Euro<26 and the European Youth Card Association

The Euro<26 youth card offers great discounts for young people across Europe. But it is so much more than just a card. It is the key for young Europeans to information, mobility, culture and participation. Through a range of services, discounts and advantages, the Euro<26 card encourages young people under 26 to make informed life choices, explore their world, and play a full part as citizens of Europe in today's society.

The Euro<26 card is the only one for all young people under 26, regardless of whether they are students, working, unemployed, parents, or trainees. And they are affordable - reflecting the economy of each country, they start at 3 euro - with add-on services like helplines, magazines, and youth information services included in the price.

In total, 58 Euro<26 organisations are issuing cards in 35 countries, and they are all members of the European Youth Card Association (EYCA).

EYCA promotes and develops the Euro<26 ideal, supporting member organisations and promoting pan-European activities.

EYCA encourages all youth cards to give young people improved access to transport, accommodation, leisure activities, culture, sports - indeed, any benefits and services which encourage their development, their mobility, and improve the quality of their lives.

Each EYCA member arranges discounts, advantages, services and information in their own country for their young cardholders. The Euro<26 logo ensures that these discounts are automatically accessible to all cardholders throughout Europe. There are currently about 100.000 advantages including:

· Culture: theatres, cinemas, concerts, museums, events

· Transport: buses, trains, ferries, air travel

· Travel: accommodation, holidays, travel, language courses

· Services: insurance, helplines

· Shops: CDs, books and a variety of goods

All of these, combined with youth information means the Euro<26 card is opening doors for young people across the continent.

Key dates

In 1986, there were six separate national youth cards in Europe offering discounts and opportunties in the fields of culture, leisure, sport, travel, information, goods and services (in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland and Spain).

Recognising their common aims, the youth card organisations initiated European co-operation to make all advantages available to all young cardholders in each of the six countries. This reciprocity between the six cards started the development towards a single European Euro<26 youth card.

In 1987 the signing of the 'Lisbon Protocol' (the basic document ruling the reciprocity of discounts) marked the beginning of the European reality of youth cards.

Every year since then has brought growth: more countries joining, more young people obtaining the card, new advantages and services added and support from different European institutions, such as the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

In 1991, the Council of Europe agreed to endorse the card by adopting a Partial Agreement on the Youth Card, acknowledging it as a tool to support youth mobility in Europe. Since then governments from 15 European countries have joined this agreement.

In 2002, 4.100.000 million young people in 35 European countries carry a youth card with the Euro<26 logo and card design.

Partners

EURO<26 organisations operate on a not-for-profit basis. To be able to effectively offer a low-cost youth card that is accessible to all young people, they work together with other youth organisations, regional or national public agencies and private sponsors, and are sometimes partly funded by them.

The philosophy of youth card organisations is that the card is not an end in itself, but a tool to empower young people, and one which can be used by many organisations dealing with different services for young people. Putting this philosophy into action means working with a broad range of organisations to ensure the maximum benefit for the card holder. Examples of this approach are increasingly found in youth cards that are combined with other membership cards.

At international level EYCA cooperates with the following institutions or organisations:

• Council of Europe
• European Commission
• European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA)
• Eurodesk
• International Student and Travel Confederation (ISTC)
• European Union Federation of Youth Hostel Associations (EUFED)

Organisations and companies that see new opportunities within the flexible EURO<26 concept are invited to contact the EYCA secretariat or the youth card organisation in their region or country.

