forum website - and a benefi ted most from media interest: membership-wide Press and Communications Employment – in the framework of the debate Meeting, held in Lithuania. The main on Flexicurity and the debate over the Contrat objective of this meeting was to seek Premiere Emploi in ; and the campaign further cooperation in the fi eld of Press and for the removal of visa obstacles and support Communication - developing networking for RADA in Belarus. Moreover, the presence opportunities, sharing information on of the Youth Forum at important EU visibility campaign strategies and refl ecting on events, the development of its relationships possible partnerships and joint actions in with the media, and the launch of the ‘GET order to raise the visibility of European VISAble’ campaign - complemented by its youth organisations. It also served to devise own website www.getvisable.org - resulted 33 PressResearch & Communications Press & CommunicationsResearch

in wide coverage of the organisation by operates in 20 languages. The Youth Forum Brussels-based European media such as monitors and contributes to its Discussion Agence d’Europe, European Voice, European Forum, while shaping the development of Agenda and Euractive, and, repeatedly, by the entire Portal through its place on the large national media and news agencies such Steering Group. as BBC World, Radio France International or AGI. In the context of the YFJ’s work with the Council of Europe, major efforts were Following the publication of the White also directed at further nurturing the ‘All Paper on a European Communication Policy Different-All Equal’ campaign, with the YFJ by the European Commission, 2006 saw contributing extensively by publishing an Communication become an EU policy area in edition of the Youth Opinion magazine centred its own right. The Youth Forum developed a on the campaign pillar themes; producing contribution to the White Paper, emphasising promotional materials e.g. postcards; and the importance of truly bilateral and providing content for the campaign website citizen-centred communication, with higher and to Member Organisations and other standards of transparency and democracy stakeholders. in all EU approaches to Communication, so that In addition to these efforts, the University EU Communication starts on Youth and Development, which this year to be a way of in fact had as a thematic focus the issues of the listening to what citizens campaign, profi ted from the communications are saying. An example skills of the YFJ, with materials such as a of the support given by video and newsletters being produced, and theYouth Forum to such the event being promoted within the Spanish democratic initiatives media. during 2006, was its support and promotion In general, 2006 was a year in which the of the Europeans Citizens Youth Forum further equipped itself with Participants at the Press and Communications Initative (ECI) campaign, proven materials to promote, accompany Meeting, Lithuania, June which is seeking the legal and support its work at the political level; introduction of the right refl ected, for example in the large number of initiative for Europeans; of (tangible and e-) publications produced thus requiring EU institutions to respond to throughout the twelve months. every new proposal signed by at least one million EU citizens. The combination of technological media and strategic thinking, has allowed the Forum In addition, a particular European Union to effectively channel information across communication tool in which the Youth the membership and ensure European young Forum is especially involved is the Youth people have a loud, clear and informed Portal, which targets all young Europeans and voice in the political arena.

3434 3434 Finances and Administration

2006 was an important year for the future as well as statutory bodies and meetings, of the Youth Forum, as it represented the the division is represented on the second Finances and fi rst year of the organisation functioning graphic on the left side of this page. Administration with a new structure as the European Youth Forum. Complying with the decision taken In order to comply with the demands of the by the Youth Forum Member Organisations Youth Forum Member Organisations, the during the Extraordinary General Assembly partner institutions and the new Belgian held in Brussels, 22-23 April 2005, all regulations for Associations internationales personnel and contracts and obligations of sans but lucratif (AISBLs), there was a the Forum Jeunesse de l’Union Européenne strong and consistent commitment to ensure were thus transferred to the European Youth a responsible, transparent and effi cient Forum. This was also the year that new execution of the budget. Belgian legislation for International Non- profi t Organisations came into place, with This was supported by management tools, implications on the legal and accounting such as the analytical accountancy system procedures used by the YFJ. employed (cost-centers), Cash-Flow Plan and periodical “Tableaux de Bord”. Besides The operating grant provided by the European the use of these management tools, the Union to the Youth Forum was increased to Youth Forum also undertook several audits €2.266.0000, with the overall income of over the year, in particular an internal audit the Youth Forum surpassing €2.920.000; and consultancy undertaken by the Financial this thereby remaining at a similar level to Control Commission, and two further audits 2005. The total expenditure meanwhile was carried out by the external auditors, Ernst & slightly below that of 2005 (-1,1%), and as Young (appointed in the Madrid GA for 2005- a result, a slight surplus of approximately 2006). €27.000 was recorded. This is particularly relevant given that more In terms of expenditure, the largest allocation than 81% of the Youth Forum income derives of the Youth Forum budget was designated from annual grants from international to employment costs, representing 44,78% institutions. 77,5% of total income resulted of the total costs - deriving also from an from a grant from the European Communities’ increase of almost 17% in total costs. A Budget, through a grant from DG Education portion of these costs resulted from the and Culture, while around 3,5% comes from restructuring process pursued by the Youth Council of Europe grants. Forum, while also refl ecting the stability within the YFJ Secretariat over 2006, with These grants aim to support all European only fi ve new employees commencing work Youth Forum activity (from staff salaries to during the twelve-month period (compared costs for the different events organised) and to eleven in 2005). This is even more are governed by annual contracts. signifi cant in view of the fact that only two of the fi ve were fi lling vacancies that had Partnership projects were also an essential arisen due to unforeseen circumstances. part of Youth Forum income, and included the fi nancial support of partner organisations Efforts to reduce other running costs for concrete activities, such as Member continued, with a reduction of over 5% Organisations hosting YFJ meetings, or in Secretariat costs and a signifi cant grants from foundations or other entities, diminution in other running costs (including such as the United Nations, Governments or extraordinary costs), amounting to 58.000 Local Authorities. EUR (67%). This was also the outcome of a stricter application of the periodicity and The Volunteer Time Contribution is an precaution principles, implying that any essential part of the external funding expected or realised incomes and losses requirement of the Youth Forum, in order for a given year should be applied solely to fulfi ll co-funding requirements from the to that year – a major example being that European Commission. This is also relevant of provisions for expected differences as it is a further example of volunteer on the balance payment for a particular work being recognised as an important grant.Concerning the funds allocated to contribution to society and to the work of the execution of the Work Plan, namely youth organisations; these contributions activities and actions related to Youth Policy today represent 5,4% of the Youth Forum Development3535 and Youth Work Development, budget. 35 The Bureau

