REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council Establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps - EU Aid Volunteers
30.4.2013 - (COM(2012)0514 – C7‑0303/2012 – 2012/0245(COD)) - ***I
Committee on Development
Rapporteur: Michèle Striffler
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council Establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps - EU Aid Volunteers
(COM(2012)0514 – C7‑0303/2012 – 2012/0245(COD))
(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2012)0514),
– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 214(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C7-0303/2012),
– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A7-0158/2013),
1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;
2. Considers that separate funding and budgetary allocations should be guaranteed for this initiative whilst remaining mutually complementary with the other instruments for the Union's external policies.
3. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another text;
4. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.
Amendment 1 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(1) Solidarity is a fundamental value of the Union and there is potential for further developing means of expressing solidarity of Union citizens with people in third countries vulnerable to or affected by man-made crises or natural disasters. |
(1) Solidarity is a fundamental value of the Union and there is potential for further developing means of expressing solidarity of Union citizens with people in third countries vulnerable to or affected by man-made crises or natural disasters. Moreover, the Union as a whole is the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, providing almost 50 % of global humanitarian aid. |
|
|
|
Amendment 2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(2) Volunteering is a concrete and visible expression of solidarity allowing individuals to dedicate their knowledge, skills and time to the service of fellow human beings, without a primary concern for financial gain. |
(2) Volunteering is a concrete and visible expression of solidarity allowing individuals to dedicate their knowledge, skills, experience and time to the service of fellow human beings, without a primary concern for financial gain. In the framework of the Initiative provided for in this Regulation, the specific objective of volunteering is to contribute to strengthening the Union's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises and to build the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities in third countries. |
Amendment 3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
(2a) There is a need to raise both awareness levels and visibility of humanitarian aid among the Union's citizens because Union humanitarian aid is often overshadowed by that of other international organisations. While volunteering is on the rise for many activities there is still further need for awareness raising and also a significant potential for further developing solidarity among Union's citizens with victims of crises and disasters in third countries. |
Amendment 4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(4) The Union's humanitarian aid is delivered in situations where other instruments related to development cooperation, crisis management and civil protection operate. The EU Aid Volunteers should work in a coherent and complementarity manner with relevant policies and instruments in order to make the most effective use of these instruments while systematically promoting humanitarian principles and long-term development goals. Synergies of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers should be sought with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the Emergency Response Centre established by Decision XX/XXXX and with the EEAS and the EU Delegations in order to coordinate the Union's response to humanitarian crises in third countries. |
(4) The Union's humanitarian aid is delivered in situations where other instruments related to development cooperation, crisis management and civil protection operate. The EU Aid Volunteers Initiative should work in a coherent and complementarity manner with relevant policies and instruments in order to make the most effective use of these instruments and avoid overlaps, while systematically promoting humanitarian principles and long-term development goals. Synergies of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative should be sought in particular with the Union's humanitarian aid policy, development cooperation policy and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the Emergency Response Centre established by Decision XX/XXXX and with the EEAS and the EU Delegations, regional and local actors and international organisations in order to coordinate the Union's response to humanitarian crises in third countries. |
Amendment 5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(5) The number, scope and complexity of humanitarian crises worldwide have increased significantly over the years leading to a rising demand on humanitarian actors to provide an effective, efficient and coherent response and to support third country local communities in order to make them less vulnerable and to strengthen their resilience to disasters. |
(5) The number, scope and complexity of humanitarian crises worldwide both natural and man-made have increased significantly over the years and that trend is unfortunately likely to continue, leading to a rising demand on humanitarian actors to provide an immediate, effective, efficient and coherent response and to support third country local communities in order to make them less vulnerable and to strengthen their resilience to disasters. |
Amendment 6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 6 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(6) Volunteers can strengthen humanitarian aid operations and contribute to the professionalization of humanitarian aid when they are adequately selected, trained and prepared for deployment so as to ensure that they have the necessary skills and competences to help people in need in the most effective way. |
(6) Volunteers can strengthen humanitarian aid operations and contribute to the professionalization of humanitarian aid when they are adequately selected, trained and prepared for deployment so as to ensure that they have the necessary skills and competences to help people in need in the most effective way, provided that they can count on sufficient on-site support or supervision. |
Amendment 7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 7 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(7) Volunteering schemes exist in Europe and worldwide focusing on third country deployment. These are often national schemes which focus mainly or exclusively on development projects. The EU Aid Volunteers should, therefore, avoid duplication and should add value by providing opportunities to volunteers to jointly contribute to humanitarian aid operations thus reinforcing active European Union citizenship and by fostering transnational cooperation of implementing organisations participating in the actions of the Corps. |
(7) Volunteering schemes exist in Europe and worldwide focusing on third country deployment. These are often national schemes which focus mainly or exclusively on development projects. The EU Aid Volunteers should, therefore, avoid duplication and should add value by providing opportunities to volunteers to jointly contribute to humanitarian aid operations thus reinforcing active European Union citizenship, fostering transnational cooperation of implementing organisations participating in the actions of the Corps, therefore projecting a positive image of the Union in the world and fostering interest for pan-European humanitarian projects. |
Amendment 8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 8 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(8) There are gaps in the current landscape of humanitarian volunteering that the EU Aid Volunteers can fill with the volunteers with the right profiles deployed at the right time to the right place. This could be achieved notably through providing European standards on identification and selection of humanitarian volunteers, commonly agreed benchmarks for training and preparation of humanitarian volunteers for deployment, improved registers of potential volunteers who are identified based on the needs in the field, and opportunities for volunteers to contribute to humanitarian operations not only by deployment but also through back-office support and online-volunteering activities. |
(8) There are gaps in the current landscape of humanitarian volunteering that the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative can fill with the volunteers with the right profiles deployed at the right time to the right place. This could be achieved notably through providing European standards on identification and selection of humanitarian volunteers, commonly agreed benchmarks for training and preparation of humanitarian volunteers for deployment, improved registers of potential volunteers who are identified based on the needs in the field, and opportunities for volunteers to contribute to humanitarian operations not only by deployment but also through back-office support and online-volunteering activities. |
Amendment 9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 9 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(9) Security and safety of the volunteers should remain of paramount importance. |
(9) Appropriate training, as well as the security and safety of the volunteers should remain of paramount importance. Volunteers should not be sent to projects where security is a concern. |
Amendment 10 Proposal for a decision Recital 10 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(10) The Union carries out its humanitarian aid operations in partnership with implementing organisations. These organisations should play a significant role in implementing the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative to ensure ownership of the actors in the field and to maximise the potential uptake of the Voluntary Corps' actions. The Union should entrust implementing organisations notably with the identification, selection, preparation and deployment of EU Aid Volunteers in accordance with standards established by the Commission. The Commission should, in addition, be able to draw upon successfully trained and prepared volunteers for deployment, where appropriate. |
(10) The Union carries out its humanitarian aid operations in partnership with implementing organisations. These organisations should play a significant role in implementing the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative to ensure ownership of the actors in the field and to maximise the potential uptake of the Voluntary Corps' actions. The Union should entrust implementing organisations notably with the identification, selection, preparation and deployment of EU Aid Volunteers, as well as with follow-up during and after assignments, in accordance with standards established by the Commission. The Commission should, in addition, be able to draw upon successfully trained and prepared volunteers for deployment, where appropriate. |
Amendment 11 Proposal for a regulation Recital 12 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(12) Volunteering in humanitarian aid could help maintain young people active, contribute to their personal development and intercultural awareness, and improve their competences and employability in global economy. It would, thus, contribute to the ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’ and to a range of other key objectives of the Union such as social inclusion, employment, active citizenship, education, and skills development . |
(12) Volunteering in humanitarian aid could help maintain young people active, contribute to their personal development and intercultural awareness, and improve their competences and employability in global economy. It would, thus, contribute to the ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’ and to a range of other key objectives of the Union such as social inclusion, employment, active citizenship, education, and skills development as well as in upholding volunteering as a concrete expression of European solidarity with people affected by crises, thus promoting the Union's values and principles. |
Amendment 12 Proposal for a regulation Recital 13 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(13) The Union's principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination suggest that Union citizens and long-term residents in the Union of all walks of life and age should be able to engage as active citizens. Given the specific challenges of the humanitarian context, participants of the EU Aid Volunteers should be aged over 18. |
(13) The Union's principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination suggest that Union citizens and long-term residents in the Union of all walks of life and age should be able to engage as active citizens. Given the specific challenges of the humanitarian context, participants in the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative should be aged over 18. |
