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OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WESTERN BALKAN REGION

ERASMUS+: YOUTH IN ACTION


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Erasmus+ is the European Union’s present Programme in the fieldsof education, training, youth and sport until 2020. Within its broadframework, it complements the 25-year tradition of European pro-grammes in the relevant fields, with the addition of support for grassroots sports.

The Programme builds on a framework set in the Europe 2020 Strategy,addressing the contemporary socio-economic challenges in Europeby strengthening the education and youth systems and promoting life-long learning. Providing the citizens with adequate skills required bythe competitive job markets, it aims at reversing the economic stagna-tion in the European Union and boosting growth. Education and youthparticipation are also key elements in fostering inclusion, interculturalunderstanding and the overall social cohesion in Europe.

The Programme’s implementation pursues the following generalobjectives:• the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, including the head-

line education target2;• the objectives of the strategic framework for European coope-

ration in education and training (ET 2020), including thecorresponding benchmarks;

• the sustainable development of Partner Countries in the field ofhigher education;

• the overall objectives of the renewed framework for Europeancooperation in the youth field (2010-2018);

• the objective of developing the European dimension in sport, inparticular grassroots sport, in line with the EU work plan for sport;

• the promotion of European values in accordance with Article 2of the Treaty on the European Union3 (Source: Programme Guide2016).

The general objectives of the Programme are complemented by spe-cific objectives for each of its chapters.

THE PROGRAMME IS

DIVIDED INTO THREE

MAJOR AREAS:

The field of education and trainingoffers opportunities for the schoolsector (pre-university education), the vocational education and training

sector, the tertiary education sectorand the adult education sector,while Jean Monnet offers support forEuropean studies through support tohigher education institutions.

The field of youth offers opportuni-ties for the youth sector.

The field of sport is focused on thesport sector and major internationalcooperation projects or events.

ERASMUS+ PROGRAMMEThis publication highlights the oppor-tunities within the European Union’sErasmus+ Programme in the field ofyouth, in particular those for potentialapplicants and beneficiaries basedin the so-called Partner Countries ofthe Programme in the Western Balkanregion1, who can participate in theProgramme under specific conditions.

All the contents of this publication arepresented with the intention of provi-ding an overview as a first step into theErasmus+ Programme. Before propo-sing a project application for financialsupport from the Programme, appli-cants are strongly advised to read theProgramme Guide for the particularyear, which outlines in detail the con-ditions and criteria for funding and theobligations of the beneficiaries.

It is also recommended that organi-zations based in the Western Balkanregion seek advice and guidance fromthe European Commission’s Education,

Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), SALTO South East Europe Resource Centre (SALTO SEE) or the local Contact Points in the Western Balkan countries ahead of theapplication deadlines, and to followtheir websites and other communica-tion channels. Contact addresses canbe found at the end of this publication(under More Information).

2 The headline education target is to reduce earlyschool leaving to less than 10% and increase atta-inment in tertiary education to at least 40% by 2020.

1 Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo (This desi-gnation is without prejudice to positions on status, andis in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on theKosovo declaration of independence), Montenegro andSerbia.

3 The Union is founded on the values of respectfor human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality,the rule of law and respect for human rights, inclu-ding the rights of persons belonging to minorities.These values are common to the Member Statesin a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination,tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality betweenwomen and men prevail.

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPORT WITHIN THE

PROGRAMME ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE KEY

ACTIONS:

Key Action 1: Mobility of individuals

This Key Action is dedicated especially to the international learningmobility of individuals or groups, where the main purpose of coope-ration is to enable and enhance the learning of participants.

Key Action 2: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of

good practices

This Key Action is meant for the strategic and long-term cooperationof partners from different countries aiming at innovation, sustainableoutcomes and the overall development of structures and policies inthe fields of education, training and youth in Europe.

Key Action 3: Support for policy reform This Key Action aims at supporting policy reform in the fields of edu-cation, training and youth in Europe, in particular the achievementof the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy, of the Strategic framework

for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020) andof the European Youth Strategy.

http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/discover/guide/http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus_enhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus_enhttps://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus_enhttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/discover/guide/http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htm


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Activities within the Programmetargeting the youth field are referredto as Erasmus+: Youth in Action,which provides various possibilitiesfor young people, youth workers andyouth policy makers to cooperate,gain competences and be proactivein building a sustainable anddemocratic European society. Inaddition to the objectives commonto the Programme as a whole,Erasmus+: Youth in Action functionsas an important instrument to putinto practice the European UnionYouth Strategy 2010 – 2018, set inthe resolution of the Council of theEU from 27 November 2009. Theframework defines eight priorityareas of cooperation within theUnion and its Member States until2018.

