A €10,000 (£8,230/$13,773) pot of cash will be divided between the top five federations, in an effort to increase participation in the ETU Junior Cups.

At the end of each season, starting from this year, the ranking points of the highest two male athletes and the highest two female athletes per National Federation will be added together.

That cumulative ranking will see each country slotted into a league table.

Money will then be distributed to the top five countries on that table.

"The  ETU Executive Board has created this new ranking by National Federation to increase the participation of all countries in Junior European Cups," said ETU vice-president Denis Jaeger.

"With this mixed ranking we hope that the countries which hesitated to send junior athletes to compete will be encouraged to do so.

"This is a great opportunity for each National Federation to compete and learn from other Federations."

The top nation will be given €3,500 (£2,881/$4,819), with the country in second getting €2,500 (£2,881/$2,058).

The nation in third wins €2,000 (£1,646/$2,754), in fourth wins €1,500 (£1,235/$2,065), and in fifth wins €1,000 (£823/$1,377),

The opening ETU Junior European Cup is due to take place in Quarteira, Portugal, on April 13, one of ten Junior Cups scheduled for the season.