Amendment 13 Proposal for a regulation Recital 14 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
(14a) The actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative should be carried out in such a way as to take into account the recommendations contained in the Policy Agenda for Volunteering in Europe (PAVE), the work of European international volunteering organisations and the United Nations Volunteers programme. |
Amendment 14 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(15) The EU Aid Volunteers should support local humanitarian aid organisations in third countries. Its activities should increase the hosting organisations' capacity to deal with humanitarian crises and to professionally manage the EU Aid Volunteers, to effectively use their skills and competences and to ensure that the volunteers' contributions have a sustainable impact on local communities thereby assisting the people in need affected by humanitarian crises, who are the final beneficiaries of the Union's humanitarian aid. |
(15) The EU Aid Volunteers Initiative should support local humanitarian aid organisations in third countries. Its activities should increase the hosting organisations' capacity to deal with humanitarian crises and to professionally manage the EU Aid Volunteers, to effectively use their skills and competences and to ensure that the volunteers' contributions have a sustainable impact on local communities thereby assisting the people in need affected by humanitarian crises, who are the final beneficiaries of the Union's humanitarian aid. |
Amendment 15 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
(15a) This Regulation should lay down, for the entire duration of the instrument, a financial envelope constituting the prime reference, within the meaning of point [] of the Interinstitutional Agreement of XX/201Z between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure. |
Amendment 16 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
(15a) Such voluntary aid corps should be cost-effective, complement existing national and international voluntary schemes without duplicating them, and be focused on addressing concrete needs and gaps in the humanitarian field. |
Amendment 17 Proposal for a regulation Recital 16 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(16) The financial provisions of this Regulation should apply as of 1 January 2014 as they are related to the Multi-annual Financial Framework 2014-2020. The allocation of financial assistance should be implemented in accordance with Regulation No xxx/2012 applicable to the general budget of the European Union (the Financial Regulation). Due to the specific nature of action of the EU Aid Volunteers, it is appropriate to provide that financial assistance may be awarded to natural, public and private law legal persons. It is also important to ensure that the rules of that Regulation are respected, in particular regarding the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness laid down therein. |
(16) The financial provisions of this Regulation should apply as of 1 January 2014 as they are related to the Multi-annual Financial Framework 2014-2020. The allocation of financial assistance should be implemented in accordance with Regulation No xxx/2012 applicable to the general budget of the European Union (the Financial Regulation). Due to the specific nature of action of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative, it is appropriate to provide that financial assistance may be awarded to natural, public and private law legal persons. It is also important to ensure that the rules of that Regulation are respected, in particular regarding the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness laid down therein. |
Amendment 18 Proposal for a regulation Recital 16 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
(16a) Improving implementation and quality of spending should constitute guiding principles for achievement of the objectives of this Regulation, while ensuring optimal use of financial resources. |
Amendment 19 Proposal for a regulation Recital 18 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(18) Participation of third countries, in particular acceding, candidate, EFTA and partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy, should be possible on the basis of cooperation conventions. |
(18) Participation of third countries, in particular acceding, candidate and EFTA countries, should be possible on the basis of cooperation conventions. |
Amendment 20 Proposal for a regulation Recital 19 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(19) In order to allow for continuous feedback and improvement, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of provisions relating to the standards for management of EU Aid Volunteers and the amendment of the performance indicators. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and Council. |
(19) In order to allow for continuous feedback and improvement and to increase the flexibility and efficiency of their adoption, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the provisions relating to the standards for management and deployment of EU Aid Volunteers, the amendment of the performance indicators and the adoption of the multiannual work programmes that define the objectives, priorities, expected results, method of implementation and financial allocations in broad terms. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council. |
Amendment 21 Proposal for a regulation Recital 20 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(20) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers. The examination procedure should be used for the adoption of the certification mechanism, the training programme and the annual work programme of the Corps. |
(20) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers. The examination procedure should be used for the adoption of the certification mechanism, the training programme and the annual work programme of the Corps, which should give effect to the multiannual work programmes referred to in this Regulation. |
Amendment 22 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
This Regulation establishes a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (hereinafter referred to as 'the EU Aid Volunteers') as a framework for joint contributions from European volunteers in humanitarian aid operations of the Union. |
This Regulation establishes a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (hereinafter referred to as 'the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative') as a framework for joint contributions from European volunteers in humanitarian aid operations of the Union. |
|
This Regulation lays down the rules and procedures for the operation of the EU Aid Volunteers and rules for the provision of financial assistance. |
This Regulation lays down the rules and procedures for the operation of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative and rules for the provision of financial assistance. |
Amendment 23 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – point 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. deployment of EU Aid Volunteers in humanitarian aid operations in third countries. |
1. deployment of EU Aid Volunteers in humanitarian aid operations in third countries, except in the context of armed conflicts and internal disturbances. |
Amendment 24 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
The objective of the EU Aid Volunteers shall be to express the Union's humanitarian values and solidarity with people in need, through the promotion of an effective and visible EU Aid Volunteers' initiative, which contributes to strengthening the Union's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises and to building the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities in third countries. |
The objective of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative shall be to express the Union's humanitarian values and solidarity with people in need and to contribute to Union citizenship, through the promotion of an effective and visible EU Aid Volunteers Initiative, which delivers significant added value and contributes to strengthening the Union's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises and to building the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities in third countries, particularly by means of disaster preparedness, disaster risk reduction and enhancing the link between relief, rehabilitation and development. |
Amendment 25 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
The objective of the EU Aid Volunteers shall be to express the Union's humanitarian values and solidarity with people in need, through the promotion of an effective and visible EU Aid Volunteers' initiative, which contributes to strengthening the Union's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises and to building the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities in third countries. |
The objective of the EU Aid Volunteers shall be to express the Union's humanitarian values and solidarity with people in need, through the promotion of an effective and visible EU Aid Volunteers Initiative, which contributes to strengthening the Union's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises caused by either man-made or natural disasters and to building the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities in third countries. |
Amendment 26 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(1) The actions of the EU Aid Volunteers shall be conducted in compliance with the humanitarian aid principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. |
(1) The actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative shall be conducted in compliance with the humanitarian aid principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. |
|
(2) The actions of the EU Aid Volunteers shall respond to the need of local communities and hosting organisations and should contribute to the professionalization of the provision of humanitarian aid. |
(2) The actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative shall respond to the need of local communities and hosting organisations and should contribute to the professionalization of the provision of humanitarian aid. |
|
(3) The safety and security of volunteers shall be a priority. |
(3) The safety and security of volunteers shall be a priority. |
|
(4) The EU Aid Volunteers shall promote common activities and participation of volunteers from different countries and foster joint projects and transnational partnerships between implementing organisations as referred to in Article 10. |
(4) The EU Aid Volunteers Initiative shall promote common activities and participation of volunteers from different countries and foster joint projects and transnational partnerships between implementing organisations as referred to in Article 10. |
Amendment 27 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. The actions of the EU Aid Volunteers shall respond to the need of local communities and hosting organisations and should contribute to the professionalization of the provision of humanitarian aid. |
2. The actions of the EU Aid Volunteers shall respond to the need of local communities and hosting organisations and should contribute to the professionalization of the provision of humanitarian aid. Special attention shall be given to the cooperation of the volunteers with women in third countries, taking into consideration women's multi-dimensional role in disaster management as referred to also in the outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development entitled 'The future we want', annexed to resolution 66/288 of the UN General Assembly of 27 July 2012. |
Amendment 28 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
4a. A forum for consultation and dialogue, bringing together representatives of the Commission, Member States and the sending and hosting organisations, shall be established to pursue the objectives of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative. |
Amendment 29 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(a) ‘volunteer’ means a person who chooses, out of free will and motivation and without a primary concern for financial gain, to engage in activities that benefit the community, him or herself, and society at large. |
(a) ‘volunteer’ means a person who chooses, out of free will and motivation and without a primary concern for financial gain, to engage in activities that benefit the community and society at large and possibly also him or herself. |
Amendment 30 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph b | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(b) 'candidate volunteer' means a person eligible in the sense of Article 11(1) applying for participation in the activities of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
(b) 'candidate volunteer' means a person eligible in the sense of Article 11(1) applying for participation in the activities of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative. |
