Update concerning the decentralisation process Euro-Med Youth
III
1. IMPLEMENTATION METHOD
A significant change in the management of the
programme for the Mediterranean countries is taking place, as a
consequence of the decentralisation of the management of external
aid towards the MEDA national authorities. The long term objective
is a better ownership of the programme by the Mediterranean partner
countries.
The management of the programme is being transferred
to the Mediterranean youth authorities, and will be operated by
separate units within each MEDA ministry, the Euro-Med Youth
Units (EMYUs). These units will be set up by the national
authorities with the support of a Regional Capacity Building and
Support unit.
Within the new programme framework, the responsibilities
of the EMYUs will go beyond the traditional tasks assumed by the
National Coordinator (restricted primarily to promotion, information
and support to project promoters) and will include the tasks carried
out previously by DG Education and Culture (EAC). The new EMYUs
will be responsible for all managerial tasks of the programme in
its different phases: application, selection, contracting, monitoring
and payment procedures, as well as for the traditional tasks assumed
by the national co-ordinators of the programme.
The change of the management system from a centralised
to a decentralised mode requires the deployment of a Regional
Capacity Building and Support scheme for the Mediterranean
partner countries (RCBS). This measure together with a close monitoring
is essential to ensure the proper transfer of responsibilities,
the expected satisfactory performance of the new EMYUs, impact and
visibility of the programme.
Financial agreements (for the
management of the programme at national level) between the EC and
the MEDA youth national authorities are being prepared, negotiated
(Delegations/National Authorities) and will finally be signed.
The first phase of the decentralisation
process, presently ongoing, consists in the selection of
the external RCBS unit following the tender procedures.
The specific work of the RCBS
will encompass activities such as:
Support the MEDA youth national authorities
to define the profile for the EMYUs (selection of staff, coaching,
training etc.) for programme management, financial and communication
tasks. They will assist in organising the selection panels;
Enhancing sub-regional and regional co-operation
among the different stakeholders through annual meetings and
networking activities, guidance and support in the creation
of a network of EMYUs, dissemination of best practices and results
of the Euro-Med Youth Programme;
Design of the overall communication, information
and visibility strategy of the Programme in co-ordination with
the European Commission and the EMYUs of the MEDA national youth
authorities. This will be necessary to harmonise the different
national publications for the promotion of the Programme;
Produce studies/reports on the evolving
situation in the MEDA countries after the introduction of the
decentralisation;
Monitoring activities (different levels).
Parallel to the decentralisation process, the deconcentration
process will also take place. A number of responsibilities
for the management of the Euro-Med Youth Programme will be transferred
from the Commission headquarters in Brussels to the respective EC
Delegations in the MEDA countries. The process should be
fully completed and operational at the end of 2006.
The second phase of the decentralisation
process will concern the organisation of selections and
the start up of the projects selected and financed under the programme
Euro-Med Youth III.
The selection panels' calendar will respect the
calendar of the Youth programme (3 annual selections, probably by
sub-regional panels). Delegations will also accompany the process
of selection and will follow the implementation of the projects
within each country.
As responsible for the management of the European
Youth programme, EAC is fully cooperating with EuropeAid (AIDCO)
in order to guarantee coherence and consistency between the two
parts of the programme.
An information and training meeting
gathering Euro-Med Youth desk officers from the Youth Programme's
National Agencies, officers from the new EMYUs (operational at that
time) in the Mediterranean partner countries and other stakeholders
of the programme (such as SALTO Youth Euro-Med resource centre,
Euro-Med Youth Platform, Partnership on training in Euro-Med Youth
with the Council of Europe, European Youth Forum, Anna Lindh Foundation
for the Dialogue between Cultures and Civilizations, RCBS, Youth
Programme's Executive Agency, etc.) is planned for June 2006.
2. PROVISIONAL CALENDAR FOR IMPLEMENTATION
ACTION
DATE
Approval of Euro-Med Youth III project document
by MED Committee
11 July 2005
Publication of restricted call for tender for
Regional Capacity Building and Support (JO S 159)
19 August 2005
Evaluation committee established shortlist of
candidates for call for tender
10 October 2005
Sending of full call for tender to 5 short listed
consortia
24 October 2005
Formal Commission decision on Euro-Med Youth
III
Written procedure ongoing: decision scheduled
mid-November
Deadline for reception of proposals for Regional
Capacity Building and Support
20 January 2006
Evaluation committee
End of January 2006
Date foreseen for start of RCBS contract
March 2006
Creation of new national Euro-Med Youth Units
(EMYUs) in Mediterranean partner countries foreseen to start
Progressively, as from 1st quarter 2006¹
Date foreseen for likely reopening of project
selections in Mediterranean partner countries
Progressively, starting from Mediterranean partner
countries that are ready, as from June 2006²
¹ N.B. The creation of the EMYUs depends on many
different factors that are difficult to estimate (negotiations with
National authorities, signing of agreements, recruitment and training
of personnel, etc.).
² N.B. The reopening of project selections depends
on many different factors that are difficult to estimate (set-up
of new EMYUs, training of personnel, etc.)
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