Promoting cross-border voluntary activities in the EU

2011 was the European Year of Volunteering: a year of many initiatives that have seen volunteers across the European Union engaged in different activities at all levels.

Volunteering covers all kinds of formal or non-formal voluntary activity which is undertaken by a person of their own free will, choice and motivation without concern for financial gain.

The EPP Group promotes volunteering as an important pillar of our democratic and pluralistic societies. It is an expression of active commitment and support.

Its impact on our societies is considerable. Volunteers are active in the social and educational fields, in support of the environment or development cooperation, in cultural activities, at local level as well as on missions outside their home country.

In order to foster a culture of participation and active citizenship in Europe, volunteers must be given access as well as encouragement and the conditions to exercise volunteering activities.

Volunteering - a priority for the EPP Group - is a crucial element for improving social cohesion. It is an indispensable creator of human and social capital and a path to integration and employment. It helps build European citizenship and identity as volunteers contribute to shaping society and helping people in need.

Some figures

Within the EU, volunteering contributes to the Europe 2020 growth strategy, in particular to the EU’s employment rate target of 75% by 2020, by helping people learn new skills and adapt to changes in the labour market. According to a study, the voluntary sector could contribute up to 5% of GDP.

Even though 3 out of 10 Europeans actively volunteer and close to 8 out of 10 consider helping others an important part of their life, volunteering is far from having fulfilled its real potential.16% of young Europeans are engaged in voluntary activities but almost 3 in 4 are in favour of making more programmes encouraging voluntary work available.

Cross-border volunteering: specific initiatives for new opportunities

Marco Scurria MEP, having promoted 2011 as European year of volunteering, wants to promote cross-border volunteering, further developing its potential, in cooperation with Member States and through EU funding programmes. This week the Culture and Education Committee in the European Parliament will vote on a report he authored on 'Recognising and Promoting Cross-border Voluntary Activities in the EU'.

Cross-border volunteering, in particular, is an opportunity for intercultural enrichment for young European citizens. The report asks for EU funding opportunities for volunteering, and highlights its social dimension, as an expression of European citizenship, as well as its benefits in terms of education and sporting activities and humanitarian aid.

Marco Scurria pushes for several specific measures to promote voluntary activities, such as the idea of establishing a centralised EU portal on volunteering, with a specific section dedicated to cross-border volunteering, establishing a ‘European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps’ and developing a ‘European Skills Passport’.

European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps

The European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps will select, train and send volunteers to provide support to local organisations in the event of natural disasters. Another aim being pursued is to develop synergies with existing organisations and structures, to avoid duplication and the diversion of funds: the Corps will in fact act on a demand-driven and needs basis.

European Skills Passport

The European Skills Passport will, on the other hand, provide for the cross-border recognition of professional skills, and will make it possible to keep a record of the capacities and skills acquired through volunteering. The Passport will be based on the Europass model (European online CV) to make it possible to record skills in a transparent and comparable way. What is required, in fact, is greater public recognition of volunteering as a useful experience for young people with the aim of acquiring skills that can be used, for example, in education and in work.

Next steps

Marco Scurria's report is scheduled for adoption by the Committee on Culture and Education on 26 April.