Erasmus+: Youth

The youth field is an important component of the Erasmus+ Programme.

Specific objectives

In the youth field , the Erasmus+ has the following specific objectives:

a) to improve the level of key competences and skills of young people, including those with fewer opportunities, as well as to promote participation in democratic life in Europe and the labour market, active citizenship, intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and solidarity;

b) to foster quality improvements in youth work;

c) to complement policy reforms at local, regional and national level and to support the development of knowledge and evidence-based youth policy as well as the recognition of non-formal and informal learning;

d) to enhance the international dimension of youth activities and the role of youth workers and organisations as support structures for young people in complementarity with the Union’s external action.

Actions of the Programme

The Programme shall pursue its objectives in the youth field through the following types of actions:

  1. learning mobility of individuals;
  2. cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices;
  3. support for policy reform.

1. Learning mobility of individuals

Learning mobility of individuals shall support:

  1. the mobility of young people in non-formal and informal learning activities between the Programme countries; such mobility may take the form of youth exchanges and volunteering through the European Voluntary Service, as well as innovative activities building on existing provisions for mobility;
  2. the mobility of persons active in youth work or youth organisations and youth leaders; such mobility may take the form of training and networking activities.

2. Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices shall support:

  1. strategic partnerships aimed at developing and implementing joint initiatives, including youth initiatives and citizenship projects that promote active citizenship, social innovation, participation in democratic life and entrepreneurship, through peer learning and exchanges of experience;
  2. IT support platforms allowing peer learning, knowledge- based youth work, virtual mobility and exchanges of good practice.

3. Support for policy reform

This action includes activities relating to:

  1. the implementation of the Union policy agenda on youth through the OMC (Open Method of Coordination);
  2. implementation in the Programme countries of Union transparency and recognition tools, in particular the Youthpass, and support for Union-wide networks and European youth NGOs;
  3. policy dialogue with relevant European stakeholders and structured dialogue with young people;
  4. the European Youth Forum, resource centres for the development of youth work and the Eurodesk network.

More detailed information on the Programme, including call of proposals are available on the web site of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).