L 138/24 Official Journal of the European Union 30.4.2004 DECISION No 790/2004/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 April 2004 establishing a Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level in the field of youth THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 149(4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having consulted the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: The Treaty establishes citizenship of the Union and provides that Community action in the field of education, vocational training and youth shall be aimed, inter alia, at encouraging the development of youth exchanges and of exchanges of socio-educative instructors. The Laeken Declaration annexed to the conclusions of the European Council of 14 and 15 December 2001 asserts that one of the basic challenges to be resolved by the European Union is the way in which to bring citizens, and primarily the young, closer to the European design and the European institutions. International non-governmental youth organisations enable young people to become active citizens, develop a sense of responsibility, express their opinions and values and take part in exchanges across national borders; in so doing, these organisations help to bring Europe closer to young citizens. (1) OJ C 10, 14.1.2004, p. 18. (3 Opinion of the European Parliament of 6 November 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Council Common Position of 22 December 2003 (O] C 72 E, 23.3.2004, p. 10), Position of the European Parliament of 10 March 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Decision of the Council of 30 March 2004. 3) The Commission’s White Paper entitled ‘A new impetus for European youth’ presented on 21 November 2001 argues that participation by young people should be encouraged and  advocates  strengthening  the organisations within which young people can make their voice heard; it also states that information is essential to the development of active citizenship. In its Resolution () on the White Paper, the European Parliament also stressed the important role played by international and European youth organisations in enabling young people to participate on a long-term basis in democratic life in Europe. In its White Paper on European governance (*) the Commission calls for general openness and for representatives of civil society to be consulted and included in the formation of EU policy. It recognises the role of non-governmental organisations in giving voice to the concerns of citizens. The Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 27 June 2002 regarding the framework of European cooperation in the youth field (°) endorses the thematic priorities as proposed in the White Paper on European Youth, and in particular participation and information, especially with the aim of encouraging participation by young people in the exercise of active citizenship, and proposes mechanisms for implementing the open method of coordination by consulting young people through specific arrangements at national level and consulting the European Youth Forum at European level. The European Youth Forum represents young people vis-a-vis the European Union and other international institutions. Its action is essential in order to coordinate and relay to the European institutions the views of the non-governmental youth organisations and to relay to these organisations information about European matters which are of interest to them. International Non-governmental ~ Youth  Organisations  provide non-formal and informal learning, training and information to young people; they constitute networks (}) OJ C 180 E, 31.7.2003, p. 145. () O] C 287, 12.10.2001, p. 1. () O] C 168, 13.7.2002, p. 2.