The Euro-Med Youth Programme is a regional programme set up within the framework of the third chapter of the Barcelona Process entitled “Partnership in Social, Cultural and Human Affairs”.
It promotes the mobility of young people and the understanding between peoples through three types of actions: Youth Exchanges, Voluntary Services and Support Measures.
Euro-Med Youth I (1999-2001) and Euro-Med Youth II (2001-2004) were primarily run by the European Commission from the headquarters in Brussels. They were sub-delegated by the Directorate-General of Europe Aid to the YOUTH Unit of the DG Education and Culture (DG EAC) Euro-Med Youth III Programme focuses on mobility, non-formal education and intercultural learning.
The novelty of this phase is the decentralised implementation of the programme, the aim being to reinforce the partnership between the European Union and the Mediterranean partner countries, to take action as closely as possible to the beneficiaries and to adapt to the diversity of national systems and situation in the field of youth.
Applicants (project leaders) from the Mediterranean partner countries applied directly for grants to their own youth national authorities, now responsible through the Euro-Med Youth Unit (EMYU) for grant awarding and the overall management of the programme.

The EMYP is expected to resume its activities in September 2009 with a first call for proposals in November 2009. The EMYP IV would be reintroduced with an upgrade to procedures and thematic focuses.