The key objectives of this coopera-tion are:• to provide more and equal

opportunities for all young

people in education and on thelabour market;

• to promote the active citi-zenship, social inclusion andsolidarity of all young people.

Building on the Youth Strategy, the following specific objectivesare pursued by the Erasmus+ Programme in the field of youth:• to improve the level of key competences and skills of young

people, including those with fewer opportunities, as well asto promote participation in democratic life in Europe and thelabour market, active citizenship, intercultural dialogue, socialinclusion and solidarity, in particular through increased lear-ning mobility opportunities for young people, those active inyouth work or youth organizations and youth leaders, andthrough the strengthened links between the youth field andthe labour market;

• to foster quality improvements in youth work, in particularthrough enhanced cooperation between organizations in theyouth field and/or other stakeholders;

• to complement policy reforms at the local, regional andnational level and to support the development of knowledgeand evidence-based youth policy as well as the recognitionof non-formal and informal learning, in particular throughenhanced policy cooperation, better use of EU transparencyand recognition tools and the dissemination of best practices;

• to enhance the international dimension of youth activities andenhance the capacity of youth workers and organizations intheir support for young people in complementarity with theEuropean Union's external action, in particular through thepromotion of mobility and cooperation between stakehol-ders from Programme and Partner Countries and international

organizations (Source: Programme Guide 2016).

WHAT IS NON-FORMAL LEARNING?The Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme offers young peoplevarious opportunities for the acquisition of competences and perso-nal development through non-formal learning. The concept refers tolearning which takes place outside the formal educational curricula,and embraces a participative, indiscriminative and learner-centredapproach. Non-formal learning is carried out on a voluntary basisand is therefore closely linked to young people's own needs andinterests. A high-quality non-formal education provided by the bene-ficiaries is a key aspect of all projects granted within the Erasmus+:Youth in Action Programme.

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http://ec.europa.eu/youth/policy/youth_strategy/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/youth/policy/youth_strategy/index_en.htm


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ACTIVITIES WITHINTHE ERASMUS+: YOUTH

IN ACTION PROGRAMME

THE ERASMUS+: YOUTH IN ACTION PROGRAMME

SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:

MOBILITY ACTIVITIESwithin Key Action 1 or Key Action 2,in particular:• Youth Exchanges (more information on pages 10-11.)• European Voluntary Service (more information on pages 12-13.)• Mobility of youth workers (more information on pages 14-15.)

A project can include one of more of these mobility activities.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND

CAPACITY-BUILDING IN THE FIELD

OF YOUTHwithin Key Action 2 (more information on pages 16-19).

MEETINGS BETWEEN YOUNG

PEOPLE AND DECISION-MAKERS IN

THE FIELD OF YOUTHwithin Key Action 3 (more information on pages 20-21).

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The Erasmus+ Programme isalso open for Partner CountriesNeighbouring the European Union.(more information on all participatingcountries on pages 24-25.)

Partner countries in the WesternBalkan region include the followingcountries: Albania, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Kosovo4, Montenegroand Serbia. Their status as can-didate countries or potentialcandidate countries within theEuropean Union’s enlargementpolicy suggests the perspective of joining the Union in the future. Inthis context, the Erasmus+: Youthin Action Programme, (equal to itspredecessors YOUTH 2000-2006and Youth in Action 2007-2013Programmes), functions as the keyinstrument to facilitate the EU inte-gration process within the WesternBalkan region in the field of youth.

Some of these countries might join

the Erasmus+ Programme in thecoming years. Consult the latestversion of the Programme Guide forup-to-date information regarding thestatus of a specific country.

4 This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Organizations from the Western Balkan Partner countries can takepart in the Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme as:

PARTNERS IN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:• Youth Exchanges and / or European Voluntary Service and /

or Mobility of youth workers (in projects within Key Action 1);• Strategic partnerships in the field of youth (in projects within

Key Action 2, under specific conditions);• Meetings between young people and decision-makers in

the field of youth (in projects within Key Action 3).

(More information on these activities on pages 10-17 and 20-21.)

APPLICANTS IN THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS:• Capacity-building in the field of youth, in particular in the

context of the Western Balkans Youth Window, within KeyAction 2. Each project has to include at least one mobility acti-vity: Youth Exchange, European Voluntary Service or Mobilityof Youth Workers, corresponding to the activities within KeyAction 1. (More information on capacity building projects andthe Western Balkans Youth Window on pages 18-19.)

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COOPERATION WITH THEWESTERN BALKANS WITHIN



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A Youth Exchange is an effective toolof non-formal and informal learning inyouth work. It allows groups of youngpeople from different countries to spendup to 21 days together, exploring topicsthat connect them. In this process,young people develop their competen-ces, become aware of socially relevanttopics and thematic areas, discover newcultures and lifestyles together withtheir peers from different countries, andstrengthen values such as solidarity,equality and democracy.