Amendment 31 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(c) an 'EU Aid Volunteer' means a candidate volunteer that has been selected, trained, assessed as eligible and registered as available for deployment in humanitarian aid operations in third countries. |
(c) an 'EU Aid Volunteer' means a candidate volunteer that has been selected, adequately trained in accordance with the specific standards and reference criteria , assessed as eligible and registered as available for deployment in humanitarian aid operations in third countries. |
Amendment 32 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(d) 'humanitarian aid' means activities and operations intended to provide needs-based emergency assistance aimed at preserving life, preventing and alleviating human suffering and maintaining human dignity in the face of man-made crises or natural disasters. It encompasses assistance, relief and protection operations in humanitarian crises or their immediate aftermath, supporting measures to ensure access to people in need and to facilitate the free flow of assistance, as well as actions aimed at reinforcing disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction, and contributing towards strengthening resilience and capacity to cope with, and recover from, crises. |
(d) 'humanitarian aid' means activities and operations, in accordance with the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid, intended to provide needs-based emergency assistance aimed at preserving life, preventing and alleviating human suffering and maintaining human dignity in the face of man-made crises or natural disasters. It encompasses assistance, relief and protection operations in humanitarian crises or their immediate aftermath, supporting measures to ensure access to people in need and to facilitate the free flow of assistance, as well as actions aimed at reinforcing disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction, and contributing towards strengthening resilience and capacity to cope with, and recover from, crises. |
Amendment 33 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 – paragraphs 1 to 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. In implementing the Regulation, coherence shall be ensured with other areas of Union's external action and with other relevant Union policies. Particular attention shall be given to ensure smooth transition between relief, rehabilitation and development. |
1. In implementing this Regulation, coordination, coherence and complementarity shall be ensured with other areas of the Union's external action and with other relevant Union policies, particularly humanitarian aid policy, development cooperation policy and the Union's Civil Protection Mechanism, in order, in particular, to ensure the added value of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative. Particular attention shall be given to ensure a smooth transition between relief, rehabilitation and development. |
|
2. The Commission and the Member States shall cooperate to improve the consistency and coherence between relevant national volunteering schemes and the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
2. The Commission and the Member states shall cooperate to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, consistency and coherence between relevant national volunteering schemes and the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative in order to ensure higher cost efficiency. The Commission shall make use of existing European networks, where relevant. |
|
3. The Union shall foster cooperation with relevant international organisation, in particular the United Nations, and other humanitarian aid partners in implementation of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
3. The Union shall foster cooperation with relevant international organisations, in particular the United Nations, and other humanitarian aid partners and stakeholders in the region in implementation of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative. |
Amendment 34 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The EU Aid Volunteers shall pursue the following operational objectives: |
1. The EU Aid Volunteers Initiative shall pursue the following operational objectives: |
Amendment 35 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(a) Increase in and improvement of the capacity of the Union to provide humanitarian aid |
(a) Increase in and improvement of the capacity of the Union to provide humanitarian aid |
|
Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
|
– the number of EU Aid Volunteers deployed or ready for deployment; |
– the number of EU Aid Volunteers deployed or ready for deployment with the required qualifications; |
|
– the number of people reached by humanitarian aid provided by the Union. |
– the number of people reached by humanitarian aid and efficiency assessment of the humanitarian aid provided by the Union through EU Aid Volunteers. |
|
|
– the degree of satisfaction of the EU Aid Volunteers deployed, of the sending and hosting organisations and of communities in the third countries participating in or receiving that aid, with regard to the effective humanitarian contribution of the volunteers on the ground. |
Amendment 36 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(b) Improvement of the skills and competences of volunteers in the field of humanitarian aid and the conditions under which they are working |
(b) Improvement of the skills, knowledge level and competences of volunteers in the field of humanitarian aid, as well as the statute and the conditions under which they are working. |
|
Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
|
– the number of volunteers trained and the quality of the training on the basis of the reviews and level of satisfaction; |
– the quality of the training of volunteers on the basis of the reviews and level of satisfaction; |
|
– the number of certified sending organisations applying the standards for deployment and management of EU Aid Volunteers. |
– the number of certified sending organisations applying the standards for deployment and management of EU Aid Volunteers; |
|
|
– the degree of satisfaction of the volunteers trained, of the sending and hosting organisations and of the communities in the third countries participating in or receiving that aid, with regard to the quality of the training, level of knowledge, competences, statute and working conditions of the volunteers; |
|
|
– changes in working conditions for volunteers. |
Amendment 37 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(c) Building the capacity of hosting organisations and foster volunteering in third countries |
(c) Building the capacity of hosting organisations and foster volunteering in third countries |
|
Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
|
– the number and type of capacity building actions; |
– the number and type of capacity building actions in third countries; |
|
– the number of third country staff and volunteers participating in the capacity building actions. |
– the number of third country staff and volunteers participating in the capacity building actions; |
|
|
– the degree of satisfaction of staff of the hosting organisations and volunteers from third countries participating in capacity building actions, with regard to the quality of the actions carried out. |
Amendment 38 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point d | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(d) To promote the visibility of the Union's humanitarian aid values |
(d) To promote the visibility of the Union's humanitarian aid values |
|
Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
|
– the EU Aid Volunteers' level of knowledge about EU humanitarian aid; |
– The number and type of information, communication and awareness-raising actions before, during and after the deployment of the volunteers; |
|
– The level of awareness about the Humanitarian Voluntary Corps among the targeted population in the Union, the participating and benefitting third country communities and other humanitarian actors. |
– The level of awareness about the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative among the targeted population in the Union, the participating and benefitting third country communities and other humanitarian actors. |
Amendment 39 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – introductory part | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(e) Enhancement of coherence and consistency of volunteering across Member States in order to improve opportunities for Union citizens to participate in humanitarian aid activities and operations. Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
(e) Enhancement of coherence, consistency and reliability of volunteering across Member States in order to improve opportunities for Union citizens to participate in humanitarian aid activities and operations. Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
Amendment 40 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – indent 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
– the number of certified sending organisations; |
– qualitative and quantitative assessment of certified sending organisations (such as their number, structure and cooperation mechanisms); |
Amendment 41 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. The indicators referred to under paragraph 1(a) to (e) shall be used for monitoring, evaluation and review of performance as appropriate. They are indicative and may be amended in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 25 in order to take into account experience from the progress measurement. |
2. The indicators referred to under paragraph 1(a) to (e) shall be used for monitoring, evaluation and review of performance as appropriate. They are indicative and may be amended in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 25 in order to take into account experience from the progress measurement. The Commission shall draw up qualitative indicators relating to effectiveness, the response to needs identified on the ground, the sustainability of the actions carried out and the added value provided by the EU Aid Volunteers in increasing the Union’s capacity to respond to humanitarian crises as defined in Article 3. |
Amendment 42 Proposal for a regulation Chapter II – title | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
Actions of the EU Aid Volunteers |
Actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative |
Amendment 43 Proposal for a regulation Article 8 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
Article 8 |
Article 8 |
|
Actions of the EU Aid Volunteers |
Actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative |
|
The EU Aid Volunteers shall pursue the objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 7 through the following types of actions: |
The EU Aid Volunteers Initiative shall pursue the objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 7 through the following types of actions: |
|
– Development and maintenance of standards regarding candidate and EU Aid Volunteers; |
– Development and maintenance of standards regarding candidate and EU Aid Volunteers; |
|
– Development and maintenance of a certification mechanism for sending and hosting organisations; |
– Development and maintenance of a certification mechanism for sending and hosting organisations; |
|
– Identification and selection of candidate volunteers; |
– Identification and selection of candidate volunteers; |
|
– Establishment of a training programme and support for training and apprenticeship placements; |
– Establishment of a training programme and support for training and apprenticeship placements in partnership with specialised organisations with practical experience in the field; |
|
– Establishment, maintenance and updating of a Register of EU Aid Volunteers; |
– Establishment, maintenance and updating of a Register of EU Aid Volunteers; |
|
– Deployment of EU Aid Volunteers in third countries for humanitarian aid activities and operations; |
– Deployment of EU Aid Volunteers in third countries for humanitarian aid activities and operations; |
|
– Capacity building of hosting organisations; |
– Capacity building of hosting organisations; |
|
|
– Recognition and acknowledgement of the experience of volunteers who have successfully participated in the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative; |
|
– Establishment and management of an EU Aid Volunteers' Network; |
– Establishment and management of an EU Aid Volunteers' Network and encouraging the exchange of good practices both during and after the volunteering period; |
|
– Communication, awareness raising and visibility; |
– Communication, awareness raising and visibility; |
|
– Ancillary activity that furthers the accountability, transparency and effectiveness of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
– Ancillary activity that furthers the accountability, transparency and effectiveness of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative. |
Amendment 44 Proposal for a regulation Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(a) the identification, selection and preparation of candidate volunteers for deployment in humanitarian aid operations; |