Division of Responsibilities of the Bureau PRESIDENT RENALDAS VAISBRODAS GENERAL COORDINATION & EXTERNAL RELATIONS ADVOCACY VICE-PRESIDENT JAMES DOORLEY EUROPEAN UNION PARTICIPATION YOUTH PACT VICE-PRESIDENT BETTINA SCHWARZMAYR COUNCIL OF EUROPE RESEARCH ON YOUTH POLICY ISSUES UNITED NATIONS JOAO SALVIANO CARMO GLOBAL YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT: ASIA, NORTH AMERICA, LATIN AMERICA HEALTH EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL INCLUSION MARTA ESCRIBANO GLOBAL YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT: EUROMED, YEN, NORTH-SOUTH CENTRE, GCCC SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LEIF HOLMBERG YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT IN SEE GLOBAL YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT: AFRICA AND THE WORLD BANK EU YOUTH PROGRAMME JAN KREUTZ MOBILITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE EU CONSTITUTION FINANCES 2006 EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS HIROSHIMA MANDEE CULTURAL DIVERSITY GLOBAL YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT: MIDDLE EAST TRAINING PETER TORP MADSEN INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT EU-COE COVENANTS EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY IN MARIANA TURCAN EUROPE YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT IN EEC OPEN METHOD OF COORDINATION (OMC) JAAKKO WEURO YOUTH MAINSTREAMING EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION RESTRUCTURING 3636 The Secretariat

Division of responsibilities of the Secretariat SECRETARY GENERAL’S OFFICE SECRETARY GENERAL DIOGO PINTO ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY MARK PERERA GENERAL PRESS & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER PATRICIA SANCHEZ PRESS & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER MARTA GOMEZ DEPARTMENT FOR YOUTH WORK AND POLICY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT LUIZA BARA EU RELATIONS COORDINATOR EWOUD ROES COUNCIL OF EUROPE RELATIONS LAURA ALCOVERRO COORDINATOR KELIG PUYET Diogo Pinto, KLAVDIJA CERNILOGAR Secretary General of the Youth Forum UN RELATIONS & GLOBAL YOUTH PABLO CAMESELLE ISSUES COORDINATOR EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL INCLUSION, MAXIME CERUTTI EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY OFFICER TRAINING POLICY OFFICER AYMERIC DUPONT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND LUDVIG HUBENDICK HEALTH POLICY OFFICER POLICY OFFICER ON TOBACCO SARAY ESPEJO PROJECT MANAGER YOUTH WORK TATIANA BASARAB DEVELOPMENT YOUTH POLICY IN EUROPE POLICY ALIX MASSON OFFICER YOUTH WORK DEVELOPMENT & ANTE MARTIC MOBILITY POLICY OFFICER EDUCATION POLICY OFFICER GISELE EVRARD EU PRESIDENCY OFFICERS NICOLA ORNIG (AT) ILMARI NALBANTOGLU (FI) ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE & FINANCIAL PEDRO DIAS DIRECTOR ACCOUNTANT AGATA PETCOV ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT MAIDER GOÑI IT/ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT BENOIT BENICH TRANSLATION & ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TEAM TEAM CO-ORDINATOR LUC RUMMENS TRANSLATOR - ASSISTANT ANNE DEBRABANDERE ASSISTANT NICOLE BURLET-PARENDEL

