| Terms | Definitions |
| Accreditation |
Promoters wishing to participate in a European Voluntary Service (EVS) project must be accredited. Accreditation ensures common quality standards. In order to be accredited, promoters must fill in and submit an ‘Expression of Interest’ form, which mainly contains the general motivation and ideas of the promoter regarding EVS activities. More information in the section “European Voluntary Service”.
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| Best practice |
The transnational projects supported by the Youth in Action Programme are a means for project promoters, youth workers and participants to exchange practices and learn from one another. Best practices can be exemplary projects which have positively influenced systems and practices throughout their activities and results, and which are worth transferring and exploiting in different contexts and environments by new users or entities. At policy level, European cooperation in the youth field is also based on exchanging best practices. One way of improving policies is for governments to look at what is going on in other EU countries and to see what works best. They can then adopt this 'best practice', adapting it to their own national and local circumstances.
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| Body active at European level in the youth field |
European Non-Governmental Organisation (ENGO) that pursues a goal of general interest and whose activities are aimed at young people's participation in public life and in society and the development of European cooperation activities in the youth field. Its structure and activities must cover at least 8 Programme Countries.
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| Candidate country |
A country that has applied to join the European Union and that has officially been accepted as a candidate for accession to the European Union. More information
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| Communication |
In its Communications the European Commission expresses its opinions and proposals to Member States and other EU institutions, and commits itself to take action to foster the objectives of the Communications. Communications are sometimes referred to as "soft legislation", as they are non-binding forms of decision-making. The binding forms are Regulations, Directives and Decisions. As Youth policies fall within the competence of Member States, there are no binding EU decisions in this field.
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| Competencies |
This is eurojargon for 'powers and responsibilities'. It is often used in political discussions about what powers and responsibilities should be given to EU institutions and what should be left to national, regional and local authorities.Competent authority usually means the government department or other body responsible for dealing with a particular issue. It is 'competent' in the sense of having the legal power and responsibility.
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| Council of Europe |
The Council of Europe is not an EU institution. It is an intergovernmental organisation based in Strasbourg and it aims (amongst other things) to protect human rights, to promote Europe's cultural diversity and to combat social problems such as xenophobia and intolerence. The Council of Europe was set up in 1949 ans has 47 member states (2007).
The European Commission and the Council of Europe have established a Partnership in the youth field to enhance cooperation in the fields of youth training and youth research with a view to foster young people's active citizenship and intercultural dialogue and to promote a better knowledge of youth.
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| Council of the EU |
The Council of the European Union (“Council of Ministers” or “Council”) is one of the Union's main decision-making bodies. Its meetings are attended by Member State ministers, and it is thus the institution which represents the Member States. Sessions of the Council are convened by the Presidency, which sets the agenda. Its composition varies according to the subjects being dealt with (eg. Agriculture, Youth, Energy, etc.) NB: The Council of the EU and Council of Europe are different institutions.
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| Council recommendation |
A recommendation allows the Council to make its views known and to suggest a line of action without imposing any legal obligation on those to whom it is addressed (usually the Member States). In the youth field, the Council (of Youth Ministers) adopts conclusions, resolutions or recommendations. Compared to resolutions and conclusions, recommendations send a stronger message to the adressees. The first Council recommendation in the Youth field was the Recommendation on the Mobility of Young Volunteers Across the European Union, adopted on 20 November 2008.
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| Council resolution |
A Council resolution is a non-binding statement from the Council of the European Union, where the Council defines objectives and makes political declarations. Council resolutions are often referred to as "soft laws".
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| Dissemination and Exploitation of results |
Disseminate means to “spread widely”. Disseminating project results means spreading these results far and wide. Exploiting means “making use of and derive benefit from (a resource)”. A project should therefore be seen as a resource that can be useful for other potential beneficiaries. In other words, disseminating and exploiting the results of a project means making a project and its results known and useful for other people.
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| Eastern Europe and Caucasus |
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine.
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| EFTA/EEA Countries |
The three countries which are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and of the European Economic Area (EEA): Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The European Free Trade Association is an organization that was founded in 1960 to promote free trade in goods amongst its member states.
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| Eurobarometer |
This is a Commission service, which measures and analyses trends in public opinion in all the Member States and in the candidate countries. Knowing what the general public thinks is important in helping the European Commission draft its legislative proposals, take decisions and evaluate its work. Eurobarometer uses both opinion polls and focus groups. Its surveys lead to the publication of around 100 reports every year.
More information
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| Eurodesk |
A European network of relays providing information relevant to young people and those who work with them on European opportunities in the education, training and youth fields, and the involvement of young people in European activities.