Youth Exchanges are composed ofseveral phases: drafting and planningthe activity, followed by its implemen-tation, the conclusion and evaluationof the activity, and finally the dissemi-nation and exploitation of the results.The practical tasks the participatingyoung people carry out in all stages ofthe activity offer them various learningopportunities, through which they cangain relevant competences. SettingYouth Exchanges in the context of non-

-formal learning requires that at least apart of the desired learning outcomesare planned in advance, in order toensure the appropriate opportunities.The definition of the desired learningoutcomes can start in any or each of thegroups of young people by identifyingthe competences that the participantswish to obtain or develop through theYouth Exchange.

Each participating group has a youth leader, who helps andsupports the young participants in the implementation of the acti-vity. Because managing such an activity requires taking numerousdecisions, a Youth Exchange can also be an opportunity to learnabout democratic participation and the decision-making proces-ses in the wider society. However, this can only be achieved if asmany decisions as possible in the activity are taken by the youngparticipants themselves, whereby the chance to shape the deci-sions together should also mean taking responsibility.

In the phases of the conclusion and dissemination of results, theexperiences of the young participants also need to be presentedto others. Each participating group can for example organize apresentation for their local environment on how they experien-ced the project, and the (local) media might also be eager to hearthe stories from the participants themselves. By sharing theirexperiences this way, the group will give more value to the lear-ning outcomes reached and will contribute to strengthening theimportance of non-formal learning in youth work.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SUPPORT FOR YOUTH EXCHANGESFROM THE ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME

Eligible partner: A public or private legal entity (primarily non-profit making) operating at the local,regional, national or European level, or an informal group of young people.

Origin of partners: Partners (participating youth groups) can come from Programme Countries orPartner Countries neighbouring the European Union. Every project must have at least one partnerfrom a Programme Country.

Minimum number of partners:

• 2 (if the Youth Exchange is implemented within Key Action 1);

• 3 (if the Youth Exchange is implemented within Capacity-building in the field of youth withinKey Action 2).

Participants: Young people aged between 13 and 30; minimum of 16 and maximum of 60 partici-pants, group leaders / youth workers are no t included; minimum of 4 participants per group, g roupleaders / youth workers are not included.

Project duration:

• from 3 months to 2 years (if the Youth Exchange is implemented within Key Action 1);

• from 9 months to 2 years (if the Youth Exchange is implemented within the Capacity-buildingin the field of youth within Key Action 2).

Duration of project activity: From 5 to 21 days, excluding travel time.

Venue of the activity: Country of one of the participating organizations.

YOUTH EXCHANGE

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The European Voluntary Service (EVS)offers young people the possibility oflong-term (up to 12 months) voluntarywork with a receiving EVS organiza-tion in another country. The volunteer’swork aims at benefiting the receivingorganization in the frame of its regularactivities, as well as at having a posi-tive impact on the local community. Theactivities of the receiving organizationcan address a variety of fields, such asthe young peoples’ socio-educationaladvancement and civic engagement,youth information, inclusion of disad-vantaged groups, environmental ordevelopmental issues, culture and arti-stic expression etc.

Living in a foreign country and implemen-ting the tasks agreed with the receivingorganization, EVS volunteers encoun-ter various learning opportunities. Theyare encouraged to take an active rolein shaping the tasks and activities per-formed during the service according totheir learning interests. The volunteers'

learning during the service is enhancedby the EVS training cycle - organized byNational Agencies granting the projector the relevant SALTO Resource Centres- as well as the personal support provi-ded by an appointed mentor within thereceiving organization.

The European Voluntary Service is opento all young people regardless of theirgender, ethnicity, religious or politicalopinions, sexual orientation etc. Also no

prior qualifications or level of education should be required fromthe volunteers. A specific profile can only be expected shouldthe context of the project require so.

Each EVS activity includes at least one sending and one receivingEVS organization and, of course, a volunteer. One of theorganizations also takes on the role of coordinating theorganization (and applicant for the entire project); this role canalso be taken on by a separate coordinating organization,especially in larger EVS projects. Under ideal circumstances,EVS activities are based on long-term partnerships betweensending and receiving organizations, which are often reciprocal,offering learning opportunities within the EVS to young peoplewith whom the organizations already work. The tasks of eachpartner and of the EVS volunteer are described in an agreementbetween the sending and the receiving organization.

Everyone involved in an EVS activity must respect the principlesof the EVS Charter, which sets forth the rights and obligations ofall the participating parties in the project, limits the work of theEVS volunteers to non-profit purposes and prohibits the use ofEVS volunteers for tasks that should, according to their character,be carried out by employed staff.