EURO<26 Youth Card Organisations

The countries and regions

Andorra (Carnet Jove)
Armenia (EURO<26)
Austria (EURO<26)
Belarus (EURO<26)
Flemish Community of Belgium (CJP)
Germanspeaking Community of Belgium (Jugenburo)
Bulgaria (EURO<26)
Croatia (Euro<26)
Cyprus (Karta Neon)
Czech Republic (Druzeni Karta mladeze)
England (Under 26)
Estonia
Finland (Herkules Kortti)
Germany (Jugendkarte)
Hungary (EURO<26)
Ireland (EYC)
Italy (Carta Giovani)
Latvia (Jaunatnes Attistibas Fonds)
Liechtenstein (Jugendkarte)
Lithuania (EURO<26)
Luxembourg (Carte Jeunes)
Macedonia (EURO<26)
Malta (Karta Zghazagh)
Netherlands (CJP)
Northern Ireland (EYC)
Poland (EURO<26)
Portugal (Movijovem)
Romania(EURO<26)
Russia (EURO<26)
San Marino (Carta Giovani)
Scotland (Young Scot)
Slovak Republic (CKM SYTS)
Slovenia (Euro<26)
Spain (19 cards: Carnet Jove, Carnet Joven, Carnet Xove, Carné Joven, Gazte Txartela)
Sweden (EURO<26)
Switzerland (EURO<26)
Ukraine(EURO<26)
Montenegro (Yugoslavia)
Serbia (Yugoslavia)
Wales (Under 26)

Addresses National EURO<26 Organisations

Andorra
Carnet Jove
30 Av. Princep Benlloch 2n pis
Andorra la Vella
tel: 376-86.49.76
fax: 376-86.27.22
E-mail: info@andorra.ad
Web: www.carnetjove.ad

Armenia
Armenian Junior Chamber
40, Pushkin Str.
375010 Yerevan 10
tel: 374.1.53.25.63
fax: 374.1.53.25.64
E-mail: euro26ajc@euro26.am
Web: www.euro26.am

Austria
EURO<26
Glockengasse 4d
A-5020 Salzburg
tel: 43-662.84.92.91
fax: 43-662.84.92.91.53
E-mail: euro26@euro26.at
Web: www.euro26.at

Belgium
Flemish Community:
CJP
p/a Lunatheater
Sainctelettesquare 19
1000 Brussels
tel: 32-2.203.02.00
fax: 32-2.201.09.29
E-mail:onthaal@cjp.be
Web: www.cjp.be

Germanspeaking Community:
Youth Office
Quartum Center, Hutte 79
4700 Eupen
tel: 32-87.56.09.79
fax: 32-89.56.09.44
E-mail:euro26@judenbuero.be
www.euro26.be

Croatia
Croatian Youth Hostel Association
Savska 5/I
10 000 Zagreb
tel: 385-1.49.29.294
fax: 385-1.46.11.758
E-mail: euro26@euro26.biz.hr
Web: www.euro26.biz.hr

Cyprus
Karta Neon
90 E Archiepiskopou
Marakiou C.Avenue 41
CY- 1077
Nicosia
tel: 357-2.760.60/357-2.304.860
fax: 357-2.760.840
E-mail: neolea@cytanet.com.cy
youthcard@hotmail.com

Czech Republic
Druzeni Karta mladeze
Smeralova 22
170 00 Praha 7
tel/fax: 420-2.333.722.40
tel: 420-2.333.833.70
E-mail: km@adam.cz
Web: www.euro26.cz

Estonia
Estonian Youth Work Centre
Uuslinna Street, 10
11415 Tallinn
tel: 372-6.380.757
fax: 372-6.380.756
E-mail: euro26@entk.ee
Web: www.entk.ee/noor-soodus/index.html

Finland
Herkules-Kortti
Olympiastadion
Eteläkaarre
00250 Helsinki
tel: 358-9.348.24.22
fax: 358-9.491.290
E-mail: herkules@alli.fi
Web: herkules.alli.fi

Hungary
Euro<26 Kht
Szekely Mihaly ut 10
Budapest 1061
tel: 361-413.63.26
fax: 361-461.58.91
E-mail: euro26@euro26.ngo.hu
Web: www.euro26.ngo.hu

Ireland
EYC
19-21, Aston Quay
Dublin 2
tel: 353-1.602.16.73
fax: 353-1.677.89.08
E-mail: youth@usitworld.com
Web: www.youthcard.ie

