§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the objectives of the youth element of the Socrates Programme in the UK concerning the Building of Europe and Strengthening of Sense of Solidarity; what specific European(a) social and (b) political model is envisaged; and if he will make a statement. [123603]
§ Ms JowellThe EU Socrates Programme supports education co-operation between member states and does not support youth activities. These are covered by the EU Youth Programme which principally supports exchanges of young people between member states. Article 2.1 (a) and (b) of the European Council Decision1 under which the Youth Programme operates states that the objectives of the programme are:
- (a) "to promote an active contribution by young people to the building of Europe through their participation in transnational exchanges within the Community or with third countries so as develop understanding of the cultural diversity of Europe and its fundamental common values, thus helping to promote respect for human rights and to combat racism, anti-semitism and xenophobia;
- (b) to strengthen their sense of solidarity through more extensive participation by young people in transnational community—service activities within the Community or with third countries, in particular those with which the Community has concluded co-soperation agreements".
The Council Decision does not envisage or promote any specific European social or political model.
1 Decision No. 1031/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 April 2000 establishing the "Youth" Community action programme (Official Journal L 117, 18.5.2000, p. 1).