A typical individual long-term EVS activity lasts from 2 to 12months. In the case of young people with fewer opportunities or

groups of EVS volunteers (10–30 volunteers), the activities canbe shorter; a short-term EVS can last from 2 weeks to 2 months.Group EVS activities can include help with building a house,arranging a park, organizing a film festival or a sailing regatta etc.where volunteers gain specific competences and knowledge. Inaddition, Large-scale EVS projects involving at least 30 volunte-ers can be organized accompanying events such as the WorldYouth Summit, European Youth Capitals etc.

5 Projects involving more than 30 EVS volunteers are considered large-scale EVS projects, which are approved and managed by the Education, Audio-visual andCulture Executive Agency (EACEA).

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ACCREDITATION OF EVS

ORGANIZATIONSTo take part in EVS, an organi-zation must first be accredited.Accreditation is a form of recogni-tion that an organization is capableof serving as a coordinating, sending

or receiving EVS organization. Theprocess of accreditation starts withan application for EVS accreditation,which organizations can submit atany time in electronic form to therelevant National Agency or regio-nal SALTO Resource Centre. In theWestern Balkan region, accredi-tation is done by the SALTO SouthEast Europe Resource Centre. Moreinformation: www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/eisee/.

DATABASE OF

ACCREDITED EVS

ORGANIZATIONSThere are many different ways toidentify partners for EVS projects.The most obvious way is to checkthe European Youth Portal at https://europa.eu/youth/, which includes adatabase of all accredited EVS orga-nizations. The organizations can bebrowsed according to various crite-ria, and the Portal can also be usedto publish specific calls for partners.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SUPPORT FROMTHE ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME

Eligible partner: A public or private legal entity (primarily non-profitmaking) operating at the local, regional, national or European level.

Origin of partners: Partners (sending and receiving organizations) can

come from Programme Countries or Partner Countries neighbouringthe EU. Every project must have at least one partner from a ProgrammeCountry.Minimum number of partners:

• 2 (if the EVS is implemented within Key Action 1);• 3 (if the EVS is implemented within Capacity-building in the field of

youth within Key Action 2).

Participants: Young people aged between 17 and 30; minimum of 1 andmaximum of 305 participants for the whole project. The volunteers mustbe resident in the country of their sending organization.

Project duration:

• from 3 months to 2 years (if the EVS is implemented within KeyAction 1);

• from 9 months to 2 years (if the EVS is implemented within Capacity-building in the field of youth within Key Action 2).

Duration of project activity: From 2 to 12 months; EVS activities (withinKey Action 1) involving at least 10 volunteers or involving young peoplewith fewer opportunities can take from 2 weeks to 12 months, travel timeexcluded.

Venue of the activity: The country of one of the participating organizati-ons, but EVS volunteers must not come from the country of the receivingorganization. A volunteer from a Programme Country must carry outtheir activity in another Programme Country or in a Partner Countryneighbouring the EU. A volunteer from a Partner Country neighbouringthe EU must carry out their activity in a Programme Country.

EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE


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The mobility of youth workers allowsactors in the youth field to set up togetherwith partners activities for youth workersand youth leaders to upgrade theirexisting efforts to strengthen the com-petences of those working directly withyoung people. These activities have atwo-fold purpose. On the one hand, theyallow the participating youth workersand youth leaders to develop andstrengthen their own competences forperforming their role in youth work. Onthe other hand, youth workers spreadthe knowledge acquired through theseactivities in their own organizations afterthe project, stipulating the developmentand improvement of the work of theentire organization. The activities shouldhave the approach and methodologysuitable for non-formal education.

There are two types of mobility activitiesfor youth workers: group activitieswith a larger number of partners andparticipants (e.g. professional seminarson topics related to youth work or youth

policies, trainings for youth workersand other actors in the field of youthwork, seminars on searching for projectpartners and study visits) and individualactivities (e.g. job shadowing visits inpartner organizations), which usuallyinclude two partners and one or twoparticipants.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SUPPORT FROM THEERASMUS+ PROGRAMME

Eligible partner: A public or private legal entity (primarily non-profitmaking) operating at the local, regional, national or European level.

Origin of partners: Partners can come from Programme Countries or

Partner Countries neighbouring the EU. Each project must have at leastone partner from a Programme Country.

Minimum number of partners:

• 2 (if the Mobility of youth workers is implemented within Key Action 1);• 3 (if the Mobility of youth workers is implemented within Capacity-

building in the field of youth within Key Action 2).

Participants: No age limits; maximum of 50 participants from the countriesof the participating project partners, including trainers, facilitators andother staff carrying out the project activities. Participants must be residentin the country of their sending or receiving organization.

