Foreword The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Member States of the European Union agreed jointly to establish the YOUTH Community Action Program, which sets up the legal framework in support of non-formal educational activities for young people. This Guide uses the term YOUTH throughout to refer to the specific activities facilitated by the legally binding Decision No 1031/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 April 2000. The Program will run from 2000 to the end of 2006. Implementation of the YOUTH program is decentralized, the aim being to take action as closely as possible to the beneficiaries and to adapt to the diversity of national systems and situations in the field of youth. Each of the 30 countries participating fully in all YOUTH Actions has appointed a National Agency. These National Agencies manage the bulk of YOUTH funds, and provide information and advice. They also act as the link between the European Commission, project promoters at national, regional and local level, and the young people themselves.

The User's Guide is available in several different languages and is meant to be used a reference document. It aims to assist all those interested in developing projects for young people across a range of countries and to help them understand both the objectives of the Program and the types of project that can (or cannot) be supported in accordance with the rules.

It also sets out to give a detailed picture of what information is needed in order to apply, what expenditure is eligible to claim, and what level of grant can be offered for each project type. The User's Guide offers a detailed explanation of the criteria for the types of project which can be considered, a definition of eligibility, both for countries and participants, as well as indicators concerning what cannot be considered.

  The main activities supported are divided into five Actions:

• Action 1 supports short-term group exchanges of young people aged 15 to 25;
• Action 2 supports voluntary service for individuals aged 18 to 25;
• Action 3 assists initiatives which are led by young people themselves;
• Action 4 offers the opportunity to develop projects linked to other Community Programs;
• Action 5 is a package of possibilities for support measures to develop new YOUTH projects and to improve their quality.