COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT CONCEPT NOTE - MAIN ACTIONS IMPLEMENTING THE EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS Accompanying the document Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL laying down the legal framework of the European Solidarity Corps and amending Regulations (EU) No 1288/2013, (EU) No 1293/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1305/2013, (EU) No 1306/2013 and Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Date: 2017-05-30
Institutions: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, EU financing, EU office or agency, international voluntary worker, voluntary organisation, voluntary work, young person, youth employment

EN 

   EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 30.5.2017  SWD(2017) 168 final   COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT CONCEPT NOTE - MAIN ACTIONS IMPLEMENTING THE EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS Accompanying the document Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL laying down the legal framework of the European Solidarity Corps and amending Regulations (EU) No 1288/2013, (EU) No 1293/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1305/2013, (EU) No 1306/2013 and Decision No 1313/2013/EU {COM(2017) 262 final} {SWD(2017) 166 final} {SWD(2017) 167 final}  
 
 
- CONCEPT NOTE -  

MAIN ACTIONS IMPLEMENTING THE  

EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS 

This  concept  note  provides  further  information  on  the  main  actions  implementing  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps.  It  outlines:  the  key  features  of  the  different  types  of  solidarity  placements 
(volunteering,  traineeships  and  jobs);  the  format  of  the  solidarity  projects;  the  European  Solidarity 
Corps Quality Label; the networking activities and the European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre.   

SOLIDARITY PLACEMENTS 

European Solidarity Corps placements can take the shape of:  

A) volunteering placements,  
B) traineeship placements, 
C) jobs.  

Solidarity  placements  supported  under  European  Solidarity  Corps  may  be  offered  in  different  areas, 
such as, but not limited to: education and training, employment, gender equality, entrepreneurship (in 
particular social entrepreneurship), citizenship and democratic participation, environment and natural 
protection,  climate  action,  disaster  prevention,  preparedness  and  recovery  (excluding  immediate 
disaster  response),  agriculture  and  rural  development,  provision  of  food  and  non-food  items,  health 
and  wellbeing,  creativity  and  culture,  physical  education  and  sport,  social  assistance  and  welfare, 
reception and integration of third-country nationals, territorial cooperation and cohesion. 

For all solidarity placements, a certain level of support is provided to participating organisations. The 
different modalities of support depending on the financing mode and the type of activity are also listed 
below.  

The  different  types  of  placements  as  well  as  their  proposed  implementation  and  basic  eligibility 
criteria are described below.  

A) VOLUNTEERING PLACEMENTS 

1.  Description of the activities 

A  volunteering  placement  is  a  full-time1  unpaid  voluntary  service  for  a  limited  period  (up  to  12 
months,  see  point  2  for  more  details),  which  will  provide  young  people  with  the  opportunity  to 
contribute to the daily work of organisations active in solidarity-related fields, to the ultimate benefit 
of the communities within which the activities will be carried out. In addition to the strong solidarity 
component of these activities, the volunteering experience will also have a solid learning and training 
dimension  in  order  to  enable  the  young  volunteer(s)  to  gain  skills  and  competences,  which  will  be 

1 As a general principle, an activity carried out continuously, 5 days a week for 7 hours a day. 

2 

 
 
 
 
                                                            
 
 
useful for their personal, educational, social and professional development. This will also contribute to 
improving their employability.  

Volunteering placements  under the European  Solidarity Corps may be 1) cross-border activities, i.e. 
activities  taking  place  in  a  country  different  from  the  country  of  origin  of  the  participant;  or  2)  in-
country  activities,  for  instance  to  encourage  and  facilitate  the  participation  of  disadvantaged  young 
people,  to  provide  opportunities  where  national  schemes  do  not  exist,  or  to  cater  for  priorities 
identified at European level within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps initiative. 

Volunteering activities can be carried out either individually or in group.  

As  for  group  activities,  a  new  feature  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  will  be  to  support 
volunteering  teams.  These  activities  will  allow  groups  of 10  to  40 young  volunteers  from  different 
participating  countries  to  volunteer  together  on  community  service  projects  for  a  period  between  2 
weeks and 2 months. In these activities, European Solidarity Corps’ volunteers will carry out tasks for 
a  project  over  a  short  period  of  time  (usually,  but  not  exclusively,  during  holidays,  breaks  between 
study periods, transition from education to work, etc.). Despite their shorter duration, these activities 
will  be  valuable  both  for  the  individuals  and  for  the  communities  benefitting  from  this  service. 
Examples of the valuable work that can be accomplished even over a short period of time include: e.g. 
restoring cultural heritage damaged by natural disaster, catering for species threatened by extinction, 
organising educational activities in refugee camps, etc.  

The advantages of this specific type of group activities compared to standard volunteering placements 
include the following: 

  volunteers  will  carry  out  the  activity  in  group.  This  can  be  an  incentive  for  youngsters  who 

 

don't feel ready to embark into challenging experiences on their own; 
the  activity  will  be  shorter  in  duration.  This  can  foster  the  participation  of  those  youngsters 
who cannot commit for a long period of time – because of their studies or jobs – but still want 
to be of help for the community. 

