The Official Journal of the European Union, has published on October 2nd, a Call for Proposals to support bodies which are active at European level in the field of youth. Those activities will be funded with 1.4 M€ for the budget period 2009, and the call will be opened to non-profit organizations or European networks representing bodies working on behalf of young people.

This call for proposals aims to provide support for the permanent activities of bodies active at European level in the field of youth and pursuing an aim which is of general European interest. These activities must help to encourage young people to participate as citizens in public life, in society and in the development and implementation of European cooperation actions in the broadly defined field of youth, as stated in the Youth in Action EU Programme.

Under this call for proposals organisations will be selected for the conclusion of annual operating grant agreements covering the budget year 2009.

Eligible bodies requirements

To be eligible for an operating grant, a body must:

• Be non-governmental.
• Have been legally established for at least one year on the date of submission of applications,
• Be non-profit-making.
• Be a youth organisation or one having a broader scope but including a section dedicated to youth.
• Involve young people in managing activities developed with them in mind.
• Have at least one (salaried or non-salaried) permanent member of staff. An exception is granted to bodies that have never received grants under this action and that intend to employ a permanent member of staff if this grant is awarded.

Applicants can be based in any Member State, as well as European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries in the European Economic Area (EEA): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway. In addition, Turkish organizations, and those coming from countries of the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia    and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia; or from some East European countries: Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine.

Applicant bodies must have active organisations in at least 8 of the aforementioned countries.

The activities likely to contribute towards strengthening and improving the efficiency of Community action are as follows:

• Group 1: representing the views and interests of young people in their diversity at European level.
• Group 2: youth exchanges and voluntary services.
• Group 3: non-formal and informal learning and activity programmes targeted at young people.
• Group 4: promoting intercultural learning and understanding.
• Group 5: debate on European matters, EU policies or youth policies.
• Group 6: dissemination of information on Community action.
• Group 7: actions promoting participation and initiative by young people.

Those activities must be must schedule within organization's annual work plan for 2009 (1 January 2009-31 December 2009).

Budget and application deadline

The total budget earmarked for cofinancing the operation of bodies active at European level in the field of youth under Call for Proposals EACEA/31/08, is estimated, for 2009, at 1.4 M€. Community financial assistance cannot exceed 80 % of the total operating costs. The maximum Community grant for each body will be 35,000 € for an annual operating agreement.

Applications must be submitted, only by post or courier service, by December 1st 2008, to:

Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency
Youth Unit (P6)
Grant application ‘Youth in Action’ — Action 4.1 — 2009
Avenue du Bourget 1 (BOUR — 1/01)
B-1140 Brussels

Further information as well as relevant documents can be found in the Youth in Action page at Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (Executive Agency) website.