Whilst the United Nations have recently proclaimed an International Year of Youth starting in August, the Youth in Action Programme of the European Commission has unveiled its annual priorities for the same year. Social exclusion, youth unemployment and awareness-raising on global challenges are among the key issues proposed by the Commission.

For 2010, the Commission has agreed that it would finance projects taking into account one or more of the following priorities:

-          European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion – this includes projects promoting the active involvement of young people from migrant backgrounds or ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities.

-          Youth unemployment and promotion of young unemployed people’s active participation in society.

-          Awareness-raising and mobilization of young people around global challenges (e.g. sustainable development, climate change, migrations, the Millenium Development Goals).

Those annual priorities are aimed at better defining the context in which the Programme is implemented clarifying the scope of permanent priorities (promoting young people’s European citizenship, active participation in democratic life, cultural diversity and the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities).

With a total budget of € 885 million for 2007-2013, Youth in Action is the EU Programme for young people aged 15-28. It aims to inspire a sense of active citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union’s future. The Programme promotes mobility within and beyond the EU borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue.

Three deadlines have been set for the Programme in 2010: 1 February, 1 June and 1 September.

Click on the link above to view the European Commission's Youth pages.