WRITTEN QUESTION E-1704/03 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Youth solidarity in the Community.
Date: 2003-05-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European citizenship, cooperation policy, humanitarian aid, voluntary work, young person, youth policy

C 11 E/216

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Stress is one of the themes which the interprofessional social partners at European level are addressing as
part of their autonomous work programme 2003-2005. The Commission also launched a consultation of
the European social partners on this subject, under Article 138(2) of the EC Treaty, at the end of 2002.
The Commission regards the consultation document as a means of contributing to the discussions of the
social partners within the framework of their work programme and of supporting their own joint
initiatives on the issue of stress at work. Following a seminar organised by the social partners at the end of
February 2003, the Commission anticipates a joint response by the social partners by mid-2003.

(1) European Commission: Guidance on work-related stress. Spice of life or kiss of death? Luxembourg: Office for

Official Publications of the European Communities, 2000.

(2) http://osha.eu.int/ew2002/.

(2004/C 11 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1704/03

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Youth solidarity in the Community

(22 May 2003)

The solidarity shown by young people from Spain, other Member States and candidate countries in
mitigating the consequences of the ecological disaster caused by the sinking of the oil tanker ‘Prestige’ has
served to underline that the youth of Europe have embraced the culture of voluntary activity and can play
an important role in disaster and emergency situations. Although youth policy falls within the sphere of
competence of the Member States, major progress is now being made towards standardising approaches
through the open method of coordination.

Will the Commission move beyond the YOUTH Programme and foster the creation of instruments to
support voluntary youth activities in the Community that would encourage young people to work together
towards common goals, such as, for example, cooperation in disaster situations?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2003)

The European Union already has at its disposal an instrument for supporting voluntary activities by young
people. The European Voluntary Service (EVS), part of the Youth programme (2000-2006), allows young
people to become involved in various areas of activity, such as the social field or the environment, while at
the same time acquiring skills thanks to pedagogical supervision. Each year, some 3 500 young European
volunteers take part in EVS.

In certain circumstances the EVS allows young volunteers to participate individually in solidarity activities
following disasters. However,
is not designed for rapid, collective and effective intervention in
environmental or humanitarian crisis situations.

it

For this reason, as part of its reflections on the new generation of programmes to run from 2007, the
Commission is currently considering the changes and improvements which could be made to the EVS in
this respect.

The European Convention, at the present stage of its work, is also proposing the creation of a body of
the
young European volunteers in the field of humanitarian aid.
Commission will examine how this new service can be set up and how it can be linked to the EVS.

If these proposals are confirmed,

Finally, as part of the open method of coordination in the field of youth, proposed by the Commission in
its White Paper ‘A new impetus for European youth’ (1) and adopted by the Council in its Resolution of
27 June 2002 (2), the Commission will table objectives in 2004 with a view to generally reinforcing
voluntary activities by young people.

(1) COM(2001) 681 final.
(2) OJ C 168, 13.7.2002.