Y IS FOR YOUTH Young people, particularly those living in areas of Europe which are severely disadvantaged, are experiencing complex challenges and social alienation. Despite a relatively strong tradition of social welfare policies in most European countries, poverty has become an issue in many young people's lives, threatening their full participation in society and leading to a feeling of not having access to fair and just opportunities. However, it is widely agreed that social exclusion can not be attributed to economic issues alone, there are also political and societal dimensions, including "problems of participation; the meaninglessness of everyday politics as experienced by many people; unstable community affiliations combined with a lack of real emotional recognition." (Prof. Dr. Heitmeyer, University of Bielefeld, Germany) Many young people are dissatisfied with the way public decisions are made and have a growing feeling that they are not listened to, and are not taken seriously. There is a growing sense of frustration among youth, which is compounded when experiences of discrimination - because of ethnicity, religion, gender, disability and/or sexual orientation - are added. The October 2005 riots in Paris and other French cities were just the most striking evidence of these evelopments. The number of European young people attracted by anti-democratic groups and ideologies (including authoritarian, racist, or radical religious groups and movements) is growing. While the factors leading to such attitudes and actual participation are complex and diverse, evidence suggests that promises of recognition, of togetherness and of defined roles and tasks contribute to their attractiveness. This, in turn, gives further hints to the problem of missed opportunities which many young people are increasingly experiencing in mainstream democratic societies. YEPP aims at centrally involving youth in decision-making processes through youth participation in the Local Support Groups, through youth councils, future workshops with youth and youth focus group interviews, and further local and transnational initiatives.