European Year of Volunteering (2011) * European Parliament legislative resolution of 26 November 2009 on the proposal for a Council decision on the European Year of Volunteering (2011) (COM(2009)0254 – C7-0054/2009 – 2009/0072(CNS))
Date: 2009-11-26
Institutions: Committee on Budgets, Committee on Culture and Education, Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Committee on Regional Development, European Parliament
Subjects: EU action, EU programme, European Union, social life, voluntary work








CE2010285EN.01015601.xml










21.10.2010   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


CE 285/156





Thursday 26 November 2009European Year of Volunteering (2011) *
P7_TA(2009)0094
European Parliament legislative resolution of 26 November 2009 on the proposal for a Council decision on the European Year of Volunteering (2011) (COM(2009)0254 – C7-0054/2009 – 2009/0072(CNS))
2010/C 285 E/35
(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,
having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2009)0254),
having regard to Article 308 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C7-0054/2009),
having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,
having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture and Education and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Regional Development (A7-0077/2009),






1.


Approves the Commission proposal as amended;










2.


Considers that the indicative amount indicated in the legislative proposal must be compatible with the ceilings of sub-heading 3b of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2007-2013 and points out that the annual amount will be decided by the Budgetary Authority within the annual budgetary procedure;










3.


Stresses that the funding of new activities should not jeopardise existing programmes or any other initiatives;










4.


Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;










5.


Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;










6.


Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.










TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION


AMENDMENT





Amendment 1






Proposal for a decision


Recital -1 (new)





 










(-1)






The Treaty establishes citizenship of the Union, which complements national citizenship of the Member States and is an important element in strengthening and safeguarding the process of European integration.











Amendment 2






Proposal for a decision


Recital - 1 a (new)





 










(-1a)






Encouraging active citizenship is a key element in strengthening cohesion and the development of democracy and Europe's role in the world.











Amendment 3






Proposal for a decision


Recital -1 b (new)





 










(-1b)






The ‘European Year of Voluntary Activities promoting active citizenship’ will emphasise that volunteering is a key expression of active citizenship and democracy, putting European values such as solidarity and non-discrimination into action and as such contributing to the harmonious development of European societies.











Amendment 4






Proposal for a decision


Recital 1











(1)


The Community and the Member States aim to promote the development of human resources with a view to a high level of employment and combating social exclusion.












(1)


The Community and the Member States aim to promote the development of human resources with a view to a high level of employment and combating social exclusion 
by adopting measures aimed at improving knowledge, developing exchanges of information and of best practices, promoting innovative approaches and evaluating experiences
.









Amendment 5






Proposal for a decision


Recital 3











(3)




Volunteering constitutes
 a non-formal learning experience which 
enables both
 the development of professional skills and competences 
as well as
 a major form of active civic participation. Actions carried out by volunteers of all ages are crucial to the development of democracy, one of the founding principles of the European Union, and contribute to the development of 
human resources and to the
 social 
cohesion
.












(3)




Voluntary activities constitute
 a 
rich
 non-formal learning experience which 
enable
 the development of professional 
and social
 skills and competences
, contribute to solidarity and constitute
 a major form of active civic participation. 
Volunteering promotes and encourages partnership and active citizenship, which puts European values such as solidarity and non-discrimination into action.
 Actions carried out by volunteers of all ages are crucial to the development of democracy 
and in particular participative democracy
, one of the founding principles of the European Union, and 
to the promotion of human rights within and outside the European Union
. 
Voluntary activities have the potential to
 contribute to 
the personal growth and well-being of individuals and
 the 
harmonious
 development of 
European societies in terms of solidarity,
 social 
inclusion and prosperity
. 
Volunteering and voluntary activities should not, however, be a substitute for paid work, although the expenses of volunteers should be adequately reimbursed.