(a) the identification, selection and preparation of candidate volunteers for deployment in humanitarian aid operations. |
|
|
Candidate volunteers shall be identified and selected on the basis of specific skills and knowledge in response to needs identified in the countries of deployment which provide added value to the host organisations and local communities. |
|
|
Identification and selection shall be so performed as to ensure diversity of profiles and skills among the young people and experts, while always responding to practical needs identified on the ground; |
Amendment 45 Proposal for a regulation Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(b) management and deployment of EU Aid Volunteers in third countries. |
(b) management and deployment of EU Aid Volunteers in third countries. |
|
|
The context of the deployment shall take into account the skills and language knowledge of EU Aid Volunteers. |
Amendment 46 Proposal for a regulation Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
1a. The standards referred to in paragraph 1 shall be established in the light of the existing standards and programmes, in line with the objective set out in Article 3. |
Amendment 47 Proposal for a regulation Article 9 – paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. These standards shall ensure duty of care and cover notably the responsibilities of the sending and hosting organisations, minimum requirements on the coverage of subsistence, accommodation and other relevant expenses, insurance coverage, security procedures and other relevant elements. |
2. These standards shall ensure duty of care and cover notably the responsibilities of the sending and hosting organisations, the supervision, ongoing training and management of the volunteers, minimum requirements on the coverage of subsistence, accommodation and other relevant expenses, insurance coverage, security procedures and other relevant elements. |
Amendment 48 Proposal for a regulation Article 10 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall establish a certification mechanism ensuring that sending organisations comply with the standards referred to in Article 9 and a differentiated certification mechanism for hosting organisations. |
1. The Commission shall establish a certification mechanism developed in close cooperation with humanitarian partners, ensuring that sending organisations comply with the standards referred to in Article 9 and a differentiated certification mechanism for hosting organisations. This mechanism shall be inclusive and non-discriminatory as regards any type of eligible organisation. |
Amendment 49 Proposal for a regulation Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
1a. In designing the certification scheme, the Commission shall seek synergies with the Commission’s partnership instruments in the humanitarian field and existing humanitarian standards, with the aim of administrative simplification. |
Amendment 50 Proposal for a regulation Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(b) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; |
(b) The International Federation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; |
Amendment 51 Proposal for a regulation Article 10 – paragraph 4 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
4. Without prejudice to the requirements referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3, sending and hosting organisations may implement actions of the EU Aid Volunteers in association with for-profit private organisations. |
4. Without prejudice to the requirements referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3, sending and hosting organisations may implement actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative in association with for-profit private organisations. |
Amendment 52 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall establish a training programme in order to prepare the candidate volunteers for undertaking humanitarian activities and for deployment in humanitarian aid operations. |
1. On the basis of existing standards and in partnership with specialised institutions, the Commission shall establish a training programme in order to prepare the candidate volunteers for undertaking humanitarian activities and for deployment in humanitarian aid operations. |
Amendment 53 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. Candidate volunteers who have been identified and selected in accordance with Article 11 shall be eligible to participate in the training programme. The individual scope and content of the training each candidate volunteer needs to accomplish shall be determined on the basis of his or her needs taking into account prior experience. |
2. Candidate volunteers who have been identified and selected in accordance with Article 11 shall be eligible to participate in the Union training programme organised by specialised organisations. The individual scope and content of the training each candidate volunteer needs to accomplish shall be determined on the basis of his or her needs taking into account prior experience. |
Amendment 54 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 4 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
4. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, candidate volunteers who have not benefited from an apprenticeship placement may be given, where appropriate, additional pre-deployment preparation by certified sending organisations. This preparation and the apprenticeship placement shall comply with the standards for preparation referred to in Article 9(1)(a). |
4. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, candidate volunteers who have not benefited from an apprenticeship placement may be given, where appropriate, additional pre-deployment preparation by certified sending organisations. This preparation and the apprenticeship placement shall comply with the standards for preparation referred to in Article 9(1)(a). EU Aid Volunteers may receive additional training specifically tailored to the needs and special circumstances of the place of deployment. |
Amendment 55 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 5 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
5. The training programme shall include an assessment of the candidate volunteers' readiness to be deployed in humanitarian aid operations. |
5. The training programme shall include an assessment of the candidate volunteers' readiness to be deployed in humanitarian aid operations, and to meet the local needs. That assessment shall be performed in cooperation with the sending organisations. |
Amendment 56 Proposal for a decision Article 13 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. Candidate volunteers who have successfully passed the assessment referred to in Article 12(5) shall be considered EU Aid Volunteers. They can be as such included in the Register of EU Aid Volunteers (hereinafter referred to as 'the Register') and shall be eligible for deployment. |
1. Candidate volunteers who have successfully passed the assessment referred to in Article 12(5) shall be considered EU Aid Volunteers. They can be as such included in the Register of EU Aid Volunteers (hereinafter referred to as 'the Register') and shall be eligible for deployment for a period of no more than two years, after which they shall be reassessed. |
Amendment 57 Proposal for a regulation Article 14 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. EU Aid Volunteers included in the Register may be deployed in humanitarian aid activities and operations as defined in Article 5(d): |
1. EU Aid Volunteers included in the Register may be deployed in humanitarian aid activities and operations, except in the context of armed conflicts and internal disturbances, as defined in Article 5(d): |
Amendment 58 Proposal for a regulation Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
1a. Deployments shall meet the real needs expressed at local level by the hosting organisations. The role of the volunteers shall be clearly defined. |
Amendment 59 Proposal for a regulation Article 14 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. The specific terms of deployment of volunteers shall be set-out in a contract between the sending organisations and the volunteer, including the duration and location of deployment and the tasks of the volunteer. |
3. The specific terms of deployment of volunteers shall be set-out in a contract between the sending organisations and the volunteer, including inter alia the duration and location of deployment and the tasks of the volunteer. The contract shall either specify the rights and obligations of the volunteer or indicate where the rights and obligations are documented. |
Amendment 60 Proposal for a regulation Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
4a. Every volunteer shall have a designated mentor from the hosting organisation to supervise and support the volunteer during deployment. |
Amendment 61 Proposal for a regulation Article 14 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
Article 14a |
|
|
Recognition and acknowledgement of the experience of volunteers |
|
|
1. The Commission shall support actions to acknowledge the experience and the commitment of volunteers with a view to recognition of their experience and acknowledgement in a professional environment and in society of what they have attained. The experience of volunteers shall be certified after successful deployment on the ground. |
|
|
2. The Register may differentiate among EU Aid Volunteers in accordance with their previous experience of humanitarian action. |
Amendment 62 Proposal for a regulation Article 16 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall establish and manage a EU Aid Volunteers' Network (hereinafter referred to as 'the Network'). |
1. The Commission shall establish and manage an EU Aid Volunteers' Network (hereinafter referred to as 'the Network'). |
|
2. The Network shall facilitate interaction among candidate volunteers and EU Aid Volunteers who are participating or have participated in the initiative; between these volunteers and other beneficiaries of the EU Aid Volunteers, notably by those referred to in Article 15; and among other relevant actors. It shall provide opportunities for virtual interaction, notably through knowledge sharing and dissemination of information on the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative; and shall support other appropriate activities such as seminars and workshops. |
2. The Network shall facilitate interaction among candidate volunteers and EU Aid Volunteers who are participating or have participated in the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative; between these volunteers and other beneficiaries of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative, notably by those referred to in Article 15; and among other relevant actors. It shall provide opportunities for virtual interaction, notably through knowledge sharing and dissemination of information on the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative; and shall support other appropriate activities such as seminars and workshops. |
|
3. The Network shall also provide and promote opportunities for on-line volunteering to complement and reinforce the activities of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
3. The Network shall also provide and promote opportunities for on-line volunteering to complement and reinforce the activities of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative. |
Amendment 63 Proposal for a regulation Article 17 – paragraphs 1 and 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall support public information, communication and awareness raising actions to promote the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative and to encourage volunteering in humanitarian aid within the Union and in the third countries benefitting from its actions. |
1. The Commission shall support public information, communication and awareness raising actions to promote the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative and to encourage volunteering in humanitarian aid within the Union and in the third countries benefitting from its actions. Such actions shall support existing initiatives in the Member States. |
|
2. The Commission shall develop an information and communication action plan on the objectives, actions and results of the EU Aid Volunteers which shall define communication and dissemination activities towards the public, in particular the European citizens and towards future potential candidate volunteers and beneficiaries of the EU Aid Volunteers' actions. All beneficiaries of the EU Aid Volunteers, notably sending and hosting organisations, shall implement this action plan. |
2. The Commission shall develop an information and communication action plan on the objectives, actions and results of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative, which shall define communication and dissemination activities towards the public, in particular the European citizens and towards future potential candidate volunteers and beneficiaries of the EU Aid Volunteers' actions. All beneficiaries of the EU Aid Volunteers, notably sending and hosting organisations, shall implement this action plan. |
