Today, at the instigation of Edith Cresson, the European Commission has
proposed that a voluntary service programme be launched, to allow young
Europeans to show solidarity by taking part in activities in other
countries, in specific fields such as the fight against social exclusion,
humanitarian aid, protection of the environment, and cultural activities.
Drawing on the experience gained through its 1996 pilot project, which will
have enabled some 2 500 young people to participate in such activities, the
Commission now wishes to move into top gear: the "European voluntary service
for young people" programme, covering the period 1998-2002. For the initial
stage (1998-1999) it will have a budget of ECU 60 million, pending the new
financial perspectives of the European Union, which will determine the level
of resources available subsequently.
An edifying experience
To show solidarity while at the same time engaging in a responsible and
formative activity, to discover a different culture, language and country:
such opportunities of acquiring experience are not available to young people
in Europe to the extent that would be desirable. Whether we are talking
about learning support for disadvantaged children, the regeneration of run-
down areas, the cleaning up of a natural site, or assisting the disabled,
such activities are enriching in more than one way. They develop the sense
of solidarity and citizenship, and provide an insight into the realities of
life. They allow young people to acquire technical know-how and human
qualities which will be useful to them throughout their life. And they
create a feeling of belonging to Europe by encouraging young people to
discover the diversity of its constituent countries.
At the end of the day, even if it does not resolve all the problems of
everyday life - primarily the search for employment - voluntary service can
without doubt facilitate young people's transition into working life and
their integration into society.
The Commission has set up a "group of eminent persons" to help it implement
the programme. Chaired by Mr Hans Koschnick, former mayor of Bremen and ex-
administrator of Mostar, the group comprises representatives of local
authorities, businesses and youth organisations.
What the voluntary service is not
Before going into detail about the "European voluntary service for young
people" programme, it might be useful to clear up a number of possible
misunderstandings regarding its objectives. First of all, voluntary service
as proposed by the Commission is not seen as a substitute for the national
service obligations imposed by certain Member States, neither military
service nor alternatives such as civilian service or service performed by
conscientious objectors. It is up to the national legislators, and to them
alone, to decide whether or not to recognise European voluntary service as
the equivalent of national service.
Secondly, it is neither an elitist programme nor a programme for
disadvantaged young people. Nor indeed is it a programme to combat
exclusion. It is aimed at all young people aged between 18 and 25 without
pre-conditions. The Commission insists that disadvantaged young people
should not be treated as a separate category. This being the case,
everything possible has to be done to facilitate access for young people
who, as a result of their social background or lack of training, will find
it more difficult than others to participate in the programme.
Finally, European voluntary service is not just another trick to reduce
unemployment statistics. The activities it proposes are in no way a
substitute for potential or existing jobs.
Who can participate ?
All young people aged between 18 and 25 resident in a Member State of the
European Union. The programme also makes provision for cooperation with
third countries which are associated with the European Union or have entered
into cooperation agreements with it. The countries concerned are the
associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta, the
Mediterranean countries, the developing countries linked to the European
Union through the ACP Convention (African, Caribbean and Pacific states),
the countries of Asia and Latin America with which the EU has signed
cooperation agreements, and other third countries such as the New
Independent States of the former Soviet Union, South Africa and the
republics of the former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia,
Macedonia).
Which activities are involved?
Generally speaking, young volunteers will participate in activities
responding to the needs of society in a very wide range of fields (social,
environmental, cultural, etc.) and capable of having a direct impact on the
quality of life of the people in the communities concerned. The range of
activities is therefore very broad: projects to help children, services for
young people, help for the elderly, disabled, refugees, homeless or sick,
environmental protection, regeneration of run-down areas, humanitarian
operations, educational projects, cultural activities, measures to combat
discrimination, etc. This list is not exhaustive. Annex 1 gives examples of
projects supported by the Commission under the pilot project implemented in
1996.
Which conditions apply to voluntary service performed by young people?
The duration of voluntary service performed by young people will vary
depending on the project: from six months to one year for long-term
projects, and from three weeks to three months for shorter projects. The
bodies to which young volunteers will be attached (associations, local
authorities, etc.) must provide board and lodging (in a residence, youth
hostel or with a family). In addition, young people will receive a monthly
allowance of around ECU 200. They will play an active part in the host
project and may not be regarded as cheap labour and given only menial tasks
to perform. The Commission is also making arrangements for insurance
contracts providing social cover for all young volunteers taking part in the
programme, thus avoiding any potential problems in this field.