2.  Duration  

As a general rule, the duration of regular volunteering placements will range between a minimum of 
2  months  and  a  maximum  of  12  months.  In  duly  justified  cases,  notably  in  order  to  encourage  the 
participation of young people with disabilities or disadvantaged backgrounds, short-term volunteering 
(2 weeks to 2 months) can be allowed.  

Volunteering teams will last for a period between 2 weeks and 2 months. 

3.  Who can participate  

Placements  are  offered  by  participating  organisations2  holding  a  valid  Quality  Label  to  European 
Solidarity Corps participants, i.e. young people between 183 until 30 years who are nationals or legally 
residing in a participating country and have registered in the European Solidarity Corps portal.4 

2 Any public or private entity established in a participating country, or an international organisation active in the 
field of solidarity.  
3 The registration in the European Solidarity Corps portal is possible as of 17 years of age. Young people must 
have turned 18 in order to start a placement. 

3 

 
 
 
                                                            
European  Solidarity  Corps  participants  are  directly  contacted  and  selected  by  participating 
organisations through the functionalities offered by the European Solidarity Corps portal.   

Participation  for  individuals  in  any  activities  where  the  individual  will  have  direct  contact  with 
children  in  the  context  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  will  be  subject,  where  appropriate,  to 
background checks with a view to ensure child safeguarding.  

4.  What  support  is  offered  to  European  Solidarity  Corps  participants  in  volunteering 

placements  

European Solidarity Corps carrying out a placement, individually or in teams, will be entitled to the 
following: 

QUALITY AND SUPPORT MEASURES 

o  Insurance:  complementary  health  and  accident  insurance  for  insurance-related  expenses  which 
are  not  already  covered  by  the  European  Health  Insurance  Card5  or  other  insurance  schemes  to 
which participants may be enrolled. 

o  Online  Linguistic  Support  (for  cross-border  placements):  European  Solidarity  Corps 
participants will be given access to an online tool allowing them to assess and improve (through 
an  online  language  course)  their  competences  in  the  foreign  language  they  will  use  to  carry  out 
their placement abroad.  

o  General  Online  training:  open-access  training  provided  prior  to  departure  via  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps’  portal.  This  is  a  general  online  induction  with  various  modules,  such  as:  the 
mission of the European Solidarity Corps, ethics and integrity of the European Solidarity Corps, 
including  child  safeguarding  and  child  protection,  roles  and  responsibilities  of  participants  and 
placement  providers,  European  values  and  democracy,  inter-cultural  awareness,  and  health  and 
safety, etc.  

o 

In  addition,  the  following  specific  training  to  those  European  Solidarity  Corps  participants 
carrying  out  individually  a  cross-border  placement:  on-arrival  training,  which  will  serve  as  a 
welcoming  training  in  the  placement  country,  mentorship  and  continuous  training,  to  equip  the 
participant with the skills needed to carry out the tasks envisaged by the placement; (optional) pre-
departure  training,  for  disadvantaged  young  people  and  mid-term  evaluation  sessions,  for 
participants in placements lasting more than six months. 

o  European  Solidarity  Corps  certificate:  participants  will  be  entitled  to  a  certificate  of 
participation  in a European  Solidarity Corps' placement, to be issued  compulsorily at the end of 
the  placement  by  the  placement  provider.  A  standardised  written  report/assessment  by  the 

4 The European Solidarity Corps is open for third country nationals legally residing in one of the participating 
countries, including beneficiaries of international protection in full respect of the principle of non-refoulement. 
Applicants for international protection are not covered by the scope of the European Solidarity Corps. 
5 This is a free card that gives access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay 
in any of the 28 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, under the same conditions and at the same 
cost  (free  in  some  countries)  as  people  insured  in  that  country.  More  information  on  the  card  and  on  how  to 
obtain it is available at http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559.  

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                          
participating  organisation  could  be  an  integral  part  of  the  final  European  Solidarity  Corps 
certificate.  

o  Post placement support: participants will be provided with guidance and support services at the 
end  of  their  placement,  with  a  view  to  encourage  their  continued  involvement  in  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps  initiative  (alumni  network;  training/mentoring  to  future  Corps  participants),  as 
well  as  providing  them  with  career  guidance  and/or  support  to  sustainable  labour  market 
integration in their home country or other.  

FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE EXPERIENCE 

European Solidarity Corps participants will also receive a financial contribution to cover: 

  Travel costs; 
  Subsistence costs, including a pocket money;  
  Additional expenses (for disadvantaged young people). 

B) TRAINEESHIP PLACEMENTS 

1.  Description of the activities  

For the purposes of the European Solidarity Corps Regulation, a traineeship is understood as a period 
of work practice of between 2 to a maximum of 12 months, remunerated by the organisation hosting 
the  Corps  participant.  It  is  based  on  a  written  traineeship  agreement,  which  includes  a  learning  and 
training  component,  and  is  undertaken  in  order  to  gain  practical  and  professional  experience  with  a 
view to improving employability and facilitating transition to regular employment. 

