As many of you will know in my previous life I worked in the voluntary sector for many years. I was therefore delighted that yesterday evening the Culture and Education Committee decided that EU support for volunteering should be stepped up to €10 million, as part of the 2011 European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship.
The programme as agreed by the Committee will support good practice exchanges, studies and research, conferences, information and promotion campaigns and other activities at EU, national and regional levels.
In an amendment to the original proposal from the European Commission the Committee increased the initial budget planned for the year’s activities - €6 million, not counting €2 million earmarked for preparatory action in 2010 – to €10 million. The European Council, which has the final say on this proposal, has meanwhile indicated that it might agree to €8 million.
To ensure the money is disbursed in the best way possible, a coordinating body will have to be appointed in each EU Member State.
Not a substitute for paid work or social services
The committee also called for more recognition and support for voluntary activities, especially within new democracies of the EU. Noting that voluntary work has not been formally acknowledged at EU level, Committee members called for recognition of competences and skills acquired through the EU’s YOUTHPASS and EUROPASS non-formal learning programmes, as a complement to formal training. At the same time, however, we were careful to warn that volunteering should not be regarded as a substitute for paid work or a means of meeting basic needs normally met by social services or a substitute for action by the public authorities.
Refugee volunteers
Asylum seekers, refugees and legally resident immigrants should be increasingly enabled to play a role in volunteering activities, particularly when they are unable to be employed, which in intended to help combat discrimination.
The Committee also urged that the funds be used to set up a database of volunteers and voluntary organisations in the EU, and create an EU internet portal to promote volunteering. The EU should also make more effort to mark International Volunteering Day (5 December).