Finally, host projects will be required to supply the necessary guarantees
as regards the supervision of young volunteers throughout their period of
service. A tutor will be responsible for providing educational and personal
support for young people during their stay, while in each Member State a
team of liaison officers, independent of host projects, will provide a
confidential service to deal with the various difficulties encountered by
volunteers, tutors and project managers.
Will young volunteers be assigned to their host projects without
preparation?
No. Depending on the nature and duration of the project, young volunteers
will be given training, which may last from a few days to several weeks. The
aim will be to provide technical training for the tasks to be performed, to
convey various recommendations and where appropriate to teach the rudiments
of the host country's language. This training will have to be provided by
the responsible organisation in the host country. At the end of their stay,
young volunteers will also receive a European certificate attesting to the
activities they have been involved in and the skills they have acquired.
What about problems regarding the right of residence and social insurance
cover?
Clearly, there are a number of delicate problems as regards the right of
residence and social insurance for young volunteers. The "European voluntary
service" programme cannot amend the legal provisions in force in the Member
States. However, pending a long-term solution as recommended in the
Commission's recent Green Paper on mobility of students, teachers,
researchers and young volunteers, it is proposed that Member States show
flexibility and undertake, through a Council of Ministers declaration, to
give young people engaged in European voluntary service all the necessary
facilities in terms of the right of residence and social protection, and not
to deprive them of their entitlement to unemployment or family benefits.
What is the programme's budget?
For the first two years the programme will receive a budget of ECU 60
million (ECU 25 million for 1998 and ECU 35 million for 1999). Funding for
the subsequent period (2000, 2001 and 2002) will depend on EU budget
availability, which will be subject to a new inter-institutional agreement
on financial perspectives between the Commission, Parliament and Council of
Ministers, due to enter into force as from the year 2000. The Commission
will cover a maximum of 50% of the costs of a project, with the balance to
be funded by the host organisation and/or the organisation responsible for
posting the young people concerned. In the case of projects with
particularly limited resources, the Commission can increase its contribution
on an ad hoc basis.
How do you volunteer?
Young persons interested should contact the national body responsible for
the programme in their own country (see Annex 2). This body will inform them
about the projects being prepared in the other Member States and put them in
touch with the project management.
Annex 1
Examples of voluntary service schemes approved under the pilot project
(1996)
Restoration of historic monuments. The German organisation Arbeits
Denkmalpflege is involved in the restoration of monuments and old buildings
in the former GDR, which are then converted into social or cultural centres
etc.
Nature conservation training. The Granja Escuela Sastarrain is a farm in the
Spanish Basque Country which trains young people in nature conservation.
Activities include educational games in which participants discover the
biological diversity of the region, excursions to natural sites, and
practical projects to clean up rivers or plant trees. Young volunteers will
be involved in all these activities. The European organisation Europe
Conservation is also willing to provide young volunteers with training as
"ecology guides", the main activity in this case being fauna and flora
observation.
A youth centre in the former camp of Buchenwald organizes exhibitions on the
concentration camps. The young french volunteer, whose father was a war
prisoner for five years, will have to look after groups of french youngsters
who will visit the camp.
In Spain, the University of Ceuti looks for volunteers in order to create a
training scheme on traditional mediterranean cooking, which will be used for
meals on wheels and meals for the needy. This project is co-financed by the
European Social Fund in the framework of Youthstart.
