EU culture ministers meeting in Brussels this morning (27 November) officially nominated 2011 as the European Year of Volunteering, after the European Parliament had yesterday called for €10m of EU funding to be allocated to the initiative.

Background

The European Commission proposed on 3 June 2009 that 2011 should be designated the 'European Year of Volunteering'.

The Commission hopes the European Year will increase the popularity of volunteering and boost awareness of its societal value, and proposed a series of activities including conferences and seminars to boost best-practice exchange.

The EU executive proposed to allocate €6m of EU funding to the year itself, and offered an additional €2m to prepare for it during 2010.

By nominating 2011 as the 'European Year of Voluntary Activities', the EU hopes to increase the recognition and popularity of volunteering across Europe, and encourage the exchange of best practice between its member states.

Speaking after EU culture ministers meeting in Brussels this morning had given the Year the green light, UK Creative Industries Minister Siôn Simon said "the benefits of volunteering for individual citizens and society as a whole are indisputable".

"As well as fostering a sense of belonging and community spirit, it can offer new skills and greater confidence," Simon added.

Parliament demands more funding

Meanwhile, the European Parliament yesterday (26 November) called for EU support for volunteering to be increased to €10m to help fund the European Year.

In its initial proposal, the European Commission had earmarked €6m to fund the Year and €2m to prepare for it, with the Council – which has the final say on the matter – having shown willingness to back an €8m total.

Adopting a report by Italian MEP Marco Scurria (EPP) by a majority of 551 votes to 19 amid 10 abstentions at their Strasbourg plenary, parliamentarians demanded more recognition and support for voluntary activities throughout Europe, and "especially within new democracies of the EU".

Noting that voluntary work "has not been formally acknowledged at EU level," the EU assembly called for skills acquired via the EU’s Youthpass and Europass non-formal learning programmes to be recognised as a complement to formal training.

MEPs were also keen to stress that volunteering should not be seen as "a substitute for paid work," "a means of meeting basic needs normally met by social services" or "a substitute for action by public authorities".

Moreover, the Parliament called for efforts to be made to ensure that "asylum seekers, refugees and legally-resident immigrants" can volunteer, "particularly when they are unable to be employed".

The EU should fund the creation of a database of volunteers and voluntary organisations in Europe, and create a Web portal to promote volunteering, MEPs said.

Positions

Hailing the adoption of the report, UK Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin, the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists) group's rapporteur on the file, said "volunteers are often unsung heroes" who make "an immeasurable impact in their communities and on people's lives".

"In tough economic times like these, volunteering becomes all the more important and that is why I and others brought this report forward," McClarkin said.

"We passed the first hurdle today thanks to the significant support of the members of the European Parliament, and I am sure that this will make speedy progress through the Commission and Council before coming back here again," she added.

More than one million people in Europe engage in active citizenship through volunteering […] strengthening their social and professional skills. Lowering administrative barriers helps individuals and organisations to focus on their core activities, making a more effective impact and contribution to European societies," said Dutch MEP Marietje Schaake, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group's shadow rapporteur on the dossier.

"Volunteers foster participation within European societies as well as engagement with third countries, thus contributing to Europe's position in the world and the fight against poverty. The European Parliament encourages participation by all individuals including refugees and asylum seekers," Schaake added.

"This European Year of Volunteering is an opportunity to be seized to promote better exchange of experiences and best practice. In addition to its social role, volunteering presents an economic value and it contributes notably to the economy. It was also agreed to promote the recognition of time given up by volunteers to be considered as co-financing of European projects," said Irish ALDE MEP Marian Harkin.

"It is for this purpose that we have given it a budget of 10 million euros and clarified the rules of co-financing by member states," Harkin added.

"The message sent by the EU in designating 2011 as the year that celebrates active citizenship through volunteering will be enormously powerful," said Tamara Flanagan, director of European and statutory funding at Community Service Volunteers, the UK's leading volunteering and training charity.

"We are overjoyed that the year will recognise the efforts of ordinary people across Europe giving time in their communities and involving more people in helping others," Flanagan said.

"We look forward to working with the UK government and at EU level to ensure that 2011 is successful, meaningful and leaves a lasting legacy," she added.

Next Steps

5 Dec.: International Volunteering Day.
2010: EU to fund preparatory actions for European Year of Volunteering 2011.
2011: European Year of Volunteering.