A traineeship may be undertaken either in a country other than the country of residence (cross-border) 
or in the country of residence of the participant (in-country).  

Traineeships that are part of curricula of formal education or vocational education and training, as well 
as  traineeships  whose  completion  is  a  mandatory  requirement  to  access  a  specific  profession  (e.g. 
medicine, architecture, etc.) are not supported under the European Solidarity Corps. 

2.  Duration  

As a general rule, the duration of traineeship placements will range from 2 to 6 months, in line with 
the Quality Framework for Traineeships. A longer duration of up to 12 months can be justified6, taking 
into account the nature of the task and national practices. 

3.  Who can participate  

Placements are offered  - by participating  organisations7 holding a valid Quality Label  - to European 
Solidarity Corps participants, i.e. young people between 188 until 30 years who are nationals or legally 
residing in a participating country and have registered in the European Solidarity Corps portal9. 

6 See Recommendation 10 of Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships (2014/C 
88/01; further referred to as the QFT). 
7 Any public or private entity established in a participating country, or an international organisation active in the 
field of solidarity.  

5 

 
 
 
                                                            
European  Solidarity  Corps  participants  are  directly  contacted  and  selected  by  participating 
organisations, once they have obtained a valid European Solidarity Corps Quality Label, through the 
functionalities offered by the European Solidarity Corps portal.   

Participation  for  individuals  in  any  activities  where  the  individual  will  have  direct  contact  with 
children  in  the  context  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  will  be  subject,  where  appropriate,  to 
background checks with a view to ensure child safeguarding.  

4.  What  support  is  offered  to  European  Solidarity  Corps  participants  in  traineeship 

placements   

European  Solidarity  Corps  participants  carrying  out  a  traineeship  placement  will  be  entitled  to  the 
following: 

QUALITY AND SUPPORT MEASURES 

o  Insurance:  complementary  health  and  accident  insurance  for  insurance-related  expenses  which 
are not already covered by the European Health  Insurance Card10  or other insurance  schemes to 
which participants may be enrolled. 

o  Online  Linguistic  Support  (for  cross-border  placements):  European  Solidarity  Corps 
participants will be given access to an online tool allowing them to assess and improve (through 
an  online  language  course)  their  competences  in  the  foreign  language  they  will  use  to  carry  out 
their placement abroad.  

o  General  Online  training:  an  open-access  training  provided  prior  to  departure  via  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps’  portal.  This  is  a  general  online  induction  with  various  modules,  such  as:  the 
mission of the European Solidarity Corps, ethics and integrity of the European Solidarity Corps, 
including  child  safeguarding  and  child  protection,  roles  and  responsibilities  of  participants  and 
placement  providers,  European  values  and  democracy,  inter-cultural  awareness    and  health  and 
safety, etc.  

o 

In  addition,  the  following  specific  training  to  those  European  Solidarity  Corps  participants 
carrying  out  individually  a  cross-border  placement:  on-arrival  training,  which  will  serve  as  a 
welcoming  training  in  the  placement  country,  mentorship  and  continuous  training  in  the  job,  to 
equip  the  participant  with  the  skills  needed  to  carry  out  the  tasks  envisaged  by  the  placement; 
(optional)  pre-departure  training,  for  disadvantaged  young  people  and  mid-term  evaluation 
sessions, for participants in placements lasting more than six months. 

8 The registration in the European Solidarity Corps portal is possible as of 17 years of age. Young people must 
have turned 18 in order to start a placement. 
9 The European Solidarity Corps is open for third country nationals legally residing in one of the participating 
countries, including beneficiaries of international protection in full respect of the principle of non-refoulement. 
Applicants for international protection are not covered by the scope of the European Solidarity Corps. 
10 This is a free card that gives access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay 
in any of the 28 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, under the same conditions and at the same 
cost  (free  in  some  countries)  as  people  insured  in  that  country.  More  information  on  the  card  and  on  how  to 
obtain it is available at http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559.  

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                          
o  European  Solidarity  Corps  Certificate:  participants  will  be  entitled  to  a  certificate  of 
participation  in a European  Solidarity Corps' placement, to be issued  compulsorily at the end of 
the  placement  by  the  placement  provider.  A  standardised  written  report/assessment  by  the 
participating  organisation  could  be  an  integral  part  of  the  final  European  Solidarity  Corps 
certificate.  

o  Post placement support: participants will be provided with guidance and support services at the 
end  of  their  placement,  with  a  view  to  encourage  their  continued  involvement  in  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps  initiative  (alumni  network;  training/mentoring  to  future  Corps  participants),  as 
well  as  providing  them  with  career  guidance  and/or  support  to  sustainable  labour  market 
integration in their home country or other.  

FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE EXPERIENCE 

Besides  the  remuneration  covered  by  the  participating  organisation,  European  Solidarity  Corps 
participants will receive a financial contribution to cover: 

  Travel  costs  (for  both  in-country  and  cross-border  placements),  including  travel  and 

accommodation to do an interview, relocation allowance and return travel allowance; 

  Additional expenses (for disadvantaged young people). 

C) JOBS 

1.  Description of the activities  

For the purposes of the European Solidarity Corps Regulation, a job is understood as a period of work 
of  2  to  12  months,  remunerated  by  the  participating  organisation  employing  the  Corps  participant, 
carried  out  in  a  participating  country  and  based  on  an  employment  contract  in  accordance  with  the 
national regulatory framework of that participating country. 

A  European  Solidarity  Corps  job  may  be  undertaken  either  in  a  country  other  than  the  country  of 
residence (cross-border) or in the country of residence of the participant (in-country).  

Jobs will be based on an employment contract established in accordance with the national regulatory 
framework  of  the  hosting  country.  The  job  will  be  of  good  quality  (in  terms  of  skills  and  training 
opportunities, working conditions, promotion of gender equality). 

The aim is to provide Corps participants with a job within organisations (NGOs, public authorities or 
private companies) operating in solidarity-related sectors, which will provide them with the skills and 
experience that will strengthen their employability and support their transition into the labour market. 
At  societal  level,  the  aim  is  to  address  unmet  demand  for  labour  in  solidarity-related  sectors  and 
promote solidarity across Member States. 

2.  Duration  

The duration of the support offered to jobs placements under European Solidarity Corps, will range 
between a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 12 months, in compliance with relevant national 
legislation in terms of jobs duration. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
3.  Who can participate  

Placements are offered - by participating organisations11 holding a valid Quality Label - to European 
Solidarity Corps participants, i.e. young people between 1812 and 30 years of age who are nationals or 
legally  residing  in  a  participating  country  and  have  registered  in  the  European  Solidarity  Corps 
portal13. 

European  Solidarity  Corps  participants  are  directly  contacted  and  selected  by  participating 
organisations, once they have obtained a valid European Solidarity Corps Quality Label, through the 
functionalities offered by the European Solidarity Corps portal.   

Participation  for  individuals  in  any  activities  where  the  individual  will  have  direct  contact  with 
children  in  the  context  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  will  be  subject,  where  appropriate,  to 
background checks with a view to ensure child safeguarding.  

4.  What support is offered to European Solidarity Corps participants in jobs   

In  addition  to  the  various  social  protection  and  labour  rights  associated  to  having  a  regular 
employment  contract,  European  Solidarity  Corps  participants  carrying  out  a  job  placement  will  be 
entitled to the following: 

QUALITY AND SUPPORT MEASURES 

o  Insurance:  complementary  health  and  accident  insurance  for  insurance-related  expenses  which 
are  not  already  covered  by  the  European  Health  Insurance  Card14  or  other  insurance  schemes  to 
which participants may be enrolled. 

o  Online  Linguistic  Support  (for  cross-border  placements):  European  Solidarity  Corps 
participants will be given access to an online tool allowing them to assess and improve (through 
an  online  language  course)  their  competences  in  the  foreign  language  they  will  use  to  carry  out 
their placement abroad.  

o  General  Online  training:  open-access  training  provided  prior  to  departure  via  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps’  portal.  This  is  a  general  online  induction  with  various  modules,  such  as:  the 
mission of the European Solidarity Corps, ethics and integrity of the European Solidarity Corps, 
including  child  safeguarding  and  child  protection,  roles  and  responsibilities  of  participants  and 
placement  providers,  European  values  and  democracy,  inter-cultural  awareness    and  health  and 
safety, etc.  

11 Any public or private entity established in a participating country, or an international organisation active in the 
field of solidarity.  
12 The registration in the European Solidarity Corps portal is possible as of 17 years of age. Young people must 
have turned 18 in order to start a placement. 
13 The European Solidarity Corps is open for third country nationals legally residing in one of the participating 
countries, including beneficiaries of international protection in full respect of the principle of non-refoulement. 
Applicants for international protection are not covered by the scope of the European Solidarity Corps. 
14 This is a free card that gives access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay 
in any of the 28 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, under the same conditions and at the same 
cost  (free  in  some  countries)  as  people  insured  in  that  country.  More  information  on  the  card  and  on  how  to 
obtain it is available at http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559.  

