Tag Archives: Voluntary work

A renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about A renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Education training youth sport > Youth

A renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-18)

Document or Iniciative

Council Resolution of 27 November 2009 on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018) [Official Journal C 311 of 19.12.2009].

Summary

For Europe to attain the objectives regarding growth and jobs set by the Lisbon strategy, it is imperative that its young men and women are socially as well as professionally well integrated. Such integration also promotes young people’s personal fulfilment, social cohesion and active citizenship. However, young people still face challenges in terms of employment, education and training, poverty, health, and participation and democratic representation. Therefore, a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field has been designed to provide better opportunities for Europe’s young people.

This renewed framework is based on the Commission’s communication of April 2009 on the new European Union (EU) Youth Strategy. It aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of European cooperation by establishing a strategy for the next decade that builds on the progress made and lessons learned under the previous framework.

European cooperation in the youth field during 2010-18

European cooperation in the youth field during 2010-18 is motivated by two interrelated objectives:

the creation of more and equal opportunities in education and the labour market;
the promotion of active citizenship, social inclusion and solidarity.

To this end, specific initiatives targeting young people and mainstreaming initiatives to incorporate youth issues into other policy areas are developed and promoted. The renewed framework outlines eight fields of action in which cross-sectoral initiatives to support young people should be taken:

education and training;
employment and entrepreneurship;
health and well-being;
participation;
voluntary activities;
social inclusion;
youth and the world;
creativity and culture.

European cooperation in the youth field must uphold a number of guiding principles, particularly:

promote gender equality;
combat all forms of discrimination;
consider differences between young people, especially in terms of disadvantage;
provide for the participation of young people in policy-making.

European cooperation should be evidence-based, relevant and concrete with clear and visible results that are regularly presented, reviewed and disseminated. It should be applied through a renewed framework of open method of coordination. This requires political commitment from EU countries and working methods based on:

a series of 3-year work cycles (the first cycle covers the years 2010-12);
an overall thematic priority for each trio presidency and specific priorities for each presidency country contributing to the overall thematic priority (the priorities for the period from 2010 to mid-2011 are set out in the annex to the resolution);
implementation instruments (knowledge building, mutual learning, progress reporting, dissemination of results, monitoring of the process, dialogue with young people, mobilisation of EU programmes and funds).

Within this renewed framework for European cooperation, the role of youth work must be strengthened. It should be supported and recognised for its social as well as economic contribution. The discussion should focus on the training, recognition of skills and mobility of youth workers and leaders, as well as on the promotion of innovative solutions in youth work.

Role of EU countries and the Commission

EU countries are called upon to work together on the basis of this resolution, with a view to improving European cooperation in the youth field. They should adopt national level measures that contribute to achieving the objectives set for this cooperation.

The Commission is invited to work with EU countries as well as to support their cooperation within the framework. The Commission should monitor the achievement of the objectives, in relation to which it should establish a working group to review data on the situation of young people and evaluate the need to develop new indicators for fields related to youth. The Commission should also propose peer-learning activities and initiate relevant studies.

Background

Established in June 2002, the framework for European cooperation in the youth field provided for the application of the open method of coordination in this context as well as for the mainstreaming of youth issues into other relevant policy areas. The European Youth Pact was adopted in March 2005 to contribute to reaching the objectives of growth and jobs of the Lisbon strategy. The renewed social agenda of July 2008 established children and youth as one of its main priority areas for action.

Common objectives for voluntary activities

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Common objectives for voluntary activities

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Education training youth sport > Youth

Common objectives for voluntary activities

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the Council of 30 April 2004 – Follow-up to the White Paper on a New Impetus for European Youth – Proposed common objectives for voluntary activities among young people in response to the Council Resolution of 27 June 2002 regarding the framework of European cooperation in the youth field [COM(2004) 337 final – Official Journal C 122 of 30.4.2004].

Summary

The overall objective of the proposal is to develop, facilitate, promote and recognise voluntary activities at all levels. On the basis of European Union (EU) countries’ replies to the questionnaire on voluntary activities at national level, the Commission has proposed four common objectives:

to develop the voluntary activities of young people with the aim of enhancing the transparency of existing opportunities, enlarging their scope and improving their quality;
to make it easier for young people to carry out voluntary activities by removing the existing obstacles;
to promote voluntary activities with a view to reinforcing young people’s solidarity and engagement as citizens;
to recognise voluntary activities of young people with a view to acknowledging their personal skills and their commitment to society.