3737 Member Organisations of the European Youth Forum FULL MEMBERS NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCILS (NYCS) Suomen Nuorisoyhteistyö Allianssi ry - Allianssi (Finland); Belarusian Union of Youth and Children’s Public Associations – BUYCPA RADA (Belarus); - BYC (Great Britain); Conférence Générale de la Jeunesse Luxembourgoise - CGJL (Luxembourg); Consejo de la Juventud de España - CJE (Spain); Comité pour les Relations Nationales et Internationales des Associations de Jeunesse et d’Education Populaire - CNAJEP (France); Conselho Nacional de Juventude - CNJ (); Consell Nacional de la Joventut de Catalunya - CNJC (Spain-); Consiliul National Al Tineretului Din Moldova – CNTM (Moldova); Comité pour les Relations Internationales de Jeunesse - CRIJ (Belgium, French-speaking Community); National Youth Council of - SAJV/CSAJ (Switzerland); Cyprus Youth Council– CYC (Cyprus); Deutsches Nationalkomitee für Internationale Jugendarbeit - DNK (); Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd - DUF (Denmark); National Council of Hellas - ESYN (); Nemzetközi Ifjúsági Koordinációs Iroda – GYIK- NIKI (); Nationale Jeugdraad – JEUGDRAAD (Netherlands); Kunsill Nazzjonali Taz-Zghazagh - KNZ-Malta (Malta); Lietuvos Jaunimo Organizaciju Taryba - LIJOT (Lithuania); Latvijas Jaunatnes Padome - LJP (); Landsrådet for Norges barne - og ungdomsorganisasjoner - LNU (Norway); Landsrådet för Sveriges ungdomsorganisationer - LSU (); Landssamband æskulýðsfélaga - LÆF (Iceland); Mladinski Svet Slovenjie - MSS (Slovenia); National Assembly of Youth Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan – NAYORA (Azerbaijan); National Council of Youth Organisations of Georgia – NCYOG (Georgia); National Youth Council of Armenia – NYCA (Armenia); National Youth Council of - NYCI (Ireland); National Youth Council of Russia - NYCR (Russia); Österreichische Kinder- und Jugendvertretung - ÖJV (Austria); Rada Mládeže Slovenska - RMS (); - VJR (Belgium, Flemish-speaking Community). INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL YOUTH ORGANISATIONS (INGYOS) Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l’Europe – AEGEE Europe; Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations - ALLIANCE; International ATD Fourth World Movement - ATD-Quart Monde; Democrat Youth Community of Europe - DEMYC; European Bureau of Conscientious Objection - EBCO/BEOC; European Young Socialists - ECOSY; European Confederation of Youth Clubs - ECYC; European Democrat Students - EDS; European Educational Exchanges - - EEE-YFU; European Federation for Intercultural Learning - EFIL; European Federation of Youth Service Organisations - EFYSO; European Good Templars Youth Federation - EGTYF; The National Unions of Students in Europe - ESIB; European Trade Union Confederation - ETUC Youth; EU Federation of Youth Hostel Associations - EUFED; European Union of Jewish Students - EUJS/UEEJ; Experiment in Europe - EXPERIMENT; Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe - EYCE; International Federation of Parochial Youth Movements - ; Federation of the Young European Greens - FYEG; International Cultural Youth Exchange in Europe - ICYE; International Federation of Liberal Youth - IFLRY; International Falcon Movement - Socialist Educational International - IFM/SEI; International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth and Student Organisation - IGLYO; International Union of Socialist Youth - IUSY; International Young Naturefriends - IYNF; International Young Catholic Students - International Movement of Catholic Students - JECI-MIEC; Young European Federalists - JEF; European Young Christian Workers - JOC-Europe; - LYMEC; International Movement of Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth - MIJARC-Europe; Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions - OBESSU; – RYEurope; Service Civil International - SCI; World Organisation of Young Esperantists - TEJO; World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts - WAGGGS; World Organisation of the Scout Movement (European offi ce) - WOSM; European Region of the World Student Christian Federation - WSCF-Europe Region; Youth Action for Peace - YAP; Youth for Development and Co-operation - YDC; Youth and Environment Europe - YEE; Youth of the European People’s Party - YEPP; Youth for Exchange and Understanding - YEU; European Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations - YMCA; Young Women’s Christian Association - YWCA.

CANDIDATE MEMBERS NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCILS Eesti Noorteühenduste Liit - ENL (), Forum Nazionale dei Giovani - FNG () INTERNATIONAL NON GOVERNMENTAL YOUTH ORGANISATIONS International Federation of Medical Students’ Association – IFMSA; Youth of European Nationalities - YEN.

OBSERVER MEMBERS NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCILS Consiliul Tineretului Din - CTR (Romania); Rat der Deutschsprachigen Jugend - RDJ (Belgium, German-speaking Community). INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL YOUTH ORGANISATIONS European Council of Young Farmers – CEJA; European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions – CESI- Youth; Don Bosco Youth Net; European Council of Conscripts Organisations - ECCO; European Free Alliance Youth – EFAY; International Federation of Training Centres for the Promotion of Progressive Education - FICEMEA; International Federation for Educational Exchanges of Children and Adolescents – FIEEA; International Coordination of Young Christian Workers – ICYCW/CIJOC; Union of Jeunesses Musicales of Europe - Jeunesses Musicales; Nordic Centre Youth - NCY; International - Pax 3838 Christi; Red Cross Youth – RCY.

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