Project duration:

• from 3 months to 2 years (if the Mobility of youth workers is implemen-ted within Key Action 1);

• from 9 months to 2 years (if the Mobility of youth workers is implemen-ted within Capacity-building in the field of youth within Key Action 2).

Duration of project activity:

• from 2 days to 2 months, excluding travel time. The minimum of 2 daysmust be consecutive. (if the Mobility of youth workers is implementedwithin Key Action 1);

• from 5 days to 2 months, excluding travel time (if the Mobility of youthworkers is implemented within Capacity-building in the field of youthwithin Key Action 2).

Venue of the activity: The country of one of the participating organizations.

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MOBILITY OF YOUTH WORKERS


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Strategic partnerships in the field ofyouth provide a possibility for imple-menting activities leading to the overallprofessionalization and development ofyouth work practices in Europe. A greatvariety of activities are possible, aimingat experimentation or the applicationof innovative methods, tools or approa-ches or the exchange of best practice.

In particular, the activities may addressfostering the development of youngpeoples’ key competences, recogni-tion of the outcomes of non-formallearning, professionalization of youthworkers, modernization of the forms ofdelivering youth work, combating themarginalization of youth at risk, transver-sal networking of different actors andinstitutions relevant for youth or the stra-tegic cooperation of public authoritiesresponsible for youth.The Programme also supports projectsof cross-sectorial Strategic Partnershipsaiming at concrete results in the devel-opment of youth policies or strengthening

competences for better organizationand performance of youth work. Suchprojects must incorporate actors fromdifferent fields covered by the Erasmus+Programme, including the youth sector.Partnerships may also include enterpri-ses, particularly when the desired projectresults are focused on increasing thecontribution of non-formal learning inyouth work to the greater employabilityof young people, especially those withfewer opportunities.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SUPPORTFROM THE ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME

Eligible partner: Any public or private legal entity.

Origin of partners: Partners can come from ProgrammeCountries. The participation of Partner Countries is onlypossible on the condition that their participation brings an

essential added value to the project.

Minimum number of partners: Minimum of 2 organizationsfrom 2 different Programme Countries.

Participants: No specific limitations.

Project duration: From 6 months to 3 years.

Venue of the activity: Country of one of the participatingorganizations.

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Strategic Partnerships in the field of youth also cover transnatio-nal youth initiatives, which are cooperation activities led by youthgroups from different countries aiming at enhancing the partici-pation and entrepreneurship of the participating young people.

As a general rule, Strategic Partnerships target the cooperationbetween organizations established in Programme Countries.However, organizations from Partner Countries can be involvedin a Strategic Partnership, as partners, if their participation brings

an essential added value to the project. For more information onthe types of activities possible within the Strategic partnershipsin the field of youth, please consult the Programme Guide of therelevant year.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH


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Capacity-building in the field of youthrefers to partnerships between partnersfrom Erasmus+ Programme Countriesand Partner Countries. Projects withinthe Western Balkans Youth Window aregranted within this action.

WESTERN BALKANS YOUTH

WINDOW The Western Balkans Youth Windowrefers to additional EU funds made avai-lable through the Erasmus+ Programme.The aim is to reinforce the participa-tion of Western Balkan countries in theProgramme by ensuring a higher numberof granted projects within the region ingeneral, and enabling the organizationsbased in these countries to take the roleof an applicant in Erasmus+: Youth inAction projects. Projects in the frame ofthe Western Balkans Youth Window aregranted within Capacity-building in thefield of youth within the Programme’sKey Action 2.

Western Balkans Youth Window projects should aim to increase thecapacity of organizations through theimplementation of mobility activities(Youth Exchanges, European Voluntary

Service and Mobility of youth workers),which should be complemented byother, possibly national or local capa-city-building activities of the partnersinvolved in the project.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SUPPORTFROM THE ERASMUS+PROGRAMME WITHIN THE WESTERNBALKANS YOUTH WINDOW

Applicant:

• non-profit organization, association, NGO;• national youth council;• public body (established under public law);• legally registered for at least 1 year;• established in a Western Balkan country.

Partners:

• any public or private organization established in aProgramme country or Western Balkan country.

Partnership:

• Minimum of 3 participating organizations from 3 diffe-rent countries;

• Minimum of 1 Programme country.

Duration:

• 9 months – 2 years.

Activities:• projects must contain at least one Mobility activity;• only one project application per deadline by the same

applicant.

Award criteria:

• relevance of the Project (20% );• quality of the project design and implementation (30%);• quality of the project team and cooperation arrange-

ments (30%);• impact and dissemination (20%).

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CAPACITY-BUILDING IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH

In practice, projects should launch, test and implement youthwork practices, such as tools and methods for the socio-pro-fessional development of youth workers and trainers ornon-formal learning methods. Ideally they would also usenew forms of youth work, notably the strategic use of openand flexible learning, virtual mobility, open educational reso-urces (OER) and better exploitation of the ICT potential.

