Brussels, 16/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 15 November, the Youth Council adopted a partial political agreement on the programme "Youth in Action" 2007, under the chairmanship of British minister Ruth Kelly. As for the programmes Media 2007, Culture 2007 and life-long Education, this political agreement remains partial until the budget has been set by the finance ministers (the Commission is proposing a budget of 915 million EUR for Youth in Action 2007). Italy and Portugal have lifted their reservations on the procedure for the selection of projects, having received Commissioner Figel's assurance that the procedure will be implemented in all transparency. Mr Figel was pleased to note the extremely warm welcome reserved for this by the European Parliament (adoption of the Gröner report at first reading on 25 October) and the Council for the broad outlines of the programme, particularly access to education for the least well-off young people, he noted, which gives "a very clear on indication that we should be continuing our enterprise". The ministers also adopted a resolution on the implementation of the European Youth Pact and the promotion of active citizenship, which was adopted by the spring Council of last March. On this occasion, they reiterated the important part young people play, and will continue to play, in the pursuit of the Lisbon objectives in terms of growth and employment, and promised to extend their dialogue with young people. The Council closed in the early evening with an exchange of views on resources to be implemented in order to bring Europe closer to its young citizens. "We hope to increase cooperation (...). We would like to see more voluntary actions", said Commissioner Figel.