Italy
Associazione Carta Giovani
Via Vesalio 6
00161 Roma
tel: 39-6.44.111.45
fax: 39-6.44.111.401
E-mail: euro26@cartagiovani.it
Web: www.cartagiovani.it

Latvia
Lacplesa Lela 29
LV-1011 Riga
tel/fax: 371.721.72.17
E-mail: euro26@euro26.lv
Web:www.euro26.lv

Liechtenstein
Spiegelstrasse 476
FL-9491 Ruggell
Fürstentum Liechtenstein
tel: 423-373.33.93
fax: 423-373.71.97
Handy: 41-76.329.33.93
E-mail: flash@lie-net.li
Web: www.supra.net/vlj

Lithuania
Lithuanian Student & Youth Travel
J. Basanaviciaus 30-13
LT - 2006 Vilnius
tel: 370-2.397.391
fax: 370-2.397.386
E-mail: info@Isyt.It
Web: www.Isyt.It

Luxembourg
Carte Jeunes
Galerie Kons
26, Place de la Gare
L-1616 Luxembourg
tel: 352-26.29.32.00
fax: 352-26.29.32.15
E-mail: euro26@info.jeunes.lu
Web: www.euro26.lu

Macedonia
Mladinska karta EURO<26
ul. Prolet br. 25
P. Fah 499
91000 Skop
tel: 389-91.239.947
fax: 389-91.235.029
E-mail: mkeuro26@mkinter.net

Malta
Karta Zghazagh
NSTS-Student
220, St. Paul Street
VLT07 Valletta
tel: 356-24.66.28/356-24.49.83
fax: 356-23.03.30
E-mail: cmica@nsts.org
Web: www.nsts.org

Netherlands
CJP
Postbus 3572
1001 AJ Amsterdam
tel: 31-20.5210.220
fax: 31-20.5210.221
E-mail: cjp@cjp.nl
Web: www.cjp.nl

Poland
Polish Youth Card Association
Dlugi Targ 11/13
80 828 Gdansk
tel: 48-58.301.71.95
fax: 48-58.301.89.12
E-mail: euro26@euro26.pl
Web: www.euro26.pl

Portugal
Movijovem
Rua Lucio de Azevedo nr. 27
1600-146 Lisboa
tel: 351-21.723.21.00
fax: 351-21.723.21.01
E-mail: cartaojovem@movijovem.pt
Web:www.cartaojovem.pt

Romania
Euro < 26 Association
Valter Maracineanu Str, 1-3
Intrarea 5, Etaj 4, Camera 337
70 119 Bucharest 1
tel: +4-021.310.26.99
E-mail: info@euro26.ro or cd@newsys.ro
Web:www.euro26.ro

Russia
EURO<26 youth card
c/o Russian Union of Youth
Maroseyka, 3/13
Moscow 101970
tel: +(7095)206.81.52/8
fax: +(7095)206.86.12
E-mail: euro26@cityline.ru
Web: euro26.org.ru

San Marino
Carta Giovani
Via G. Babboni, 14-17
47.899 Serravalle
Republica di San Marino
tel: +(378).0549.90.07.59
fax: +(378).0549.90.42.5
E-mail: cartagiovani@omniway.sm

Slovak Republic
CKM SYTS
Vysoka 32
81445 Bratislava
tel: 421-2.527.31.020
fax: 421-2.527.31.025
E-mail: ckmsyts@ckm.sk
Web: www.ckm.sk

Slovenia
Movit
Gregorciceva 3
1000 Ljubljana
tel: 386-(0)1.42.65.268
fax: 386-(0)1.42.65.273
E-mail: info@euro26.si
Web: www.euro26.si