8 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
o 

In  addition,  the  following  specific  training  to  those  European  Solidarity  Corps  participants 
carrying  out  individually  a  cross-border  placement:  on-arrival  training,  which  will  serve  as  a 
welcoming  training  in  the  placement  country,  mentorship  and  continuous  training  in  the  job,  to 
equip  the  participant  with  the  skills  needed  to  carry  out  the  tasks  envisaged  by  the  placement; 
(optional)  pre-departure  training,  for  disadvantaged  young  people  and  mid-term  evaluation 
sessions, for participants in placements lasting more than six months. 

o  European  Solidarity  Corps  certificate:  participants  will  be  entitled  to  a  certificate  of 
participation  in a European  Solidarity Corps' placement, to be issued  compulsorily at the end of 
the  placement  by  the  placement  provider.  A  standardised  written  report/assessment  by  the 
participating  organisation  could  be  an  integral  part  of  the  final  European  Solidarity  Corps 
certificate.  

o  Post placement support: participants will be provided with guidance and support services at the 
end  of  their  placement,  with  a  view  to  encourage  their  continued  involvement  in  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps  initiative  (alumni  network;  training/mentoring  to  future  Corps  participants),  as 
well  as  providing  them  with  career  guidance  and/or  support  to  sustainable  labour  market 
integration in their home country or other.  

FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE EXPERIENCE 

Besides  the  salary  covered  by  the  participating  organisation,  (the  wage  conditions  will  be  set  in 
accordance  with  national  laws,  regulations  and  collective  agreements),  European  Solidarity  Corps 
participants will receive a financial contribution to cover: 

  Travel  costs  (for  both  in-country  and  cross-border  placements),  including  travel  and 

accommodation to do an interview, relocation allowance and return travel allowance; 

  Additional expenses (for disadvantaged young people). 

Support provided to organisations participating in all types of Solidarity Placements 

A participating organisation willing to offer a placement must guarantee that the European Solidarity 
Corps participants receive all the support described in the relevant chapter 4 above, in relation to the 
type of placement offered. To do so they may: 

1.  Apply  for  and  receive  a  co-financing  provided  through  funds  of  the  European  Solidarity 

Corps;  

2.  Apply for and receive a co-financing provided through other EU programmes and funds which 
support  activities  that  are  relevant  to  the  scope  and  objectives  of  the  European  Solidarity 
Corps;  

3.  Cover the costs of the placement through own funds or other sources of financing at national, 

regional or local level. 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Co-financing from the European Solidarity Corps funding scheme  

A participating organisation, holding a valid Quality Label, may apply for a grant under the European 
Solidarity  Corps  funding  scheme.  As  a  general  rule,  the  grant  request  will  be  submitted15  to  the 
National  Agency  of  the  country  where  the  organisation  is  based.  Grant  requests  for  1)  placements 
organised  by  Europe-wide  or  international  organisations,  and  2)  activities  of  volunteering  teams  in 
priority fields identified at European level will be submitted to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture 
Executive Agency of the European Commission.  

In  virtue  of  a  thorough  certification  process  (see  separate  fiche  on  the  European  Solidarity  Corps 
Quality Label), the template for the submission of a grant request will be simple and easy-to-fill-in. 

Successful applicants will receive:  

 

free services for participants in their placements:    

- 

- 

for all placements: general online training, provided by the Executive Agency of the 
European  Commission,  as  well  as  support  for  the  certificate  and  recognition  of 
experience, provided by the European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre; 
for  cross  border  placements:  insurance  and  linguistic  support  provided  by  the 
Executive  Agency  of  the  European  Commission,  as  well  as  specific  training16 
provided by a National Agency. 

 

financial support for other expenses:   

- 

- 

- 

participants'  costs:  travel  (for  both  in-country  and  cross-border  placements), 
subsistence  (only  for  volunteering  placements);  additional  expenses  arising  when 
engaging disadvantaged young people, insurance (for in-country placements); 
organisational  support 
financial  
(for  volunteering  placements): 
contribution  to  cover  costs  such  as  administrative  tasks,  specific  training17  and 
mentorship, coordination tasks (in case of consortia of participating organisations),  a 
contribution for costs related to staff carrying out these tasks.. 
Integration  programme  (for  traineeships  placements  and  jobs):  including  a  financial 
contribution  to  cover  costs  such  as  administrative  tasks,  on-the-job  and  continuous 
training,  mentorship,  coordination  tasks  (in  case  of  consortia  of  participating 
organisations),  a  contribution  for  costs  related  to  staff  carrying  out  these  tasks  (full 
coverage  of  the  remuneration/salary  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  participant  in 
traineeships and jobs is excluded). 

including  a 

2. Co-financing from other EU programmes and funds  

Participating organisations, which are beneficiaries of other EU programmes or funds may use part of 
their  EU  grant  to  offer  placements  that  are  in  scope  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  initiative, 
provided that these participating organisations obtain a valid European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.  

15 With multiple submission deadlines per year.  
16 On the job training, on arrival and, if relevant, mid-term evaluation. 
17 Continuous training and, if relevant, pre-departure training. 

10 

 
 
 
 
  
 
                                                            
In such cases, the European Solidarity Corps funding scheme will provide:  

  general online training, provided by the Executive Agency of the European Commission; 
 

for  cross-border  placements,  insurance  and  linguistic  support  provided  by  the  Executive 
Agency of the European Commission; 
support for the certificate and recognition of experience, provided by the European Solidarity 
Corps Resource Centre. 