Amendment 6






Proposal for a decision


Recital 3 a (new)





 










(3a)






The term ‘voluntary activities’ refers to all forms of voluntary activity, whether formal, non-formal, informal and vocational training, which are undertaken of a person's own free will, choice and motivation, and are without concern for financial gain. They benefit the individual volunteer, communities and society as a whole. They are also a vehicle for individuals and associations to address human, social or environmental needs and concerns, especially when they are faced with emergency situations that can involve society as a whole. Such activities are often carried out in support of a non-profit organisation or community-based initiative. Voluntary activities do not replace professional, paid employment opportunities, but add value to society by virtue of their social and cultural aims.











Amendment 7






Proposal for a decision


Recital 4











(4)


In fast-changing societies there is a need to ensure 
the effectiveness of volunteer-supporting infrastructure
 to allow more people to engage in 
voluntary activities
. It is therefore important to support peer-learning and the exchange of good practices at Community level.












(4)


In fast-changing societies there is a need to ensure 
effective support and to implement measures for voluntary activities
 to allow more people to engage in 
them
. It is therefore important to support peer-learning and the exchange 
and development
 of good practices at Community
, national, regional and local
 level
, inter alia by setting up efficient systems of cooperation and networking between volunteer organisations, and especially through the establishment of a web portal
.









Amendment 8






Proposal for a decision


Recital 5











(5)


The 1997 Intergovernmental Conference adopted Declaration 38 on volunteering, which was attached to the final act of the Treaty of Amsterdam and recognised the important contribution made by voluntary service activities to developing social solidarity.












(5)


The 1997 Intergovernmental Conference adopted Declaration 38 on volunteering, which was attached to the final act of the Treaty of Amsterdam and recognised the important contribution made by voluntary service activities to developing social solidarity 
and promoting intergenerational volunteering
.









Amendment 9






Proposal for a decision


Recital 12











(12)




Volunteering is
 targeted by several community programmes that focus on mobility in 
volunteering
, such as the European Voluntary Service of the Youth in Action programme, the Life Long Learning programme and the Europe for Citizens programme.












(12)




Voluntary activities are
 targeted by several community programmes 
and networks
 that focus on mobility in 
voluntary activities for people of all ages
, such as the European Voluntary Service of the Youth in Action programme, the Life Long Learning programme and the Europe for Citizens programme. 
Given the horizontal nature of volunteering, it will create synergies between those programmes.











Amendment 10






Proposal for a decision


Recital 12 a (new)





 










(12a)






Volunteering is an essential element in fostering active citizenship, nurturing civil society and strengthening solidarity.











Amendment 11






Proposal for a decision


Recital 13











(13)


There exists a large variety of voluntary activities throughout Europe which should be 
preserved
 and developed further.












(13)


There exists a large variety 
and long tradition
 of voluntary activities throughout Europe which should be 
protected
 and developed further
, among other means by the creation of a cross-border network among the volunteering associations in the different Member States to provide a permanent platform for the exchange of experience and best practices
.









Amendment 12






Proposal for a decision


Recital 13 a (new)





 










(13a)






The European Year of Volunteering should offer an opportunity to encourage the Member States to create legal certainty for volunteers as regards their legal status.











Amendment 13






Proposal for a decision


Recital 13 b (new)





 










(13b)






The EU has a significant role to play in promoting, developing and supporting voluntary activities throughout the Union. However, it is important to recognise and respect the diversity of volunteering within individual Member States.











Amendment 14






Proposal for a decision


Recital 14











(14)


Volunteering has the potential to contribute to the harmonious development of European societies. 
Voluntary activities constitute a rich non-formal learning experience which enhances professional skills and competences, contributes to employability and a sense of solidarity, develops social skills, smoothes integration into society and fosters civic participation.














(14)


Volunteering has the potential to contribute to the harmonious development of European societies, 
promoting social inclusion, social well-being, combating racism and prejudice and contributing to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue
.









Amendment 15






Proposal for a decision


Recital 14 a (new)





 










(14a)






Every individual should be enabled to volunteer. With a view to furthering individual development and participation, 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.











Amendment 16






Proposal for a decision


Recital 14 b (new)





 










(14b)






Voluntary activities constitute a rich non-formal learning experience which enhances professional skills and competences, contributes to employability by facilitating reintegration into the labour market, develops social skills and contributes to the personal growth and well-being of individuals.