Annex 2
Youth for Europe - national agencies
BELGIQUE FRANCE NORGE
M. Jean-Michel M. Olivier GAGNIER Mr. Torgeir KNUTSEN
HEUSKIN Institut national de Atlantis Youth Exchange
Agence pour la la Jeunesse et de Rolf Hofmos gate 18
Promotion l'Education populaire N - 0655 Oslo
des Activites Parc du Val Flory (47 22) 67.00.43
internationales 9-11 rue Paul Leplat (47 22) 68.68.08
de Jeunesse F - 78160 Marly-le-
13-17 Boulevard Roi:
Adolphe Max (33 1) 39.17.27.70
B - 1000 Bruxelles (33 1) 39.17.27.90
(32 2) 219.09.06
(32 2) 218.81.08
BELGIE ICELAND OSTERREICH
Dhr Koen LAMBERT Ms. Margret Herr Helmut FENNES
JINT v.z.w. SVERRISDOTTIR Interkulturelles Zentrum
Waterkrachtstraat 36 Ungt folk i Evropu Kettenbrueckengasse 23
B - 1210 Brussel Hitt Husid A - 1050 Wien
(32 2) 230.95.70 A alstraeti 2 (43 1) 586.75.440
(32 2) 230.18.75 IS - 101 Reykjavik (43 1) 586.75.449
(354 5) 522.220
(354 5) 624.341
BELGIEN IRELAND PORTUGAL
Herr Wilfried HEYEN Mrs. Mary BIGLEY Ms. Adelaide FRANCO
Agentur "Jugend fuer LEARGAS Instituto Portugues da
Europa" lst Floor, Avoca Juventude
Neustrasse 93 House 189/193 Parnell Avenida da Liberdade 194-
B -4700 Eupen Street IRL - Dublin 1 6o
(32 87) 55.48.72 (353 1) 873.14.11 P - 1200 Lisboa
(32 87) 74 30 22 (353 1) 873.13.16 (351 1) 315.19.61/55
(351 1) 315.19.59
CYPRUS ITALIA SUOMI - FINLAND
Mr. Manthos Sig. Daniele DI Ms. Ulla NASKALI
MAVROMATIS CEGLIE Centre for International
Youth Board Ministero degli Mobility (CIMO)
Th. Dhervi Str., 41 Affari Esteri Agenzia Hakaniemenkatu 2
/ 1st Floor "Gioventu per SF - 00531 Helsinki
Nicosia - Cyprus l'Europa" (358 9) 77.47.70.33
(357 2) 30.41.60 Piazzale della (358 9) 77.47.70.64
(357 2) 45.51.35 Farnesina 1
I - 00194 Roma
(39 6) 323.62.18
(39 6) 323.35.52
DANMARK LIECHTENSTEIN SVERIGE
Mr. Lars Hoegh HANSEN Ms. Nancy BAROUK- Ms. Lotta ROSSNER
ICU HASLER Ungdomsstyrelsen
Vandkunsten 3 Kinder-Und PO Box 17 801
DK - 1467 Kobenhavn Jugenddienst S-118 94 Stockholm
K Amt fuer Soziale (46 8) 462 53 65
(45 33) 14.20.60 Dienst (46 8) 644 88 54
(45 33) 14.36.40 Postgebaude
FL - 9494 Schaan
(41 75) 236.72.55
(41 75) 236.72.74
DEUTSCHLAND LUXEMBOURG UNITED KINGDOM
Herr Hans-Georg M. Charles MULLER Mr. Ian PAWLBY
WICKE Centre d'information Youth Exchange Centre
Deutsches Buero et d'Echanges de British Council,
"Jugend fuer Europa" Jeunes 10 Spring Gardens
Hochkreuzallee 20 76 Boulevard de la UK - London SWIA 2BN
D -53175 Bonn Petrusse (44 171) 389.40.30
(49 228) 95.06.214 L - 2320 Luxembourg (44 171) 389.40.33
(49 228) 95.06.222 (352) 40.55.52
(352) 40.55.56
ELLAS MALTA
Mr. Petros SFIKAKIS Mr. Albert CALLUS
General Secretariat NCU of "Youth for
for Youth Europe"
417 Acharnon Street Ministry of Justice
GR - Athens 11 1 43 and the Arts
(30 1) 253.13.49 House of Catalunya
(30 1) 253.14.20 Marsamxetto road
Valletta - Malta
(356) 23.41.18
(356) 24.04.82
ESPANA NEDERLAND Bureau d'Assistance
Sr. Francisco GARCIA Mr. Ben SLIJKHUIS Technique/
PLIEGO CAMPILLOS EXIS/Jeugd voor Technical Assistance
Instituto de la Europa Office
Juventud c/o NIZW Socrates & Jeunesse
C/ Ortega y Gasset, Catharijnesingel 47 70 Rue Montoyer
71 NL - 3501 DD Utrecht B - 1000 BRUXELLES
E - 28006 Madrid (31 30) 230.65.50 Tel.: (+32) (2) 233.01.11
(34 1) 347.76.48 (31 30) 230.65.40 Fax : (+32) (2) 233.01.50
(34 1) 347.76.87
***