Complementary capacity-building activities can be:• activities encouraging policy dialogue, cooperation,

networking and exchanges of practices in the field of youth;• conferences, workshops, meetings, large-scale youth

events, information and awareness campaigns• products: tools, youth work methods, materials, training

modules, …

Since this publication is targeting potential beneficiaries in theWestern Balkans region, capacity building in the field of youthbeyond the Western Balkans Youth Window projects referringto other regions of the world is not addressed. As the WesternBalkans Youth Window projects must contain mobility activities,for more information and on the content and the assessment cri-teria of mobility activities, please consult the pages 10-15.


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In addition, a network of eight SALTO-YOUTH Resource Centresassists the National Agencies and other stakeholders in supportingquality in Erasmus+: Youth in Action projects and further developingEuropean youth work and youth policies. Through their work inpriority areas in the European youth field, they provide resources,information, training and networking activities as well as foster therecognition of non-formal learning in youth work. Besides topic-based SALTO Resource Centres, three regional SALTO ResourceCentres provide support for the implementation of the Erasmus+:

Youth in Action Programme in and with the Programme’s Partnerregions.

The overall responsibility for theErasmus+ Programme lies withthe European Commission. TheEuropean Commission's Education,Audio-visual and Culture ExecutiveAgency is responsible for the imple-mentation of the centralized actionsof the Erasmus+ Programme, inclu-ding the projects granted within the

Western Balkans Youth Window.

A large part of the Programme ismanaged in a decentralized way bythe National Agencies in each of theErasmus+ Programme Countries.The National Agencies managethe selection of projects, as well asprovide Programme beneficiariesand those who are interested inapplying for project grants with infor-mation and support concerning theProgramme. The Eurodesk networkoffers information services to youngpeople and those who work withthem on opportunities in the edu-cation, training and youth fields in

Europe, also regarding the Erasmus+:Youth in Action Programme.

WHO IMPLEMENTS THE ERASMUS+:

YOUTH IN ACTION PROGRAMME?

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ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES

PROGRAMME COUNTRIES

• EU Member States: Austria,

Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,

Cyprus, Czech Republic,

Denmark, Estonia, Finland,

France, Germany, Greece,

Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,

Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,

Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,

Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,Spain, Sweden and the United

Kingdom.

• Non-EU Programme Countries:

Iceland, Liechtenstein,

Former Yugoslav Republic of

Macedonia, Norway, and Turkey.

PARTNER COUNTRIES NEIGHBO�

URING THE EUROPEAN UNION

• Western Balkans (Region

1.): Albania, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Kosovo7,

Montenegro and Serbia.

• Eastern Partnership coun-

tries (Region 2.): Armenia,

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,

Moldova, Territory of Ukraine asrecognized by international law

• South Mediterranean coun-

tries (Region 3.): Algeria, Egypt,

Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya,

Morocco, Palestine, Syria and

Tunisia.

• Russian Federation (Region 4.):

territory of Russia as recognized

by international law

Other Partner Countries: Other

Partner Countries of the world as

defined in the Programme Guide.

7 This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

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APPLICATION PROCEDUREAND ASSESSMENT

Applications for funding of projectsfrom the Programme are submittedusing electronic application forms,with several deadlines for appli-cations every year. Before the firstapplication, each organization mustacquire a Participant IdentificationCode (PIC) by creating a profile forthe organization on a special portal

of the European Commission. Moreinformation on the application pro-cedure, application forms and all thenecessary documents (including theProgramme Guide of the relevantyear) can be found on the websitesof National Agencies, the Education,Audio-visual and Culture ExecutiveAgency (EACEA) and the EuropeanCommission.

The projects applied in the Erasmus+Programme Countries are submittedprimarily to the relevant NationalAgency in the country. Applicationsfor the centralized actions of theErasmus+ Programme, including the

projects granted within the WesternBalkans Youth Window, are submittedto the European Commission'sEducation, Audio-visual and CultureExecutive Agency.

Accordingly, organizations from Partner Countries in the Western

Balkans can apply for projects under the Western Balkans Youth

Window, or be partners in projects under certain actions (as outli-

ned on pages 10-21) applied for to a National Agency or the EACEA

by their project partner based in a Programme Country.

In addition to the eligibility criteria specific for each action and / or

activity type, project proposals are assessed according to award

criteria reflecting the quality aspects of the proposal. The institu-

tions responsible for the selection also carry out the assessmentaccording to the specific exclusion and selection criteria to ensure

the applicant fulfills the financial regulations of the European Union

and has suffi cient financial and operational capacity to complete

the proposed project.

