European Voluntary Service (B8-1126/2016, B8-1126/2016, B8-1127/2016, B8-1128/2016, B8-1133/2016, B8-1134/2016, B8-1135/2016)
Pavel Telička (ALDE), in writing. ‒ In 2016, the European Voluntary Service (EVS) celebrated its 20th anniversary, supporting 100 000 volunteers since its inception. In Europe, volunteering is an expression of solidarity, freedom and responsibility that contributes to the strengthening of active citizenship and to personal human development, and that it is an essential tool for social inclusion and cohesion, as well as training, education and intercultural dialogue and an important dimension of EU values. I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the EVS, which encourages Member States to implement a concrete validation process, as well as the creation of an EU framework, which provides volunteer work with a legal status, ensuring rights and responsibilities are protected for volunteers in the EU. I believe it is necessary to give volunteering a greater relevance and a formal status in order to encourage future generations of volunteers.