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Objectives of third-country cooperation
Cooperation with young people and partners from countries in other regions of the world ("third countries") can help promote universal peace, dialogue, tolerance and solidarity amongst young people. In order to give a human and cultural dimension to its cooperation agreements, the European Union is increasingly seeking to extend and deepen cooperation and solidarity between people.
In supporting youth activities with third countries, the European Commission's main aims are to build long-lasting and solid partnerships, as well as promoting the exchange of youth work expertise and know-how between non-governmental and governmental structures in the European Union and third countries.
Activities involving third countries should give participants a better understanding of their respective situations and cultures and help them explore their identities. They are also intended to contribute to the development of the voluntary sector and civil society in the partner countries.
Objectives of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation
The overall aim of Euro-Mediterranean youth cooperation is to facilitate the integration of young people into social and working life as well as to ensure the democratic process of civil society in the Mediterranean partner countries.
The thematic priorities are active participation of civil society, strengthening of citizenship, place of women in society, fight against racism and xenophobia, minority rights, heritage and environmental protection.
Which countries can participate?
Please see the list of countries and priority regions in section B.3.
What are the general rules for activities with third countries?
- Only Action 1 (Youth for Europe), Action 2 (European Voluntary Service) and Action 5 (Support Measures) are open to third-country cooperation
- Each third-country project has to involve one or more E. U Member States depending on the Action
- Projects should involve third countries from the same region
- Pre-accession and E. E. A/EFTA countries involved in a project should not outnumber E. U Member States
- Activities can take place in any of the countries which are involved in the respective project
What are the special conditions for pre-accession countries' activities with third countries?
Pre-accession countries may only participate in third country activities with the neighboring priority regions:
- Pre-accession countries (Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey) may only participate in third-country multilateral projects with countries in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus and South East Europe, but not with Latin America and Mediterranean partner countries (except in the case of Turkey which is also a Mediterranean partner country).
What are the general rules for Euro-Med activities?
- Only Action 1 (Youth Exchanges), Action 2 (European Voluntary Service) and Action 5 (Support Measures) are open to Euro-Med youth cooperation
- The EU Member States and the Mediterranean partner countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank and Gaza Strip) can participate in Euro-Med activities
- Pre-accession and EFTA/EEA countries cannot participate in Euro-Med activities
- Each Euro-Med project has to involve one or more EU Member States, depending on the Action
- Activities can take place in any of the countries which are involved in the respective project
How to apply?
The National Agencies provide the official application forms, which may also be downloaded from the Commission's and other websites (see downloads). Applications must be submitted by the deadlines for selection at European level indicated in section B.5. Please contact the National Agency or National Coordinator in your country for assistance with filling in the forms.
One of the partner organizations takes the lead in submitting the application as well as in implementing the project. This organization is responsible for submitting the grant application. It will receive the grant for the whole project and is responsible for transferring, to each partner organization, its respective share of the grant. It is also responsible for reporting and presenting final accounts.
For projects with Mediterranean partner countries
Applications for Actions 1 and 5 projects have to be submitted by the host organization. Applications for Action 2 projects have to be submitted by the host organization or the coordinating organization if more than 1 host organization is involved. If the applicant is based in an EU Member State, the application is submitted, on behalf of all the partners, to its National Agency.
If the applicant is based in one the Mediterranean partner countries, the application is submitted through the National Coordinator to the European Commission.
For projects with other third countries
The applicant has to be one of the partners based in a Program country. It submits the application, on behalf of all the partners, to the relevant National Agency, which forwards it to the European Commission, where the selection of projects takes place.
For Action 1 and Action 5 projects taking place in a program country, the application has to be submitted by the host organization.
European non-governmental youth organizations and multilateral EVS projects
European non-governmental youth organizations (ENGYOs) which are based in one of the Program countries and have member branches in at least eight Program countries (legal statutes) may apply directly to the European Commission or through their national branches to its own National Agency.
Applications for multilateral third country EVS projects should be submitted directly to the European Commission.Other considerations
Visas and residence permits
Regulations concerning visas and residence permits differ from country to country (see Eurotool's Visa-section). There is no general rule or status for EVS volunteers, for example, so the necessary arrangements for each volunteer must be made. The European Commission can help by issuing a letter confirming participation in a European project. National Agencies and National Coordinators may also be able to provide assistance.
Vaccination and health care
Please contact the relevant health institutions concerning health recommendations for traveling to the third country concerned. When planning the time schedule and budget for the project, take account of medical checks and vaccinations that may be required.