Amendment 17






Proposal for a decision


Recital 14 c (new)





 










(14c)






Volunteering can contribute to fighting poverty and to achieving social and economic development, through actions carried out within the European Union and in third countries.











Amendment 18






Proposal for a decision


Recital 14 d (new)





 










(14d)






As part of their strategy for Corporate Social Responsibility, employers could support and encourage volunteering activities.











Amendment 19






Proposal for a decision


Recital 15











(15)


Despite this, the potential of volunteering is still not fully realised. A European Year of Volunteering will provide the opportunity to demonstrate in a European context that volunteering increases civic participation. It can help foster a sense of belonging and commitment 
of citizens
 to their society at all levels — local, regional, national and European.












(15)


Despite this, the potential of volunteering is still not fully realised. 
Furthermore, at European level until now the work of those who volunteer in their free time has not been formally acknowledged.
 A European Year of Volunteering will 
therefore
 provide the opportunity to demonstrate in a European context that volunteering increases civic participation. It can help 
to
 foster 
among citizens
 a sense of belonging and commitment to their society at all levels – local, regional, national and European 
– and to encourage Member States to combat discrimination, making it possible for foreign residents, including asylum seekers, in every Member State to work as volunteers for not-for-profit organisations or to do unpaid work
.









Amendment 20






Proposal for a decision


Recital 15 a (new)





 










(15a)






Member States should be encouraged to minimise bureaucratic constraints which hinder volunteers in carrying out voluntary activities.











Amendment 21






Proposal for a decision


Recital 15 b (new)





 










(15b)






The European Year of Volunteering should highlight the key role played by voluntary activities, while at the same time reminding the Member States that it should be used neither as a means of meeting basic needs normally met by social services nor as a substitute for action by public authorities.











Amendment 22






Proposal for a decision


Recital 16











(16)


The Year 2011 will be the 10th Anniversary of the 2001 International Year of Volunteers of the United Nations.












(16)




5 December is International Volunteer Day and
 the Year 2011 will be the 10th Anniversary of the 2001 International Year of Volunteers of the United Nations.









Amendment 23






Proposal for a decision


Recital 16 a (new)





 










(16a)






Apart from its social role, volunteering has an economic value and makes a significant contribution to the economy.











Amendment 24






Proposal for a decision


Recital 16 b (new)





 










(16b)






Volunteering plays a major role in environmental and civil protection and its contribution must be recognised and supported in every field, especially within the new democracies of the EU.











Amendment 25






Proposal for a decision


Recital 16 c (new)





 










(16c)






The recognition of volunteering as an appropriate activity through which to acquire competences and skills, e.g. through YOUTHPASS with a linkage to EUROPASS, will ensure that volunteering is not seen as an alternative to formal training but as a complement to it, and furthermore will facilitate the mobility of volunteers.











Amendment 26






Proposal for a decision


Recital 16 d (new)





 










(16d)






The recognition of the contribution of volunteer time as matching funding (in-kind contributions) for European and national projects would be a tangible recognition of the value of volunteer effort and would facilitate voluntary organisations in carrying out their activities.











Amendment 27






Proposal for a decision


Article 1





The year 2011 shall be designated as the ‘European Year of 
Volunteering
’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the European Year’).


The year 2011 shall be designated as the ‘European Year of 
Voluntary Activities promoting active citizenship
’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the European Year’).

(This amendment applies throughout the text.)






Amendment 28






Proposal for a decision


Article 2 – paragraph 1





The overall purpose of the European Year shall be to encourage and support — notably through the exchange of experience and good practices — the efforts of the Member States, local and regional authorities 
and civil society
 to create the conditions conducive to volunteering in the European Union.


The overall purpose of the European Year shall be to encourage and support — notably through the exchange of experience and good practices 
and the promotion of innovative approaches and evaluating experience
 — the efforts of 
the European Union,
 the Member States 
and
 local and regional authorities to create the conditions 
for civil society
 conducive to volunteering in the European Union 
and to increase the visibility and promote the importance of voluntary activities in the European Union
.