Spain
Instituto de la Juventud
c/Ortega y Gasset 71
28 006 Madrid
tel: 34-91.363.76.20
fax: 34-91.309.30.66
E-mail: CarnetJoven@mtas.es
Web:
Instituto de la Juventud: www.mtas.es/infoven
Carnet Joven Aragon: www.carneteuro26.org
Carnet Joven Asturias: www.princast.es/juvedep/juventud/carne/index.htm
Carnet Joven Baleares: Cjove.caib.es
Carnet Joven Ceuta: www.CTV.es/ciudad-ceuta
Carnet Joven Canarias: www.juventudcanaria.com/carne_joven/index.htm
Carnet Joven Cantabria: www.informajovencantabria.com/ventajascant.html
Castilla La Mancha: www.jccm.es/social/juventud/carnet-joven.htm
Castilla y Leon: www.jcyl.es/jcyl/cec/dgj/info/index.htm
Carnet Joven La Rioja www.larioja.org
Carnet Jove Cataluña: www.tujuca.com
Carne Xove Galicia: www.rix.org
Carnet Joven Madrid: www.madridjovenes.com
Carnet Joven Murcia: www.carm.es/cpre/dgjmf/carnet.htm
Carnet Joven Navarra: www.cfnavarra.es/indj/juventud
Gazte Txartela Pais Vasco: www.gazteaukera.net
Carnet Joven Valencia: www.ivj.gva.es

Switzerland
EURO<26
49, Belpstrasse
Postfach 3000 Bern 14
tel: 41.31.387.12.00
fax: 41.31.387.12.01
E-mail: info@euro26.ch
Web: www.euro26.ch

United Kingdom:

England
Euro<26 England
The National Youth Agency
17-23 Albion Street
Leicester LE1 6GD
E-mail: euro26@nya.org.uk
Web: www.youthinformation.com

Northern Ireland
EYC
usit NOW
13b Fountain Centre
Belfast BT1 6ET
tel: 353.1.602.17.77
fax: 353.1.677.89.08
E-mail: youth@usitworld.com
Web: www.youthcard.net

Scotland
Young Scot
Rosebery House
9, Haymarket Terrace
EH12 5EZ Edinburgh
tel: 44-131.313.24.8
fax: 44-131.313.68.00
E-mail: info@youngscot.org
Web: www.youngscot.org

Sweden
Euro<26
Box 11215
404 25 Goteborg
Tel.: +46.(0)31.701.30.60
Fax: +46.(0)31.701.30.69
E-mail: : info@euro26-se.org
Web: www.euro26-se.org

Ukraine
Zarevo
Box 338 / Sichnevoho
Povstannia str. 6, off. 6
01011 Kiev 11
tel/fax: 380-44.573.8632
E-mail: euro26@gilan.uar.net
Web: www.euro26.org.ua

Wales
Under 26
Canllaw Online Cyf Block A / Van Court
Caerphilly Business Park
Caerphilly CF83 3ED
tel: 44.29.20.887.868
E-mail: euro26@canllaw-online.com
Web: www.canllaw-online.com

Belarus
Youth Information Centre
vul. Darashevicha 4-2
220013 Minsk
tel: +375/17.239.31.17
fax: +375/17.232.27.43
E-mail: yic@bsa.org.by
Web: euro26.at.tut.by

Bulgaria
Gabrovo Youth Organisation
2, Ruen street
5300 Gabrovo
tel: +359.66.35.058
fax: +359.66.28.483
Web: www.euro26bg.globcom.net

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Youth Hostel Association BiH
Cemalusa 1
71000 Sarajevo
tel: + 387-33.20.89.10
fax: + 387-33.21.93.06
fsbih@euro26bih.org
www.euro26.bih.org

Montenegro
Postanski Fah 209
81000 Podgorica
tel: 381-81.225.458
fax: 381-81.241.906
E-mail: euro26@cg.yu
Web: www.euro26.cg.yu

Serbia
Euro<26 Association Serbia
Srpskih Vladara 26
11000 Belgrade
Yugoslavia
tel: 381-11.36.12.910
fax: 381-11.686.479
E-mail: euro26serbia@yahoo.co.uk