The financing mechanisms applicable within the Erasmus+

Programme as well as the funding rules concerning all activities are

listed in the Programme Guide of the relevant year. .27.


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IMPORTANT FEATURES OF

THE ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME

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RECOGNITION AND VALIDATION OF

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION OF

THE PROJECT RESULTS

OPEN ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL

MATERIALS AND DOCUMENTS

INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

MULTILINGUALISM

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF

PARTICIPANTS


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such as the European VoluntaryService. An online language learningtool is offered in the main Europeanlanguages via the Erasmus+ OnlineLinguistic Support, which includes amandatory assessment of languagecompetences and voluntary langu-age courses.

EQUITY AND INCLUSIONThe Erasmus+: Youth in ActionProgramme is open to ALL youngpeople, including young people withfewer opportunities. The Programmeaims to encourage them to use theopportunities it offers to strengthentheir skills and competences throughnon-formal learning in youth workand to make their voice heard in theshaping and development of youthpolicies at the local, national andEuropean level.

The definition of young people withfewer opportunities can be fairlybroad, but the group definitely

includes young people whoseunfinished education or its lowlevel leaves them with reducedpossibilities on the labour market,those growing up in diffi cult soci aland economic conditions and thosewho are facing greater obstacles intheir integration into society due totheir cultural background, personalcircumstances or facing other similarconstraints.

organizations, policy makers etc. - and in this way to increasethe impact of their project and its sustainability. The level andintensity of the dissemination and exploitation activities shouldbe proportional to the scope of the project and its objectives.

OPEN ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND

DOCUMENTS

The Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme promotes openaccess to materials and media produced as a part of projects

within the Programme that are useful for youth work. Theproject organizers should promote the availability of such pro-ducts by making them freely available (on the internet). Theycan however, define the most appropriate level of open access.The open access requirement is without prejudice to the intel-lectual property rights of the grant beneficiaries.

INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

Erasmus+: Youth in Action includes a strong international dimen-sion, which is demonstrated by the possibility of cooperationwith Partner Countries within all of the Programme’s Key Actions.However, in some cases, their participation must provide a clearadded value for the project.

Regarding the Western Balkans, the Erasmus+ Youth in ActionProgramme contributes to promoting stability in the regionby supporting the development of youth work and promoting

multicultural awareness, tolerance and solidarity among youngpeople. It thus contributes to the other efforts of the EuropeanUnion towards the stabilization of the Western Balkan regionas well as cooperation between and with the countries of thisregion.

MULTILINGUALISM

The promotion of language learning and linguistic diversity ishighlighted in the Programme, as the lack of language com-petences is one of the main barriers to international learningmobility. Support for language learning is available for the lan-guage used by participants within long-term mobility activities,

The Erasmus+ Programme contains

important features which are described

below with specific reference to coope-

ration in the field of youth.

RECOGNITION AND VALIDATION OF

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Erasmus+: Youth in ActionProgramme strives for a greater

recognition of the competences andskills acquired in non-formal learningthrough participation in different formsof youth work. For this purpose, theProgramme offers the European toolYouthpass, which allows structureddocumentation and (self)-assessment ofthe competences acquired in projects.In addition to this, the Youthpassalso functions as a certificate of theaccomplished learning results. Allparticipants of projects supported by theErasmus+: Youth in Action Programmeare entitled to receive a Youthpass. Thecertificates are created by the projectpartners, while National Agenciesprovide information and trainings on

how to issue Youthpass certificates.

DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION

OF THE PROJECT RESULTS

The dissemination and exploitation ofproject results is one of the key phasesin the lifecycle of projects in the fra-mework of the Erasmus+: Youth in ActionProgramme. Participating organizationsare encouraged to make the resultsof their project known to the public– such as the local community, other

.31..30.

To facilitate the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities orspecial needs, the Programme offers a possibility of covering 100%of the eligible costs without which it would be hard or impossible foryoung people with fewer opportunities to participate in a project.

PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF PARTICIPANTS

The protection and safety of participants involved in Erasmus+:Youth in Action projects are important principles of the Programme.Each participant should be able to take full advantage of the possi-

bilities for personal and professional development and learning.This can only be ensured in a safe environment which respects andprotects the rights of all.

To this end, each participating organization must have in placeeffective procedures and arrangements to promote and guaran-tee the safety and protection of the participants in their project. Inthis regard, all participants involved in a mobility activity under KeyActions 1 or 2 must be insured against the risks related to their par-ticipation in these activities, while the European Voluntary Serviceincludes a specific insurance policy that is integrated in the project.

Organizations which involve young people under 18 years of ageare required to obtain a prior authorization of participation from theirparents or those acting on their behalf.


