2011-05-30

Last week the European Commission has published the outcomes of the consultation on the future programme generation in the fields of education and youth. Thousands of organisations and individuals expressed their expectations for the future of the Youth in Action Programme and the Lifelong Learning Programme. A majority desires the continuity of the running programmes.

More than 7000 stakeholders participated in the consultation; most of them supported an independent YOUTH IN ACTION programme and pleaded for the continuity of the current sub-programmes. The stakeholders stressed the meaning of the programme for non-formal education and youth work. In some EU member states YOUTH IN ACTION is the only possibility to support non-formal learning financially.

The majority of the participating stakeholders backed the continuity of the Lifelong Learning programme as well. This includes separate sub-programmes for each sector. Some stakeholders asked for more possibilities to combine actions from different sectors. Especially Grundtvig and the field of non-formal adult education should remain independent and continue supporting active citizenship and personal development. At the same time their financial strength should be increased.

The European Commission now has the task to take account of the stakeholders´ requests. The Commissions´ first draft of the new programme generation after 2013 is expected to be launched in autumn. It will show if the outcomes of the consultation have been included adequately.