More information
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| Euro-Med Youth Programme |
The Euro-Mediterranean Youth Programme is a regional programme set up within the framework of the third chapter of the
Barcelona Process
(Partnership in social, cultural and human affairs), which involves the EU Member States and the Mediterranean Partner Countries. It promotes young people's mobility and mutual understanding through three types of actions: Youth Exchanges, Voluntary Service and Support Measures. The Programme is managed by the European Commission's EuropAid Cooperation Office.
More information
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| Europass |
The Europass is a single portfolio enabling citizens to provide proof of their qualifications and skills clearly and easily anywhere in Europe. It comprises five documents designed at European level to improve the transparency of qualifications. Its aim is to facilitate mobility for all those wishing to work or receive training anywhere in Europe.
More information
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| European Commission |
The European Commission is the EU's executive body. It is a politically independent institution that represents and upholds the interests of the European Union as a whole. It proposes legislation, policies and programmes of action and it is responsible for implementing the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council.
More information
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| European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) |
The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) seeks to establish special relations with neighbouring countries in Eastern Europe, the Southern Mediterranean and the Southern Caucasus. It was instituted as early as 2003 to share the benefits of enlargement with the neighbouring countries and avoid the emergence of new divisions.
More information
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| European Parliament |
The European Parliament is the directly-elected body of the European Union. The main job of Parliament is to pass European laws. It shares this responsibility with the Council of the European Union, and the proposals for new laws come from the European Commission. Parliament and Council also share joint responsibility for approving the EU’s annual budget. The Parliament has the power to dismiss the European Commission.
More information
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| European Voluntary Service (EVS) |
An action of the Youth in Action Programme which gives young people the opportunity to spend up to 12 months in another country to participate in voluntary activities to the benefit of a local community whilst acquiring important skills for their personal and professional development. More information in the section “European Voluntary Service”.
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| European Youth Pact |
A political instrument adopted by the European Council in 2005 as part of the revised Lisbon Strategy. The Youth Pact aims to promote participation of all young people in education, employment and society. More information in the section "Social and occupational integration of young people".
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| European Youth Week |
The aim of the European Youth Week is to promote the Youth in Action Programme and European Youth Policies and to contribute to the structured dialogue between policy makers and young people. Events targeting a large number of young people are organised all over Europe.
More information
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| Evaluation meeting |
A meeting to evaluate past projects or activities and plan potential follow-up. Evaluation meetings can be supported by the Youth in Action Programme under action 4.3 “Training and Networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations”.
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| Executive Agency |
Based in Brussels, the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (also known as the Executive Agency) is responsible for the implementation of the Actions and sub-Actions of the Youth in Action Programme managed at centralised level. More information
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| Feasibility visit |
A short meeting with potential partners to explore the possibility to develop a project. Feasibility visits can be supported by the Youth in Action Programme under action 4.3 “Training and Networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations”.
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| Informal learning |
Learning in daily life activities, in work, family, leisure is mainly learning by doing; it is typically not structured and not intentional and typically does not lead to certification. In the youth sector informal learning takes place in youth and leisure initiatives, in peer group and voluntary activities etc. It provides specific learning opportunities, in particular of social, cultural and personal skills. In this respect, informal learning outcomes in the Youth in Action Programme are also recognised through a certificate called Youthpass.
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| Job shadowing |
A short stay with a partner organisation in another country to exchange good practice, acquire skills and knowledge and develop partnership. Job shadowing activities can be supported by the Youth in Action Programme under action 4.3 (Training and Networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations).
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| Lisbon strategy |
To compete with other major world players, the EU needs a modern efficient economy. Meeting in Lisbon in March 2000, the EU's political leaders set it a new goal: to become, within a decade, "the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.”
The EU's leaders also agreed on a detailed strategy for achieving this goal. The 'Lisbon strategy' covers such matters as research, education, training, Internet access and on-line business. It also covers reform of Europe's social protection systems, which must be made sustainable so that their benefits can be enjoyed by future generations. Every spring the European Council meets to review progress in implementing the Lisbon strategy.
More information
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| Mainstreaming |
Mainstreaming an issue means making sure it is fully taken into account in all EU polices. For example, mainstreaming youth in other European Union policies means taking into account young people's interests in such policies.
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| Mediterranean Partner Countries |
Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Syria, Tunisia.
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| National Agencies (NAs) |
Structures established by the National Authorities in each Programme Country to manage and implement the Youth in Action Programme at decentralised level in order to ensure proximity with the potential beneficiaries of the programme. NAs contact list
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| National Reform Programmes (NRP) |
National Reform Programmes are Member States' strategies to meet the objectives of the Lisbon strategy. Every year, they submit an annual progress report to present their achievements within these strategies.
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| Non-formal learning |
Learning which takes place outside formal educational curriculum. Non-formal learning activities involve people on a voluntary basis and provide them with opportunities to acquire a wide range of skills and competences. The activities are carefully planned, to foster the participants' personal and social development. The skills acquired through non-formal and informal activities in the framework of the Youth in Action programme are recognized through a certificate called Youthpass.