 

Other EU programmes and funds must provide at least the same provisions offered by the European 
Solidarity Corps funding scheme, for all costs directly related to the participants: 

travel; 
insurance (for in-country placements);  
subsistence (only for volunteering placements); 
specific training and mentorship; 

 
 
 
 
  post-placement support;  
 

additional expenses (for disadvantaged young people). 

For traineeships, the remuneration to the participant is to be covered by the participating organisation.  

In case of jobs, the salary is in principle to be covered by the participating organisations, and the wage 
conditions will be set in accordance with national laws, regulations and collective agreements.  

3. Financing from sources other than EU Funds 

Participating organisations, holding a valid Quality Label, may decide to offer placements which are 
from  public/private, 
financed 
local/regional/national donors that wish to adhere to the European Solidarity Corps initiative.   

through  contributions 

resources  and/or 

their  own 

through 

In such cases, the European Solidarity Corps funding scheme will provide:  

  general online training, provided by the Executive Agency of the European Commission; 
 

insurance  and  linguistic  support  provided  by  the  Executive  Agency  of  the  European 
Commission;  
support for the certificate and recognition of experience, provided by the European Solidarity 
Corps Resource Centre. 

 

Through  own  funds  or  other  sources,  participating  organisations  must  ensure  that  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps  participants  will  receive  the  same  support  offered  under  chapters  1  and  2  of  this 
section, for all costs directly related to their participation: 

travel;  
insurance (for in-country placements);  
subsistence (only for volunteering placements); 
specific training and mentorship; 

 
 
 
 
  post-placement support;  
 

additional expenses (for disadvantaged young people). 

11 

 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS QUALITY LABEL 

1.  Description of the activities  

All organisations willing to implement placements and projects under the European Solidarity Corps 
must show they are able to do so in full respect of the rules of the European Solidarity Corps and with 
the principles and requirements of the European Solidarity Corps' Charter.   

The European Solidarity Corps Quality Label is attributed by a National Agency or by the Education, 
Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency following a procedure that foresees, where appropriate 1) 
the assessment of information provided by the organisation through a form, and 2) an on-site visit to 
the organisation offering placements - to the intermediary organisation applying for a Quality Label on 
behalf of other organisations - to further assess whether appropriate qualitative standards are in place.    

The  modalities  for  attributing  a  Quality  Label  may  differ  according  to  the  profile  of  organisations 
wishing  to  be  involved  in  the  European  Solidarity  Corps.  Simplified  procedures  may  be  applied  for 
organisations already participating in other EU programmes and funds and for public authorities.  

The attribution of a Quality Label is a procedure that ensures high standards in the implementation of 
their activities and placements organised in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps.  

For  an  organisation,  being  holder  of  a  Quality  Label  is  a  prerequisite  for  participation,  but does  not 
automatically lead to funding.  

2.  Duration  

As a general rule, once granted, the Quality Label will be valid for the entire duration of the European 
Solidarity  Corps.  However,  to  make  sure  that  the  qualitative  standards  for  organising  a  placement  a 
constantly met, the award of the label: 

  will be re-assessed periodically;  
  will be re-assessed in case of complaints by participants or third parties; 
  may be revoked, following the re-assessment. 

3.  Implementation modalities: who can apply? How? Where?  

Who can apply? 

Any  public  or  private  -  profit  or  no-profit  -  body  willing  to  participate  in  the  European  Solidarity 
Corps  and  established  in  a  participating  country  may  apply  to  obtain  a  European  Solidarity  Corps 
Quality Label.  

How to apply?  

As a general rule, organisations willing to participate in the European Solidarity Corps will first need 
to submit an application form to request the Quality Label. This application would be submitted to and 
assessed by: 

1. 

the National Agency of the country where the organisation is based, in case of: 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  national/local  organisations  running  European  Solidarity  Corps  placements  with  the 
financial  support  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  or  from  other  funding  sources  which 
do not depend from the EU budget. 

2. 

the Education, Audio visual and Culture Executive Agency based in Brussels, in case of: 

  Europe-wide networks or platforms of organisations; 
  Organisations  in  charge  of  implementing  national  schemes  or  EU  shared  management 

funds (e.g. National Civic Services, managing authorities, etc.)  

  Organisations running European Solidarity Corps placements with the financial support of 

other EU programmes/financial instruments.   

The  modalities  for  attributing  a  Quality  Label  may  differ  according  to  the  profile  of  organisations 
wishing  to  be  involved  in  the  European  Solidarity  Corps.  Simplified  procedures  may  be  applied  for 
organisations already participating in other EU programmes and funds.   

What happens when an organisation obtains the Quality Label? 