Amendment 64 Proposal for a regulation Article 17 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall support public information, communication and awareness raising actions to promote the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative and to encourage volunteering in humanitarian aid within the Union and in the third countries benefitting from its actions. |
1. The Commission shall support public information, communication and awareness raising actions to promote the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative and to encourage volunteering in humanitarian aid within the Union and in the third countries benefitting from its actions. |
|
2. The Commission shall develop an information and communication action plan on the objectives, actions and results of the EU Aid Volunteers which shall define communication and dissemination activities towards the public, in particular the European citizens and towards future potential candidate volunteers and beneficiaries of the EU Aid Volunteers' actions. All beneficiaries of the EU Aid Volunteers, notably sending and hosting organisations, shall implement this action plan. |
2. The Commission shall develop an information and communication action plan on the objectives, actions and results of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative which shall define communication and dissemination activities towards the public, in particular the European citizens and towards future potential candidate volunteers and beneficiaries of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative. All beneficiaries of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative, notably sending and hosting organisations, shall implement this action plan. |
|
3. EU Aid Volunteers shall, where necessary with the assistance and direction of the sending and hosting organisations, participate in appropriate information, communication and awareness raising activities before, during and after deployment to promote the EU Aid Volunteers and their engagement therein. The Commission shall define those activities, which shall not impose disproportionate obligations on the volunteers. |
3. EU Aid Volunteers shall, with the assistance and direction of the sending and hosting organisations, participate in appropriate information, communication and awareness raising activities before, during and after deployment to promote the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative and their engagement therein. The Commission shall define those activities, which shall not impose disproportionate obligations on the volunteers. |
Amendment 65 Proposal for a regulation Chapter III – title | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
Financial provisions |
Programming and allocation of funds |
Amendment 66 Proposal for a regulation Article 18 – paragraphs 1 and 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
18. Eligible actions |
18. Eligible actions |
|
1. The actions referred to in Article 8 shall be eligible for financial assistance, including the measures necessary for their implementation as well as measures aimed at strengthening the coordination between the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative and other relevant schemes at national and international level. |
1. The actions referred to in Article 8 shall be eligible for financial assistance, including the measures necessary for their implementation as well as measures aimed at strengthening the coordination between the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative and other relevant schemes at national and international level. |
|
2. The financial allocation referred to in paragraph 1 may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative and the achievement of its objectives. |
2. The financial allocation referred to in paragraph 1 may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative and the achievement of its objectives. |
Amendment 67 Proposal for a regulation Article 18 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
Article 18a |
|
|
Multiannual work programmes |
|
|
1. Without prejudice to the powers of the budgetary authority, the Commission shall adopt two consecutive multiannual indicative work programmes jointly covering the period 2014-2020, in accordance with the general principles of this Regulation. They shall constitute the basis for annual programming in the framework of this Regulation. |
|
|
2. The Union documents referred to in paragraph 1 shall be considered strategic programming documents. The Commission shall adopt those Union documents by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 25. |
|
|
3. The multiannual work programmes shall define the objectives pursued, the priorities, the expected results, the method of implementation, the financial allocations in broad terms and, for grants, the priorities, the essential evaluation criteria and the maximum rate of co-financing. |
|
|
4. The Commission shall conduct an evaluation of the results obtained during the period covered by the first multiannual work programme and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of this Regulation in accordance with Article 26. The Commission shall fully consider the conclusions of that evaluation when preparing the second multiannual work programme and, if appropriate, adopt a legislative proposal to amend this Regulation. |
Amendment 68 Proposal for a regulation Article 18 b (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
Article 18b |
|
|
Annual work programmes |
|
|
1. Without prejudice to the powers of the budgetary authority, the Commission shall adopt annual indicative work programmes, which are based on and in line with the multiannual work programme as provided for in Article 18a, and in accordance with the general principles of this Regulation. |
|
|
2. The Union documents referred to in paragraph 1 shall be adopted by means of implementing acts. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 24(2). |
|
|
3. The annual work programmes shall contain the description of the actions to be financed, an indication of the amount allocated to each action and the indicative implementation timetable. |
Amendment 69 Proposal for a regulation Article 19 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
Financial assistance under this Regulation may be awarded to natural persons and legal persons, whether governed by private or public law, which shall then be deemed financial beneficiaries in the sense of the Financial Regulation XX/2012. |
Financial assistance under this Regulation may be awarded to natural persons and legal persons, whether governed by private or public law, which shall then be deemed financial beneficiaries in the sense of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union1. |
|
|
____________ |
|
|
1 OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1. |
Amendment 70 Proposal for a regulation Article 20 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
Article 20 |
Article 20 |
|
Budgetary resources |
Financial reference amount |
|
The financial reference amount for the implementation of this Regulation for the period 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR 239.100.000 at current prices. |
The financial reference amount for the implementation of this Regulation for the period 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR [...] at current prices. |
|
|
Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority without prejudice to the provisions of the regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 and the Interinstitutional Agreement xxx/201z between the European Parliament, Council and the Commission on cooperation in budgetary matters and sound financial management. |
|
If necessary, appropriations could be entered in the budget beyond 2020 to cover similar expenses, in order to enable the management of actions not yet completed by 31 December 2020. |
If necessary, payment appropriations could be entered in the budget beyond 2020 to cover similar expenses, in order to enable the payment management of actions not yet completed by 31 December 2020. |
Amendment 71 Proposal for a regulation Article 21 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall implement the Union's financial assistance in accordance with the Financial Regulation XX/2012 applicable to the budget of the Union. |
1. The Commission shall implement the Union's financial assistance in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union. |
Amendment 72 Proposal for a regulation Article 21 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. In order to implement this Regulation, the Commission shall adopt an annual work programme of the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2). It shall set out the objectives pursued, the expected results, the method of implementation and their total amount. It shall also contain the description of actions to be financed, an indication of the amount allocated to each action and an indicative implementation timetable. For grants, they shall include the priorities, the essential evaluation criteria and the maximum rate of co-financing. |
deleted |
Amendment 73 Proposal for a regulation Article 21 – paragraph 4 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
4. The Commission may consider the added-value and management advantages of creating an EU Trust Fund. |
4. The Commission may consider the added-value and management advantages of creating an EU Trust Fund, in respect of the relevant provisions, and in particular Article 187 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union. |
|
|
In the event that an EU Trust Fund is created by the Commission, the adoption of the multiannual or annual working programme of that trust fund shall be subject to the procedure referred to in Article 25. |
|
|
A EU Trust Fund for the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative may only be created if a thorough analysis on the of use of EU Trust Funds for the intended actions proves the added value of such a trust fund. |
Amendment 74 Proposal for a regulation Article 24 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the committee established under Article 17 (1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 concerning humanitarian aid. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. |
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the committee established under Article 17 (1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 concerning humanitarian aid. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. An observer from the European Parliament shall take part in the committee's proceedings. |
Amendment 75 Proposal for a regulation Article 25 – paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 7(2) and 9 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of 7 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. |
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 7(2), Articles 9 and 18a and Article 21(4) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of 7 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. |
Amendment 76 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. Sending organisations deploying volunteers in operations outside the Union shall be responsible for the monitoring of their activities and shall submit to the Commission monitoring reports on a regular basis. |
3. Sending organisations deploying volunteers in operations outside the Union shall be responsible for the monitoring of their activities and shall submit to the Commission monitoring reports on a regular basis safeguarding all rights of individual volunteers regarding personal data protection. |
Amendment 77 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 5 – point a | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(a) an interim evaluation report on the results obtained and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of this Regulation during the first three years of its implementation no later than 31 December 2017; |
(a) an interim evaluation report on the results obtained and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of this Regulation, including on the impact of EU Aid Volunteers in the humanitarian aid sector and the cost-effectiveness of the programme, during the first three years of its implementation no later than 30 June 2017; |
Amendment 78 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 1 a and 1 b (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. |
|
|
It shall apply from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020. |
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
1. Background and general remarks
On 19 September 2012, the Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps - EU Aid Volunteers, as provided for by Article 214(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Its objective is to express the Union's humanitarian values and solidarity with people in need, through the promotion of an effective and visible European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, which contributes to strengthening the Union's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises and to building the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities in third countries.
