The Partnership Programme on 
Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, Human Rights Education 
and Intercultural Dialogue

A brief history

It is often stated that the history of Europe has been shaped by the exchanges and interaction between peoples and cultures across the Mediterranean Sea. What is less obvious at present is to what extent and in which ways and in which spirit such exchanges will happen in the future. Young people are often confronted with obstacles to mobility and youth exchanges that are the result of typical forms of xenophobia, prejudice and ignorance about one other. Yet, young people are crucial for the future of Euro-Mediterranean co-operation.

The Euro-Mediterranean Youth Action programme of the European Commission was initiated in 1999 and is based on the shared concern to combat prejudices and stereotypes that prevail across the Mediterranean and still determine mutual perceptions. The Commission's resolve to increase dialogue and co-operation across the Mediterranean finds its roots in the Barcelona Process currently involving the 27 EU Member States and 10 Mediterranean partner countries.

For the Council of Europe, the promotion of human rights and the development of democratic forms of participation are crucial objectives to further consolidate pan-European co-operation. The promotion of peace, co-operation and human rights in Europe, however, cannot be disconnected from the realities around Europe, in particular across the Mediterranean area.

It is within this framework that the Council of Europe and the European Commission have agreed to develop a common project on Euro-Med, Human Rights Education and Intercultural dialogue.

The role of the Partnership is to explore new areas of cooperation beyond those provided by the Euro-Med Youth programme, youth policy is one of such areas. Since September 2005, the Partnership has undertaken a pioneering role in the field of youth policy cooperation.

In addition to this, from the outset one of the main objectives of the Euro-Med Partnership has been to ensure quality development and support to Euro-Med youth work with a view to increase the quality and quantity of Euro-Med intercultural youth projects and develop youth workers and leaders' skills and ability to deal with issues of common concern.

Who is who in the Partnership

The Youth Partnership is jointly managed by the European Commission and the Council of Europe within a Partnership Management Board.

In addition to this, 4 Sectorial Groups contribute to specific thematic areas in terms of content definition and operational management. They have a support, advisory and monitoring function.

Last but not least, the Partnership Consultative Meeting brings together the members of the Management Board, the Partnership Sectorial groups and other interested parties. Its function is of consultation and exchange of information. It takes place once a year.

The Partnership Sectorial Group on Euro-Med, Human Rights Education and Intercultural dialogue

PSG MEETINGS 3rd MEETING European Youth Centre Budapest 6-7 September 2007 Report of the meeting 2nd MEETING North-South Centre, Lisbon 18-19 September 2006 Report of the meeting 1st MEETING European Youth Centre Budapest,  8 November 2005 Report of the meeting

This Group is composed in such a way as to seek better synergies between different sectors and to involve the most relevant partners in the youth field. For this reason, the Sectorial Group brings together researchers, youth policy experts as well as practitioners and institutions’ representatives directly concerned by the Group’s scope. The Sectorial Group on Euro-Med, Human Rights Education and Intercultural dialogue includes representatives from the European Commission, the Council of Europe’s Directorate of Youth and Sport and the North-South Centre, the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Platform, the European Youth Forum, the European Network of Researchers, the Salto-Youth Euromed Resource Centre as well as an independent expert in the field of Euro-Med youth co-operation. The Anna Lindh Foundation has an observer status within the group.