Once granted, the Quality Label will entitle organisations to: 

 

 

 

access to the European Solidarity Corps’ database of registered individuals in order to identify 
potential participants for their placements; 

submit an application to request a grant under the European Solidarity Corps funding scheme 
in order to cover the costs of the placements they intend to organise; 

 in  case  of  placements  from  funding  sources  which  do  not  depend  from  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps  budget,  request  additional  services  to  be  provided  in  support  of  the 
placements (e.g. online training, linguistic support, insurance). 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOLIDARITY PROJECTS 

1.  Description of the activities  

Solidarity  projects  are  local  initiatives,  set  up  and  carried  out  by  groups  of  minimum  5  European 
Solidarity  Corps  participants.  They  are  youth-led  volunteering  activities  where  European  Solidarity 
Corps participate actively in designing and implementing their own ideas for the benefit of their local 
communities.  They  are  aimed  at  equipping  European  Solidarity  Corps  with  the  necessary  resources 
(seed money) and support to be themselves drivers of solidarity actions. In the medium term, solidarity 
projects  can  also  be  a  first  step  into  encouraging  European  Solidarity  Corps  members  to  engage  in 
self-employment  or  setting  up  associations,  NGOs  or  other  bodies  active  in  the  solidarity,  no-profit 
and youth sectors.  

Contrary to volunteering placements, the activities are typically project-based, meaning that European 
Solidarity Corps participants define autonomously the amount of time spent in carrying out their tasks, 
in relation to the goals and scheduled deliveries of the project.  

Solidarity  projects  typically  happen  in  the  country  of  residence  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps 
participants.  Similarly  to  the  in-country  volunteering  placements,  this  gives  an  incentive  for  the 
participation of disadvantaged young people, who may encounter more difficulties to engage in cross-
border placements, but still want to contribute to their society.  

Solidarity projects should be of an innovative character and demonstrate a clear European added value, 
i.e.  address  priorities  identified  at  European  level  within  the  framework  of  the  European  Solidarity 
Corps  initiative/  have  a  European  dimension,  clearly  motivated  by  the  project  promoters  when 
requesting a grant and support activities which are not financed through existing domestic schemes. 

To  guarantee  their  quality  and  minimize  the  financial  risks  of  a  solidarity  project,  the  European 
Solidarity Corps participants actively involved in it are supported, guided and accompanied either by a 
European Solidarity Corps participating organisation or by the National Agency that has awarded the 
grant. 

2.  Duration  

Solidarity  projects  last  between  2  and  12  months.  Within  this  time  frame,  the  participation  of  each 
individual is flexible and defined in relation to the scope and nature of the project (e.g. different forms 
of discontinuous volunteering happening on evenings, during weekends, etc.). 

3.  Who can participate  

Any  European  Solidarity  Corps  participant  may  propose  a  project  idea  to  other  participants  through 
the European Solidarity Corps portal. 

If  other  participants  (at  least  four)  show  interest  in  the  initiative,  the  group  may  decide  to  further 
elaborate  the  idea  and  apply  –  directly  or  with  the  administrative  support  of  a  participating 
organisation - for a grant under the European Solidarity Corps funding scheme. 

14 

 
 
 
 
   
   
Grant  applications  are  submitted  the  National  Agency  of  the  country  where  the  activity  takes  place. 
They are assessed against qualitative criteria of relevance, European dimension, effectiveness, impact 
and sustainability.  

4.  What support is offered to European Solidarity Corps participants   

If  their  grant  application  is  successful,  the  group  of  European  Solidarity  Corps  taking  part  in  the 
solidarity project is entitled to receive:  

QUALITY AND SUPPORT MEASURES  

o  General  Online  training:  open-access  training  provided  via  the  European  Solidarity  Corps’ 
portal.  This  is  a  general  online  induction  with  various  modules,  such  as:  the  mission  of  the 
European  Solidarity  Corps,  ethics  and  integrity  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps,  roles  and 
responsibilities  of  participants,  European  values  and  democracy,  entrepreneurship  and  project 
management, health and safety, etc.  

o  European  Solidarity  Corps  certificate:  participants  will  be  entitled  to  a  certificate  of 
participation  in  a  European  Solidarity  Corps'  solidarity  project.  The  European  Solidarity  Corps' 
participants  who  so  wish  will  have  the  opportunity  to  receive  a  certificate  identifying  and 
documenting the main learning outcomes of their experience. 

FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE PROJECT 

European Solidarity Corps participants will also receive a financial contribution to cover: 

  Project costs (seed money in support of activities directly related to the implementation of the 

project)   
Insurance 

 
  Additional expenses (for disadvantaged young people). 

5. What is the role of participating organisations? 

Participating organisations  may  want  to  offer  a  support  to  European  Solidarity  Corps  participants  in 
implementing their solidarity project.  

To do so they may apply on their behalf for a grant under the European Solidarity Corps. Their main 
role will be to: 

support the group in administrative and financial tasks related to the management of the grant; 

 
  offer support and guidance in project life-cycle management; 
  offer support in the recognition of competences acquired by through the project.  

To  carry  out  these  tasks,  a  participating  organisation  will  receive  a  financial  incentive  from  the 
European Solidarity Corps funding scheme.   