The proposal builds on the 2010 Communication ‘How to express EU citizens’ solidarity through volunteering: First reflections on a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps’.
Your rapporteur welcomes the Commission’s approach, in that it has made this initiative complementary to existing structures and organisations and has avoided duplication of effort.
It may also be welcomed that the actions of the Corps are to be guided by humanitarian principles (the European Humanitarian Aid Consensus) and that deployment is to be based on needs identified on the ground.
The corps will fill the gaps which currently exist in humanitarian volunteer work, and will also help to cultivate public awareness and the idea of European citizenship.
Solidarity is a fundamental value of the Union, and volunteering is a practical and visible expression of that solidarity. The Union has to ensure adequate humanitarian aid in the face of the increased number and magnitude of humanitarian crises. Volunteers can enhance the EU’s humanitarian aid operations.
Some humanitarian partners have expressed doubts about the initiative, and more specifically about the genuine added value which the corps will bring to the EU’s humanitarian action and about its financing.
Your rapporteur supports the initiative as a whole, and endorses the principles and objectives indicated by the Commission in its proposal. However, certain provisions of the proposal for a regulation remain very vague and should be supplemented and clarified. Your rapporteur therefore suggests several amendments, particularly to ensure that the proposal possesses genuine added value.
In preparing the draft report, account has been taken of the lessons learned from the various pilot projects carried out in the past or still under way which are linked to the proposal.
2. Main aspects of the draft report
(a) Scope, objectives and general principles:
EU aid volunteers will be deployed in humanitarian aid operations in third countries in response to man-made crises or natural disasters.
Your rapporteur proposes that contexts in which armed conflicts or internal disturbances are taking place should be explicitly excluded, to ensure the safety and security of the volunteers.
In disaster situations, the volunteers should be involved in particular – by means of their contribution to enhancing the Union's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises – in preparing for disasters, reducing risks of disasters, and enhancing the link between relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD). LRRD is central to the European Parliament’s thinking about the subject, particularly in the context of the negotiations on the Financing Instrument for Development Cooperation.
Your rapporteur recalls that the actions of the EU aid volunteers should be guided by the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid.
In order to pursue the objectives of the initiative, a forum for consultation and dialogue, bringing together representatives of the Commission, Member States and the sending and hosting organisations, should be established when the programme is launched.
(b) Added value, humanitarian needs and impact:
The number, scope and complexity of humanitarian crises around the world have increased significantly. Humanitarian actors are therefore increasingly being called upon to provide an effective response. The needs are increasing, but financing is not keeping pace at this time of financial crises. EU aid volunteers should provide genuine added value to the EU’s humanitarian action, to the host organisations and to local communities, and the deployment of the volunteers should be based on needs identified on the ground.
A series of proposed amendments are intended to place greater emphasis on these points, which are already covered in the Commission proposal. The EU Aid Volunteers Initiative should be an entirely humanitarian instrument supplementing and enhancing the EU’s humanitarian action with the best possible use of the funding provided.
Deployments must meet the real needs expressed at local level by the hosting organisations. The role of the volunteers must be clearly defined.
The Commission proposes an interim evaluation report. It is intended to assess the impact of EU aid volunteers in the field of humanitarian aid and the cost-effectiveness of the programme.
(c) Operational objectives and evaluation indicators:
The Commission proposes operational objectives. Progress towards their achievement is to be assessed on the basis of indicators.
The proposed indicators are of an indicative nature and may be altered using the delegated acts procedure.
The proposed indicators are purely quantitative, which is not acceptable to your rapporteur. Amendments suggest inserting at least one qualitative indicator for each operational objective, so that they can be rooted in the legislative text. For example, the effective humanitarian contribution made by volunteers and the quality of the actions carried out, in particular, must be evaluated.
The Commission – acting under the delegate acts procedure – should draw up qualitative indicators relating to effectiveness, the response to needs identified on the ground and the added value provided by the volunteers.
(d) Administrative burden and sending organisations:
The Commission establishes a certification scheme for sending organisations.
The humanitarian aid of DG ECHO is implemented by numerous humanitarian partners, particularly NGOs on the basis of partnership framework contracts. Small NGOs face heavy administrative burdens in their relations with the Commission.
Your rapporteur considers that the Commission should devise a simple approach to the certification scheme, seeking synergies, in particular, with the partnership instruments and existing humanitarian standards.
(e) Standards relating to volunteers:
The Commission is to adopt standards relating to the identification, selection, training and deployment of volunteers. It is important that these standards should be formulated in the light of existing standards and programmes, in a spirit of coherence and of capitalisation on experiences and practices.
Your rapporteur considers that candidate volunteers should be identified and selected on the basis of specific skills and know-how. Identification and selection should be so performed as to ensure diversity of profiles and skills among the young people and experts, in response to specific needs.
The training programme drawn up by the Commission must be based on existing standards and prepared in partnership with specialised institutions. Your rapporteur proposes that the European training programme drawn up in this way should be carried out in close cooperation with these same specialised organisations.
In order to involve sending organisations in training, they should cooperate in assessing the degree of readiness of candidate volunteers.
Your rapporteur also proposes that the context of deployment should take into account the skills and language knowledge of volunteers.
(f) Acknowledgement of volunteers’ experience and recognition of their commitment:
Your rapporteur proposes a series of amendments concerning this point.
Firstly, after their first deployment, EU aid volunteers may be recognised as certified EU aid volunteers. These certified volunteers may be entered in the register provided for and administered by the Commission.
In addition, the Commission will support actions to acknowledge the experience and recognise the commitment of volunteers with a view to acknowledging attainments which are recognised in professional circles.
(g) Cooperation with other countries:
Your rapporteur proposes deleting the clause permitting citizens and organisations from partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy to participate in the activities of the EU aid volunteers.
Although the Commission proposes that such cooperation should be funded by the countries concerned, your rapporteur considers the programme to be a European one, which advances the idea of European citizenship.
3. Horizontal elements relating to the financing instruments for EU external action (2014-2020): committee procedure and exercise of powers delegated to the Commission
For the purpose of implementing certain provisions in the proposal for a regulation, the Commission proposes using the committee procedure or the delegated acts procedure, as the case may be.
Your rapporteur considers that, in general, the Commission has respected the prerogatives and powers assigned to the European Parliament by the Lisbon Treaty, with reference to the above procedures.
However, your rapporteur proposes establishing a general programming framework different from that proposed by the Commission, which will be consistent with the prerogatives of Parliament and with its proposals for the new Financing Instrument for Development Cooperation (2014-2020).
Two consecutive multiannual work programmes will be adopted by means of delegated acts. These documents will in particular set out the objectives pursued, the expected results, the methods of implementation and the total amount.
Annual work programmes implementing the multiannual programmes will be adopted by means of the committee procedure and will contain non-essential elements such as a description of the actions and the amount allocated to each action.
In accordance with existing legislation, your rapporteur proposes inserting that the creation of an EU trust fund, the definition of its objectives and its management and implementation should be performed using the delegated acts procedure.
OPINION of the Committee on Budgets (5.3.2013)
for the Committee on Development
on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps
(COM(2012)0514 – C7‑0303/2012 – 2012/0245(COD))
Rapporteur: María Muñiz De Urquiza
SHORT JUSTIFICATION
On 19 September 2012 the Commission presented its proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (EVHAC). This is the first initiative to organise a pan-European volunteers mechanism and comes as a response to the gaps identified in volunteering activity in the EU, such as the lack of structured approach on Union level, poor visibility of EU humanitarian actions, the lack of unified mechanism of selection of volunteers and the lack of sufficiently trained volunteers for humanitarian aid.
The aim of the Commission proposal is to strengthen the Union's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises and to develop a comprehensive framework of standards and procedures to ensure a network of humanitarian aid volunteers, who would be sufficiently trained, qualified and whose security will be placed at the highest level.