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| Open Method of Coordination (OMC) |
Intergovernmental method providing a framework for cooperation between the Member States, whose national policies can thus be directed towards certain common objectives. Besides Youth, the OMC takes place in many policy areas, such as employment, social protection, social inclusion, education and training.
More information
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| Partner Countries (Neighbouring Partner Countries/ Other Partner Countries in the world) |
Countries that can be involved in the Youth in Action Programme but are not ‘Programme Countries’.
They include the Neighbouring Partner Countries (South-East Europe, Eastern Europe and Caucasus and the Mediterranean partner countries) and other partner countries in the world having signed a specific agreement in the youth field with the EU.
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| Peer learning |
Method where people at the same level teach and learn from each other, e.g. from young people to other young people.
The term Peer learning is also used for the process of cooperation at European level whereby policy makers and practitioners from one country learn, through direct contact and practical cooperation, from the experiences of their counterparts elsewhere in Europe in implementing reforms in areas of shared interest and concern.
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| Presidency of the EU |
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is organised on the basis of a half-yearly rotation system, under which each Member State holds the Presidency for a period of six months.
More information
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| Presidency Youth Event |
European youth event hosted by the Member State which holds the Presidency of the EU.
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| Principle of subsidiarity |
The “subsidiarity principle” means that decisions must be taken as closely as possible to the citizen. In other words, the Union does not take action unless EU action is more effective than action taken at national, regional or local level.
More information
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| Programme Countries |
In the Youth in Action Programme: the EU Member States, the EFTA/EEA countries , Switzerland and candidate countries.
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| SALTO Youth Resource Centres |
SALTO stands for “Support and Advanced Learning and Training Opportunities”. The Salto Youth Resource Centres are structures established within the Youth in Action Programme to provide training and information on a specific thematic or regional area for youth organisations and National Agencies.
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| Seminar |
An event that brings together participants from different countries/organisations to discuss and exchange good practice around a chosen theme or set of themes related to the youth field. Seminars can be supported by the Youth in Action Programme under action 4.3 “Training and Networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations”.
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| Social cohesion |
Cohesion means (literally) 'sticking together'. 'Promoting social cohesion' means that the EU tries to make sure that everyone has a place in society – notably by tackling poverty, unemployment and discrimination.
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| South East Europe |
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro, Serbia.
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| Structured dialogue |
Instrument to improve communication between young people and EU policy makers. It is structured in terms of themes and timing. More information
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| Study visit |
A short study programme to explore the reality of youth work or youth policy in another country. Study visits can be supported by the Youth in Action Programme under action 4.3 “Training and Networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations”.
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| Training and Networking |
A series of activities aimed at promoting exchange and cooperation in European youth work and at supporting the development of quality projects under the Youth in Action Programme. These activities can be supported through action 4.3 “Training and Networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations” of the Programme.
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| Training Course |
A course aimed at improving participants' skills in relation to a specific topic. Training courses can be supported by the Youth in Action Programme under action 4.3 “Training and Networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations”.
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| White paper |
Commission White Papers are documents containing proposals for Community action in a specific area. It presents a detailed and well argued policy for discussion and for decision and can lead to an action programme for the Union in the area concerned. In 2001, the Commission launched a White Paper on Youth, which laid the basis for an increased European cooperation in four youth priority areas: participation, information, voluntary activities and a greater understanding and knowledge of youth. The White Paper also proposed to take the youth dimension more into account when making other relevant policies.
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| Young people with fewer opportunities |
Young people with fewer opportunities are youngsters who face some obstacles that prevent them from having effective access to education, mobility, and from fair inclusion in society. These obstacles can be, among others, of social, economic, ethnic, physical or cultural nature. Ensuring the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities in the programme as well as in society in general is a permanent priority of the Youth in Action Programme.
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| Youth democracy project |
A project aimed at developing young people's active participation in the democratic life of their community. Youth Democracy Projects can be supported by the Youth in Action Programme under action 1.3.
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| Youth Exchange (bilateral, trilateral, multilateral) |
An activity that brings together young people from two, three or more different countries to exchange views and experiences on a specific topic. Youth Exchanges can be supported by the Youth in Action Programme under action 1.1.
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| Youth initiative |
A project entirely conceived and developed by young people themselves. Youth Initiatives can be supported by the Youth in Action Programme under action 1.2.
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| Youthpass |
Recognition strategy that enables participants in the Youth in Action Programme to receive a certificate describing and validating their non-formal learning experience.
More information
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| Youth worker |
A person who works with young people in a wide variety of non-formal and informal contexts.
More information
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