In order to ensure that these objectives are properly transposed, the Commission proposes measures for each objective. These include the following:

strengthening voluntary organisations, stepping up exchanges of information, and extending the European Voluntary Service (EVS) within the Youth programme 2000-06;
simplifying legal, administrative, fiscal and social constraints, for example by exchanging information and best practice;
encouraging the participation of young people by disseminating information at all appropriate levels (local, regional, national, European), by encouraging closer cooperation between the various groups involved (young people, youth organisations, voluntary organisations, public authorities, private sector, etc.), and by putting an end to the exclusion of certain categories of young people;
guaranteeing recognition of voluntary activities by means of certificates, reward schemes and awards, by introducing at national level concepts such as National Volunteers Day and European Youth Week, and by consolidating projects such as Europass.

For the sake of clarity, the report also makes a distinction between the following concepts:

voluntary activity: includes all kinds of voluntary engagement;
voluntary service: voluntary activity characterised by the following aspects: fixed period; clear objectives, content, tasks, structure and framework; appropriate support; and legal and social protection;
civic service: voluntary service managed by or on behalf of the State, e.g. in the social field or in civil protection;
civilian service: an alternative to compulsory military service in some countries, but not voluntary.

The first European conference on civic service and youth was held in Rome on 28-29 November 2003. The conference was designed to allow an exchange of views, activities and national practices on the civic service of young people. Another objective of the conference was to identify ways of achieving closer cooperation between civic services at European level, including the EVS.

Under the open method of coordination, the Commission proposes that EU countries undertake to achieve all the objectives and submit reports on their national contributions by the end of 2006.

Background

Following the new framework for cooperation, which identified voluntary activities as a priority issue, the Commission sent a questionnaire to EU countries in order to ascertain their situations and their expectations at European level. It consulted the European Youth Forum and called on EU countries to ask for the opinions of young volunteers, youth organisations and volunteer organisations.

Related Acts

Council Recommendation of 20 November 2008 on the mobility of young volunteers across the European Union [Official Journal C 319 of 13.12.2008].

Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, of 14 February 2002 on the added value of voluntary activity for young people in the context of the development of Community action on youth [Official Journal C 50 of 23.2.2002].

European Commission White Paper of 21 November 2001 – A new impetus for European youth [COM(2001) 681 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 July 2001 on mobility within the Community for students, persons undergoing training, volunteers, teachers and trainers [Official Journal L 215 of 9.8.2001].

European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Education training youth sport > Youth

European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship (2011)

Document or Iniciative

Council Decision 2010/37/EC of 27 November 2009 on the European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship (2011).

Summary

This decision designates the year 2011 as the European Year of Voluntary Activities * Promoting Active Citizenship. Volunteering is one of the central elements of active citizenship, and active citizenship strengthens social cohesion and develops democracy. The year 2011 is also the tenth anniversary of the United Nations (UN) International Year of Volunteers (2001).

Objectives of the European Year 2011

The general aim of the Year is to improve the visibility of, and the opportunities for civil society to participate in, voluntary activities in the European Union (EU). To this end, the Year provides support to local, regional and national authorities to exchange experiences and good practices. In particular, the Year aims at:

creating an environment that encourages volunteering;
providing organisers with means to improve the quality of voluntary activities;
developing the recognition of voluntary activities;
raising awareness of the importance of volunteering.

Initiatives of the European Year 2011

In order to achieve its objectives, the Year supports initiatives organised at the EU, national, regional and local levels. These include:

exchanges of experience and good practice;
commission of studies and research, including dissemination of results;
awareness-raising events and conferences;
concrete initiatives organised at national level to promote the objectives of the Year;
promotional campaigns.

EU-wide initiatives are financed either partly or in full from the general budget of the EU. National initiatives are co-financed by the EU, while non-financial support is also available. The budget allocated for the Year amounts to EUR 8 000 000.

Cooperation during the European Year 2011

Each EU country designates a national coordinating body to organise its participation in the Year. The national coordinating bodies are responsible for preparing the national programmes and priorities for the Year. To this end, they must consult and cooperate with all relevant stakeholders.

In order to fulfil the objectives of the Year, the European Commission may cooperate with any relevant international organisation, such as the UN or the Council of Europe.

Coordination of the European Year 2011

The European Commission is responsible for the management of the Year at the EU level. It convenes meetings of stakeholders operating in the field of volunteering to assist it in this work. The Commission also organises meetings with the national coordinating bodies, with a view to coordinating activities at the national level.

Background

In December 2006, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted an opinion, which called on the European Commission to designate a year of volunteers.

In July 2008, the European Parliament adopted a declaration, which called for the year 2011 to be designated as the European Year of Volunteering.

Key terms used in the act
Voluntary activities: all types of voluntary activity, whether formal, non-formal or informal, that is undertaken of a person’s own free will, choice and motivation, and is without concern for financial gain.

References

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Decision 2010/37/EC	23.1.2010	–	OJ L 17 of 22.1.2010