The suggested financial reference amount is EUR 210 million in constant prices for the 2014 - 2020 Multiannual Financial Framework.
Although the Commission proposal presents a good starting basis for the establishment of the EVHAC, your Rapporteur would like to improve it further by aligning it more closely to the new financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (Regulation No. 966/2012), especially relatively to the powers of the Commission to set up and manage an EU Trust Fund in the framework of humanitarian aid. Although not integrated in the budget, those trust funds should be managed in accordance with the financial regulation to the extent necessary for the security and transparency of the use of Union funds. For that purpose, the Commission should chair the governing board established for each trust fund to ensure the representation of donors and to decide upon the use of the funds. The relevant provisions for trust funds are covered by Article 187 of the new Financial Regulation and Article 259 of the delegated regulation on the rules of its application.
Your rapporteur also insists on coordination and complementarity of activities on Union and national levels, and cooperation with other international and local donors.
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Budgets calls on the Committee on Development, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:
Amendment 1 Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 1a (new) | |
|
Draft legislative resolution |
Amendment |
|
|
1a. Points out that the financial envelope specified in the legislative proposal constitutes only an indication to the legislative authority and that it cannot be fixed until agreement is reached on the proposal for a regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020; |
Amendment 2 Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 1b (new) | |
|
Draft legislative resolution |
Amendment |
|
|
1b. Recalls its resolution of 8 June 2011 on "Investing in the future: a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe"1; reiterates that sufficient additional resources are needed in the next MFF in order to enable the Union to fulfil its existing policy priorities and the new tasks provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon, as well as to respond to unforeseen events; points out that even with an increase in the level of resources for the next MFF by at least 5% compared to the 2013 level only a limited contribution can be made to the achievement of the Union's agreed objectives and commitments and the principle of Union solidarity; challenges the Council, if it does not share this approach, to clearly identify which of its political priorities or projects could be dropped altogether, despite their proven European added value; |
|
|
_______________ |
|
|
1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0266. |
Amendment 3 Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 1c (new) | |
|
Draft legislative resolution |
Amendment |
|
|
1c. Considers that separate funding and budgetary allocations should be guaranteed for this initiative whilst remaining mutually complementary with the other instruments for the Union's external policies. |
Amendment 4 Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 1 d (new) | |
|
Draft legislative resolution |
Amendment |
|
|
1d. Highlights that the EU Aid Volunteers' Initiative contributes to the development of the competences and employability of young people, hence indirectly supports the EU efforts to reduce youth unemployment ; therefore underlines the importance of ensuring adequate funding for this initiative. |
Amendment 5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(4) The Union's humanitarian aid is delivered in situations where other instruments related to development cooperation, crisis management and civil protection operate. The EU Aid Volunteers should work in a coherent and complementarity manner with relevant policies and instruments in order to make the most effective use of these instruments while systematically promoting humanitarian principles and long-term development goals. Synergies of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers should be sought with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the Emergency Response Centre established by Decision XX/XXXX and with the EEAS and the EU Delegations in order to coordinate the Union's response to humanitarian crises in third countries. |
(4) The Union's humanitarian aid is delivered in situations where other instruments related to development cooperation, crisis management and civil protection operate. The EU Aid Volunteers should work in a coherent and complementarity manner with relevant policies and instruments in order to make the most effective use of these instruments and avoid overlaps, while systematically promoting humanitarian principles and long-term development goals .Synergies of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers should be sought in particular with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the Emergency Response Centre established by Decision XX/XXXX, with the EEAS, the EU Delegations, regional and local actors and international organisations in order to coordinate the Union's response to humanitarian crises in third countries. |
Amendment 6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 13 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
(13a) Improving implementation and quality of spending should constitute guiding principles for achieving the objectives of the instrument while ensuring optimal and transparent use of the financial resources. |
Amendment 7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 22 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
(22a) Separate funding and budgetary allocations should be guaranteed for this initiative whilst causing no reduction in the budget for humanitarian operations and remaining mutually complementary with the other instruments for the Union's external policies. |
Amendment 8 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. In implementing the Regulation, coherence shall be ensured with other areas of Union's external action and with other relevant Union policies. Particular attention shall be given to ensure smooth transition between relief, rehabilitation and development. |
1. In implementing the Regulation, coherence and complementarity shall be ensured with other areas of Union's external action and with other relevant Union policies. Particular attention shall be given to ensure smooth transition between relief, rehabilitation and development. |
Amendment 9 Proposal for a regulation Article 6– paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. The Commission and the Member States shall cooperate to improve the consistency and coherence between relevant national volunteering schemes and the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
2. The Commission and the Member States shall cooperate to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, consistency and coherence between relevant national volunteering schemes and the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
Amendment 10 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a – indent 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
– the number of EU Aid Volunteers deployed or ready for deployment; |
– the number of EU Aid Volunteers deployed or ready for deployment with the required qualifications; |
Amendment 11 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a – indent 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
-the number of people reached by humanitarian aid provided by the Union |
– the number of people reached by humanitarian aid and efficiency assessment of the humanitarian aid provided by the Union through EU Aid volunteers. |
Amendment 12 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
– the number of volunteers trained and the quality of the training on the basis of the reviews and level of satisfaction; |
– the number of volunteers that successfully completed the training and the assessment of the quality of the training on the basis of the reviews, level of satisfaction, including post-deployment reviews of the relevance of the training provided for volunteers operating on the field; |
Amendment 13 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c – indent 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
– the number of third country staff and volunteers participating in the capacity building actions. |
– the number of third country staff and volunteers participating in the capacity building actions, and when possible the continuity in the organisation after the end of training. |
Amendment 14 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – indent 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
– the number of certified sending organisations; |
– qualitative and quantitative assessment of certified sending organisations (such as their number, structure, cooperation mechanisms, etc); |
Amendment 15 Proposal for a regulation Article 10 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall establish a certification mechanism ensuring that sending organisations comply with the standards referred to in Article 9 and a differentiated certification mechanism for hosting organisations. |
1. The Commission shall establish a certification mechanism ensuring that sending organisations comply with the standards referred to in Article 9 and a differentiated certification mechanism for hosting organisations. This mechanism shall be inclusive and non-discriminatory to any kind of eligible organisation. |
Amendment 16 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall establish a training programme in order to prepare the candidate volunteers for undertaking humanitarian activities and for deployment in humanitarian aid operations. |
1. The Commission shall establish a training programme in order to prepare the candidate volunteers for undertaking humanitarian activities and for deployment in humanitarian aid operations. Proper funding for NGOs and other entities entitled to perform training of volunteers shall be ensured. |
Amendment 17 Proposal for a regulation Article 19 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
Financial assistance under this Regulation may be awarded to natural persons and legal persons, whether governed by private or public law, which shall then be deemed financial beneficiaries in the sense of the Financial Regulation XX/2012. |
Financial assistance under this Regulation may be awarded to natural persons and legal persons, whether governed by private or public law, which shall then be deemed financial beneficiaries in the sense of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union1. |
|
|
____________ |
|
|
1 OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1. |
Amendment 18 Proposal for a regulation Article 20 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
The financial reference amount for the implementation of this Regulation for the period 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR 239.100.000 at current prices. If necessary, appropriations could be entered in the budget beyond 2020 to cover similar expenses, in order to enable the management of actions not yet completed by 31 December 2020. |
The indicative financial reference amount as defined in point [17] of the Interinstitutional Agreement of xx/201z between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on cooperation in budgetary matters and sound financial management shall be EUR 239 100 000 at current prices. |
|
|
Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority without prejudice to the provisions of the regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 and the Interinstitutional Agreement xxx/201z between the European Parliament, Council and the Commission on cooperation in budgetary matters and sound financial management. |
|
|
If necessary, payment appropriations could be entered in the budget beyond 2020 to cover similar expenses, in order to enable the payment management of actions not yet completed by 31 December 2020, |
Amendment 19 Proposal for a regulation Article 21 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall implement the Union's financial assistance in accordance with the Financial Regulation XX/2012 applicable to the budget of the Union. |
1. The Commission shall implement the Union's financial assistance in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union. |
