The European Parliament and the Bulgarian President of the Council of EU ministers on June 26 agreed to set up a Solidarity Corps, offering volunteering opportunities around the EU. It will be the main entry-point of solidarity activities in the EU and offer opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects that can benefit communities.
The European Parliament’s delegation negotiated that 20% (€76m) of the funding for this initiative to be fresh money and 80% drawn from redeployments from other programmes, without major cuts for Erasmus+.
The €375m budget will be made available between 2018-2020, and the parliament succeeded in securing 90% financing of the budget for volunteering activities and 10% for traineeships and job placements. This will help participants to gain skills and knowledge for their future long-term prospects.
Parliament negotiators also secured solidarity, education, health, environmental protection, disaster prevention, provision of food and non-food items as well as reception and integration of migrants and asylum seekers. Priority will be given to non-profit activities.
“We are now on course to deliver this fantastic project, which will give young people the chance to take part in projects that will benefit communities across Europe,” said EP lead negotiator Helga Trüpel (Greens/EFA, DE). “This programme is an important step to strengthen solidarity in Europe.
“I am pleased that the Council has finally seen sense and come forward with the funds necessary to make this project viable,” she added. “It will also be certified with a quality label to make sure that young people are guaranteed quality care, accommodation and payment. These proper standards will protect against exploitation and guard against jobs being undercut by the use of young volunteers.”
A vote in the plenary to endorse the new rules is likely to follow in September.