Amendment 29






Proposal for a decision


Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 1











1.


Work towards an enabling environment for volunteering in the EU - To anchor volunteering as part of promoting civic participation and people-to-people activities in an EU context.












1.


Work towards an enabling environment for volunteering in the EU - To anchor volunteering as part of promoting civic participation
, partnership
 and people-to-people activities in an EU context.









Amendment 30






Proposal for a decision


Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 2











2.


Empower volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering - To 
facilitate
 volunteering and 
to encourage
 networking, mobility, cooperation and synergies between volunteer organisations and other sectors in an EU context.












2.


Empower volunteer organisations 
with respect to their aims, priorities and autonomy
 and improve the quality of volunteering - To 
promote
 volunteering and 
volunteer organisations' access to adequate, sustainable funding: by encouraging
 networking, mobility, cooperation and synergies between volunteer organisations and other 
not-for-profit
 sectors in an EU context
; by encouraging initiatives in human and environmental emergency situations, both in terms of preventing and dealing with them and by properly educating volunteers to deal with and effectively face urgent cases; and by making it possible to put voluntary work on a permanent footing
. 
The duty of care that volunteer organisations owe to their volunteers should be laid down in law and should incorporate adequate protection through insurance, health and safety measures and training.











Amendment 31






Proposal for a decision


Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 3











3.


Reward and recognise volunteering activities - To encourage appropriate incentives for individuals, companies and volunteer-development organisations and gain more systematic recognition for volunteering at EU level and in the Member States by policy makers, civil society organisations and employers for skills and competences developed through volunteering.












3.


Reward and recognise volunteering activities - To encourage appropriate incentives for individuals, companies and volunteer-development organisations 
- including proper health and safety cover for volunteers in the form of accident and personal liability insurance during periods of voluntary work, effective acknowledgement of the skills that volunteers acquire in the form of validation of experience and the recognition of equivalence for the purposes of training and job seeking -
 and gain more systematic recognition for volunteering at EU level and in the Member States by policy makers, civil society organisations and employers for skills and competences developed through volunteering.









Amendment 32






Proposal for a decision


Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 3 a (new)





 










3a.






Encourage international and European solidarity by promoting peace, North-South cooperation and the protection of the environment, as well as recognition of the solidarity-based social economy through volunteering.











Amendment 33






Proposal for a decision


Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 4











4.


Raise awareness of the value and importance of volunteering - To raise general awareness of the importance of volunteering as an expression of civic participation which contributes to issues which are of common concern of all Member States, such as a harmonious societal development and economic cohesion.












4.


Raise awareness of the value and importance of volunteering - To raise general awareness of the importance of volunteering as an expression of civic participation which contributes to issues which are of common concern of all Member States, such as a harmonious societal development and economic 
and social
 cohesion, 
and to promote volunteering activities in order to make them more attractive for citizens, thus enabling them to be involved in civic activities
.









Amendment 34






Proposal for a decision


Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 4 a (new)





 










4a.






Draw up a White Paper on Volunteering – To foster an enabling environment for volunteering in the EU.











Amendment 35






Proposal for a decision


Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 4 b (new)





 










4b.






Foster the recognition of volunteering success both within and between Member States in order to ensure that good practice and successful volunteering strategies can easily be spread throughout the European Union.











Amendment 36






Proposal for a decision


Article 3 – paragraph 1





1.   The measures to be taken to achieve the objectives set out in Article 2 shall include the following initiatives organised at Community, national, regional or local level linked to the objectives of the European Year:


1.   The measures to be taken to achieve the objectives set out in Article 2 shall include the following initiatives organised at Community, national, regional or local level linked to the objectives of the European Year:










—


exchange of experience and good practices;












—


exchange of experience and good practices
, in particular by means of efficient systems of cooperation and networking between volunteer organisations
;














—




dissemination of results of related studies and research;








 










—


conferences, events and initiatives to promote 
debate and raise
 awareness of the importance and value of volunteering and 
to celebrate the efforts of volunteers
;












—


conferences, events and initiatives to promote 
dialogue, innovative approaches and the evaluation of experience. Raising
 awareness of the importance and value of volunteering and 
fostering transnational networks with the purpose of active debate
;














—


information and promotion campaigns to disseminate key messages.