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NETWORKING ACTIVITIES 

1.  Description of the activities  

The European Solidarity Corps will support a series of activities aimed at:  

  building a sense of belonging to the Corps  among European Solidarity Corps participants; 
 
enhancing the impact and the benefits of the placement experience on the individual;   
 
reinforcing the capacities of the participating organisations to offer good quality placements, 
to an increasing number of European Solidarity Corps participants; 
attracting  newcomers  -  both  youngsters  and  participating  organisations  –  into  the  European 
Solidarity Corps initiative; 

 

  offering  participants  and  participating  organisations  the  opportunity  to  give  feedback  to  the 
European  Commission  and  National  Agencies  on  the  state  of  play  of  the  implementation  of 
European Solidarity Corps.   

Typical activities could be: 

 

support  for  the  establishment  and  activities  of  alumni  networks    (i.e.  European  Solidarity 
Corps members having taken part in placements or projects); 

  organisation  of  annual  events  for  post-placement  support  (with  the  involvement  of  Public 

 

Employment Services and stakeholders active in the labour market); 
seminars  and  other  activities  to  facilitate  contacts  and  exchanges  of  best  practices  between 
participating organisations, the establishment of new consortia, the involvement of newcomer 
organisations; 

  networking activities to raise awareness of the Corps among public authorities – at European 
national, regional and local level - and potential private donors with a view to attract funding 
and investments in the European Solidarity Corps initiative; 

  other activities aimed at the exchange of best practices and networking.    

2.  Description of the activities  

Depending  on  the  nature  and  the  target  of  the  activities,  different  complementary  implementation 
modes (both indirect and direct management) could be envisaged. 

An  amount  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  budget  dedicated  to  networking  activities  could  be 
distributed to National Agencies in each programme country in order to organise activities at national 
level.  The European Commission could manage directly a part of the budget with a view to organising 
events  at  European  level,  in  order  to  further  disseminate  and  strengthen  the  impact  of  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps  initiative.  These  activities  could  also  take  the  shape  of  consultation  fora  aimed  at 
assessing the perspective of stakeholders concerning the implementation of the initiative.  

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS RESOURCE CENTRE 

A European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre, hosted in one of the National Agencies implementing 
the  European  Solidarity  Corps,  will  be  identified  to  assist  the  implementing  bodies  (National 
Agencies/Education  Audio  visual  and  Culture  Executive  Agency/European  Commission),  the 
participating organisations and the young people taking part in the European Solidarity Corps in order 
to raise the quality of the implementation and of the activities of the European Solidarity Corps. 

Once  identified,  the  Resource  Centre  will  support  the  implementation  of  the  European  Solidarity 
Corps by providing learning resources to European Solidarity Corps participants, training and contact-
making  activities  for  organisations,  as  well  as  supporting  the  National  Agencies  with  measures  and 
resources aimed at achieving a harmonious and high quality roll-out of the European Solidarity Corps 
throughout Europe.   

To  pursue  this  mission,  the  Resource  Centre  will  carry  out  a  series  of  tasks  such  as  developing 
learning  resources  and  pedagogic  materials,  feeding  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  portal  with 
information useful for participants and organisations, etc. The Resource Centre will, at the same time, 
act as central point of support to bring together National Agencies to reflect on and improve certain 
aspects  related  to  the  implementation  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  (such  as  training  of  staff  of 
National  Agencies,  support  National  Agencies  in  reaching  new  public  targets  to  be  involved  in  the 
initiative, etc.). 

The activities of the Resource Centre may have a competence-based focus (aimed at improving certain 
capacities  of  participants,  organisations  and/or  staff  of  National  Agencies),  as  well  as  focusing  on 
transversal topics such as ensuring the inclusion dimension of the programme, fostering diversity and 
tolerance  in  the  activities  and,  in  general,  supporting  the  awareness  and  respect  of  the  European 
Solidarity Corps principles.   

Areas where the Resource Centre could typically play a role:  

  European  Solidarity  Corps  certificate:  the  Resource  Centre  could  be  a  central  point  for 
developing  the  certificates  for  European  Solidarity  Corps  participants  having  taken  part  in 
Corps activities, as well as in developing process to help participants describe their learning 
outcomes.  

  Organisation  of  networking  events:  these  activities  could,  for  example,  take  the  shape  of 
annual conferences of European Solidarity Corps Alumni, where alumni could exchange best 
practices  at  European  level,  as  well  as  put  forward  proposals  for  improvement.  They  could 
also  organise,  in  cooperation  with  the  National  Agencies,  contact-making  activities  for 
organisations, in order to attract them into the initiative.  

  Communication  activities:  the  resource  centre,  by  not  being  directly  involved  in  the 
administrative  management  of  the  funds,  can  concentrate  part  of  its  tasks  to  develop 
communication  materials,  in  cooperation  with  staff  from  the  National  Agencies,  to  promote 
the  added  value  of  participating  in  the  European  Solidarity  Corps,  as  well  as  to  raise  the 
quality of the activities.  

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Training  activities:  in  cooperation  with  National  Agencies  if  relevant,  the  Resource  Centre 
can develop specific training materials and events for participants, organisations and staff of 
National Agencies, both for communication and quality purposes.  

18