Brussels, 11/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has selected 178 new projects for funding under the framework of the YOUTH and EUROMED YOUTH programmes, with the aim of promoting intercultural dialogue, active citizenship and minority rights in the Mediterranean basin and in South Eastern Europe. The funding for the selected projects will be worth 4.2 million Euro. Many projects will go ahead with the co-operation of international organisations such as the United Nations. The European Commission has selected 178 new projects for funding under the framework of the YOUTH and EUROMED YOUTH programmes, with the aim of promoting intercultural dialogue, active citizenship and minority rights in the Mediterranean basin and in South Eastern Europe. They will offer young people possibilities for personal development and active participation in exchanges, voluntary service or other initiatives. The funding for the selected projects will be worth 4.2 million Euro. Many projects will go ahead with the co-operation of international organisations such as the United Nations. 23 selected projects linked to South Eastern Europe address specific challenges in the region. Themes for youth exchanges and training activities with the region vary from health care and intercultural understanding to peace building. For the first time the European Commission will organise European Voluntary Service projects in partnership with other international organisations such as the United Nations. These projects allow a young person to be a volunteer in another country for a specific time period and to carry out tasks, which bring an added value to the local community. For example, under the new selected projects, two young Spanish volunteers will be helping UN field staff in a refugee camp in Damascus, Syria, with their humanitarian assistance in the region. (For more information: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/education/youth.html ).