—


information and promotion campaigns to disseminate key messages 
inter alia through the use of new media and the internet and the creation of a European portal to achieve this;










 








—




the establishment of a European online database of the actors, organisations and stakeholders involved in a given volunteering area, including both their completed and ongoing projects and also their future initiatives, with a view to better networking and communication between them.










 








—




the promotion of the use of volunteer time as matching funding for European projects
.









Amendment 37






Proposal for a decision


Article 4 – paragraph 2





Each Member State shall ensure that the aforementioned body properly involves a wide range of stakeholders at national, regional and local level.


Each Member State shall ensure that the aforementioned body properly involves a wide range of stakeholders at national, regional and local level
, particularly when drafting the national work programme and national measure(s), for the entire duration of the European Year
. 
The funds foreseen to fulfil the objectives of the Year shall be granted to civil society organisations involved directly with voluntary activities and work. Special attention must be paid in each national programme to the simplification of administrative procedures, inter alia by facilitating access to funding for small associations with limited resources.







Amendment 38






Proposal for a decision


Article 5 – paragraph 4





The Member States, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions will be associated in the activities.


The Member States, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions will be 
closely
 associated in the activities 
in order to achieve the added value that an exchange of best practices at Community level, including between the EU institutions, entails
.





Amendment 39






Proposal for a decision


Article 7 – paragraph 1





1.   The budget for implementing this Decision for the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011 is 
EUR 6 000 000
.


1.   The budget for implementing this Decision for the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011 is 
EUR 10 000 000
.





Amendment 40






Proposal for a decision


Article 7 – paragraph 2





2.   Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework.


2.   Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework
, without undermining the funding of other programmes or activities in sub-heading 3b
.





Amendment 41






Proposal for a decision


Article 8





For the purpose of the European Year, the Commission may cooperate with appropriate international organisations, in particular with the United Nations and the Council of Europe, taking care to ensure the visibility of the EU’s participation.


For the purpose of the European Year, the Commission may cooperate with appropriate international organisations, in particular with the United Nations and the Council of Europe, taking care to ensure the visibility of the EU’s participation
, and may also take action in order to stimulate other international organisations to enhance the volunteering dimension worldwide
. 
In cooperation with these organisations, the Commission shall promote programmes for international volunteering aiming to encourage the exchange of best practices on volunteering in third countries.







Amendment 42






Proposal for a decision


Article 9





The Commission together with the Member States shall ensure that the measures provided for in this Decision are consistent with other Community
,
 national and regional schemes and initiatives that help attain the objectives of the European Year.


The Commission together with the Member States shall ensure that the measures provided for in this Decision are consistent with 
and complementary to
 other Community 
programmes and actions and
 national and regional schemes and initiatives that help attain the objectives of the European Year.





Amendment 43






Proposal for a decision


Annex – point A – point 1











1.


Information and promotion campaigns including:












1.


Information and promotion campaigns including:














—


high visibility events and forums for exchanging experience and good practices;












—


high visibility events and forums for exchanging experience and good practices
, with priority for twinning and mobility programmes, with the participation of European organisations or bodies active in the field of volunteering, representatives of employers' associations and unions, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Affairs Committee and the Committee of the Regions
;














—




contest with or without prizes;








 










—


cooperation with the private sector, broadcasters and other media as partners for disseminating information on the European Year 
of Volunteering
;












—


cooperation with the private sector, broadcasters and other media as partners for disseminating information on 
voluntary activities and
 the European Year;














—


the production of material and tools for media available throughout the Community to stimulate public interest;












—


the production of material and tools for media available throughout the Community to stimulate public interest;














—


measures to publicise the results and raise the profile of Community programmes; schemes and initiatives contributing to the objectives of the European Year 
of Volunteering
;












—


measures to publicise the results and raise the profile of Community programmes; schemes and initiatives contributing to the objectives of the European Year;














—


the establishment of an information website on Europa, including a portal for promoters of projects on volunteering, to guide them through the various Community programmes and initiatives.