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SUPPORT OFFERED BY THE

SALTO SOUTH EAST EUROPE

RESOURCE CENTRE

SALTO South East Europe (SEE)Resource Centre is one of eightSALTO-YOUTH Resource Centres.SALTO-YOUTH stands for Support,Advanced Learning and TrainingOpportunities within the Erasmus+:Youth in Action Programme.Established in 2000, SALTO-YOUTHis a network of Resource Centres

working on European priority areaswithin the youth field.

As part of the European Commission'sTraining Strategy, SALTO-YOUTHprovides non-formal learning resour-ces for youth workers and youthleaders and organizes training andcontact-making activities to supportorganizations and National Agencieswithin the framework of the EuropeanCommission's Erasmus+: Youth inAction Programme and beyond.These measures target youthworkers and other relevant actors inthe field of youth and aim tostrengthen their competences in

working with young people, to usenon-formal learning in youth work, tobetter use the opportunities offeredby the Programme, and to supportthe participation of young people inyouth policy development at diffe-rent levels.

The SALTO SEE Resource Centre promotes and supports the par-ticipation of young people and other actors in the field of youthand non-formal education from the Programme's Partner Countriesin the Western Balkans in the Erasmus+ Programme, and it aimsto contribute to youth work and youth policy development in theWestern Balkan region. It acts as a support service for:• the network of Erasmus+: Youth in Action National Agencies

in the field of co-operation with this region and• youth organizations, youth leaders, youth workers and

other actors in the field who are interested in developing co-ope-ration between Programme countries and Neighbouring PartnerCountries in the Western Balkan region.

Within the framework of the European integration of the WesternBalkan region, SALTO SEE Resource Centre actively supports theprocess of accession of all countries of the region to the Erasmus+:Youth in Action Programme. The Centre’s Programme of activities isrun with the support of pools of trainers and accreditors, in particularin the European Voluntary Service strand of the Programme, as wellas Contact Points for the Erasmus+: Youth in Action located in theProgramme’s partner countries in the Western Balkan region.SALTO SEE Resource Centre carries out EVS accreditations of orga-nizations based in Western Balkan Partner Countries and organizesthe EVS training sessions for volunteers hosted in or coming fromthe region. More information about support activities open to partici-pants from the Western Balkan region: https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/activities/ and in the European Training Calendar at https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/european-training-calendar/.

LOCAL CONTACT POINTS IN THE WESTERN BALKAN

COUNTRIES

In order to bring knowledge and resources closer to the poten-tial beneficiaries of the Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme,SALTO SEE resource Centre has nominated Contact Points forthe Programme in each Western Balkan Partner country. TheContact Points are local youth organizations with experience in theProgramme and the capacities to transfer this knowledge furtheron to others. Their task is to promote the Programme as well as toprovide information, advice and training at the national level.

.33.


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MORE INFORMATION

SALTO-YOUTH South East Europe Resource Centre:

• https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/ , Email: [email protected]

Cooperation with Partner countries in the Western Balkan region:

• https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/seeyia/

List of local Contact Points in the Western Balkans Countries:

• https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/contactpoints/

SALTO-YOUTH Resource Centres:

• https://www.salto-youth.net/

European Commission, Youth homepage:

• http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm

Erasmus+ Programme Guide:

• http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/discover/guide/

index_en.htm

European Youth Strategy:

• http://ec.europa.eu/youth/policy/youth_strategy/index_en.htm

Erasmus+ National Agencies:

• http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/tools/

national-agencies/index_en.htm

Eurodesk network:

• http://eurodesk.org

European Youth Portal:

• https://europa.eu/youth/

More information about Capacity-building in the field of youth,

Western Balkans Youth Window: Website of Education, Audio-

visual and Culture Executive Agency:http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/

erasmus-plus_en, E-mail: [email protected]

This publication was made with the support of the European

Commission and the Offi ce of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth. The

content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the authors and

does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.

.35 .

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus_enhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus_enhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus_enhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus_en


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END

T

H E

Title:

Erasmus+: Youth in Action:Opportunities for theWestern Balkan region

Published by:

SALTO-YOUTH South East EuropeResource CentreMOVITDunajska cesta 5

1000 LjubljanaSloveniaTel.: +386 1 430 47 47www.salto-youth.net/[email protected]/see

Director of the publication:

Janez ŠkuljEditor: Maija LehtoPrinted by: Tiskarna Oman, Kranj,Slovenia, March 2016Designed by: AIKO, Maja Cerjak s.p.Based on the publication “ERASMUS+: MLADI V AKCIJI”,MOVIT, 2014 translated by ALAM,Aleš Lampe s.p.Proofread by: AdriatIQa, Ljubljana,

Slovenia

3000 copies

salto brochure web %283%29

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