—


the establishment of an information website on Europa, including a portal for promoters of projects on volunteering, to guide them through the various Community programmes and initiatives
, which shall be a permanent platform for interactive cooperation between different stakeholders;










 








—




action to make the contribution of voluntary activities to national revenue and its impact on society more visible through the inclusion of volunteering as a specific category in the statistical accounts of Eurostat and the production of ‘satellite accounts’ on not-for-profit organisations, in which unpaid voluntary work would be included, as well as through the celebration on 5 December each year of International Volunteering Day, as recognised by the United Nations since 1985
.









Amendment 44






Proposal for a decision


Annex – point A – point 2 – indent 1











—


surveys and studies at Community level to assess and report on the preparation, effectiveness
,
 impact and long-term monitoring 
of the European Year of Volunteering
.












—


surveys and studies at Community level to assess and report on the preparation, effectiveness 
and
 impact 
of the European Year
 and 
to lay the foundations for the
 long-term monitoring 
and follow-up thereof
.









Amendment 45






Proposal for a decision


Annex – point C – paragraph 1





Each National 
coordinator
 shall submit a single application for Community funding. That grant application shall 
describe
 the 
coordinator’s
 work programme or the 
action
 to be funded and promote the European Year. The grant application shall be accompanied by a detailed budget setting out the total costs of the 
initiatives/work
 programme proposed and the amount and sources of co-funding. The Community grant can cover up to 80 % of the total costs.


Each National 
coordinating body
 shall submit a single application for Community funding. That grant application shall 
include a description - drawn up on the basis of ongoing consultation with the volunteer organisations - of
 the 
coordinating body’s priorities and
 work programme or the 
action(s)
 to be funded and 
shall
 promote the European Year. The grant application shall be accompanied by a detailed budget setting out the total costs of the 
action(s)/work
 programme proposed and the amount and sources of co-funding. The Community grant can cover up to 80 % of the total costs. 
A possibility of in-kind contributions should be permitted in those Member States whose legislative framework permits it.







Amendment 46






Proposal for a decision


Annex – point C – paragraph 2





The Commission shall determine the indicative amounts available for grants to each National 
coordinator
 and the final deadline for submission of the applications. The criteria should take into account the population, the cost of living and a fixed amount per Member State to guarantee a minimum level of activities.


The Commission shall determine the indicative amounts available for grants to each National 
coordinating body
 and the final deadline for submission of the applications. The criteria should take into account the population, the cost of living and a fixed amount per Member State to guarantee a minimum level of activities.





Amendment 47






Proposal for a decision


Annex – point C – paragraph 4





The work programmes/actions shall include:


The work programmes/actions shall include:










(a)


Meetings and events connected with the objectives of the European Year, including national events to launch and promote the European Year, create a catalyst effect and provide open space for debate on concrete initiatives.












(a)


Meetings and events connected with the objectives of the European Year, including national events to launch and promote the European Year, create a catalyst effect and provide open space for debate on concrete initiatives.














(b)




Mutual learning
 seminars at national, regional and local level;












(b)




Conferences and thematic
 seminars at national, regional and local level 
allowing for peer-learning and exchange of good practices
;














(c)


Information, educational and promotional campaigns at national, regional and local level
, including the organisation of awards and competitions
;












(c)


Information, 
research activities and related studies,
 educational and promotional campaigns at national, regional and local level;














(d)


Cooperation with the media.












(d)


Cooperation with 
the private and non-state sector and
 the media 
in disseminating information about the European Year and in undertaking actions aimed at long-term dialogue on issues related to volunteering and to vocational training activities directed at volunteers in order to render sustainable the activities even after the end of the 2011 European Year
.