Amendment 20 Proposal for a regulation Article 21–paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. In order to implement this Regulation, the Commission shall adopt an annual work programme of the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2). It shall set out the objectives pursued, the expected results, the method of implementation and their total amount. It shall also contain the description of actions to be financed, an indication of the amount allocated to each action and an indicative implementation timetable. For grants, they shall include the priorities, the essential evaluation criteria and the maximum rate of co-financing. |
3. In order to implement this Regulation, the Commission shall adopt an annual work programme of the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 25. It shall set out the objectives pursued, the expected results, the method of implementation and their total amount. It shall also contain the description of actions to be financed and an indication of the amount allocated to each action. For grants, they shall include the priorities, the essential evaluation criteria and the maximum rate of co-financing. The indicative implementation timetable of the annual work programme shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24 (2). |
Amendment 21 Proposal for a regulation Article 21 – paragraph 4 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
4. The Commission may consider the added-value and management advantages of creating an EU Trust Fund. |
4. The Commission may consider the added-value and management advantages of creating an EU Trust Fund, in respect of the relevant provisions, and in particular Article 187 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union. |
|
|
In case a trust fund is created by the Commission, the adoption of the multiannual or annual working programme of this fund shall be subject to the procedure referred to in Article 25. |
|
|
A trust fund for EU Aid Volunteers can only be created if a thorough analysis on the of use of EU trust funds for the intended actions proves the added value of such a trust fund. |
PROCEDURE
|
Title |
Establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps EU Aid Volunteers |
||||
|
References |
COM(2012)0514 – C7-0303/2012 – 2012/0245(COD) |
||||
|
Committee responsible Date announced in plenary |
DEVE 22.10.2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
Opinion by Date announced in plenary |
BUDG 13.12.2012 |
||||
|
Rapporteur Date appointed |
María Muñiz De Urquiza 18.12.2012 |
||||
|
Date adopted |
4.3.2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Result of final vote |
+: –: 0: |
29 1 2 |
|||
|
Members present for the final vote |
Marta Andreasen, Richard Ashworth, Reimer Böge, Zuzana Brzobohatá, Jean-Luc Dehaene, Göran Färm, José Manuel Fernandes, Eider Gardiazábal Rubial, Salvador Garriga Polledo, Jens Geier, Ivars Godmanis, Lucas Hartong, Jutta Haug, Monika Hohlmeier, Sidonia Elżbieta Jędrzejewska, Anne E. Jensen, Ivailo Kalfin, Jan Kozłowski, Claudio Morganti, Vojtěch Mynář, Juan Andrés Naranjo Escobar, Dominique Riquet, László Surján, Helga Trüpel, Derek Vaughan, Angelika Werthmann |
||||
|
Substitute(s) present for the final vote |
François Alfonsi, Edit Herczog, Jürgen Klute, María Muñiz De Urquiza, Georgios Stavrakakis, Nils Torvalds |
||||
OPINION of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (22.2.2013)
for the Committee on Development
on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps
(COM(2012)0514 – C7‑0303/2012 – 2012/0245 (COD))
Rapporteur: Philippe Boulland
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs calls on the Committee on Development, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments into its report:
Amendment 1 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(2) Volunteering is a concrete and visible expression of solidarity allowing individuals to dedicate their knowledge, skills and time to the service of fellow human beings, without a primary concern for financial gain. |
(2) Volunteering is a concrete and visible expression of solidarity allowing individuals to dedicate their knowledge, skills, experience and time to the service of fellow human beings, without a primary concern for financial gain and also a wish to cope with additional humanitarian needs emerging in humanitarian crises, both man-made and natural disasters. |
Amendment 2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
(2 a) While volunteering is on the rise for many activities there is still further need for awareness raising and also a significant potential for further developing solidarity among Union's citizens with victims of crises and disasters in third countries. |
Amendment 3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(3) The Union's vision of humanitarian aid, including a common objective, principles and good practice and a common framework to deliver the Union's humanitarian aid, is set out in the ‘European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid’ . The European Consensus underlines the Union's firm commitment to upholding and promoting the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. The actions of the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (hereinafter referred to as the ‘EU Aid Volunteers’) should be guided by the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid. |
(3) The Union's vision of humanitarian aid, including a common objective, principles and good practice and a common framework to deliver the Union's humanitarian aid, is set out in the ‘European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid’. There is a need to raise both awareness levels and its visibility among Union's citizens because European humanitarian aid is often overshadowed by that of other international organisations. The European Consensus underlines the Union's firm commitment to upholding and promoting the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. The actions of the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (hereinafter referred to as the 'EU Aid Volunteers') should be guided by the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid. |
Amendment 4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(5) The number, scope and complexity of humanitarian crises worldwide have increased significantly over the years leading to a rising demand on humanitarian actors to provide an effective, efficient and coherent response and to support third country local communities in order to make them less vulnerable and to strengthen their resilience to disasters. |
(5) The number, scope and complexity of humanitarian crises worldwide both natural and man-made have increased significantly over the years and this trend is unfortunately likely to continue leading to a rising demand on humanitarian actors to provide an immediate, effective, efficient and coherent response and to support third country local communities in order to make them less vulnerable and to strengthen their resilience to disasters. |
Amendment 5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 6 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(6) Volunteers can strengthen humanitarian aid operations and contribute to the professionalization of humanitarian aid when they are adequately selected, trained and prepared for deployment so as to ensure that they have the necessary skills and competences to help people in need in the most effective way. |
(6) Volunteers can strengthen humanitarian aid operations and contribute to the professionalization of humanitarian aid when they are adequately selected, trained and prepared for deployment so as to ensure that they have the necessary skills, competences and abilities to help people in need in the most effective way, provided that they can count on sufficient on-site support or supervision. |
Amendment 6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 7 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(7) Volunteering schemes exist in Europe and worldwide focusing on third country deployment. These are often national schemes which focus mainly or exclusively on development projects. The EU Aid Volunteers should, therefore, avoid duplication and should add value by providing opportunities to volunteers to jointly contribute to humanitarian aid operations thus reinforcing active European Union citizenship and by fostering transnational cooperation of implementing organisations participating in the actions of the Corps. |
(7) Volunteering schemes exist in Europe and worldwide focusing on third country deployment. These are often national schemes which focus mainly or exclusively on development projects. The EU Aid Volunteers should, therefore, avoid duplication and should add value by providing opportunities to volunteers to jointly contribute to humanitarian aid operations thus reinforcing active European Union citizenship, fostering transnational cooperation of implementing organisations participating in the actions of the Corps, therefore projecting a positive image of the Union in the world and fostering interest for pan-European humanitarian projects. |
Amendment 7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 9 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(9) Security and safety of the volunteers should remain of paramount importance. |
(9) Appropriate training, security and safety of the volunteers should remain of paramount importance, therefore inexperienced volunteers should not be sent to projects where security is a concern. |
Amendment 8 Proposal for a decision Recital 10 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(10) The Union carries out its humanitarian aid operations in partnership with implementing organisations. These organisations should play a significant role in implementing the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative to ensure ownership of the actors in the field and to maximise the potential uptake of the Voluntary Corps' actions. The Union should entrust implementing organisations notably with the identification, selection, preparation and deployment of EU Aid Volunteers in accordance with standards established by the Commission. The Commission should, in addition, be able to draw upon successfully trained and prepared volunteers for deployment, where appropriate. |
(10) The Union carries out its humanitarian aid operations in partnership with implementing organisations. These organisations should play a significant role in implementing the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative to ensure ownership of the actors in the field and to maximise the potential uptake of the Voluntary Corps' actions. The Union should entrust implementing organisations notably with the identification, selection, preparation and deployment of EU Aid Volunteers, as well as with follow-up during and after assignments, in accordance with standards established by the Commission. The Commission should, in addition, be able to draw upon successfully trained and prepared volunteers for deployment, where appropriate. |
Amendment 9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 12 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(12) Volunteering in humanitarian aid could help maintain young people active, contribute to their personal development and intercultural awareness, and improve their competences and employability in global economy. It would, thus, contribute to the ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’ and to a range of other key objectives of the Union such as social inclusion, employment, active citizenship, education, and skills development . |
(12) Volunteering in humanitarian aid could help maintain young people active, contribute to their personal development and intercultural awareness, and improve their competences and employability in global economy. It would, thus, contribute to the ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’ and to a range of other key objectives of the Union such as social inclusion, employment, active citizenship, education, and skills development as well as in upholding volunteering as a concrete expression of European solidarity with people affected by crises, thus promoting the Union's values and principles. |
Amendment 10 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
(15 a) Underlines that such voluntary aid corps should be cost effective, compliment existing national and international voluntary schemes without duplicating them, and be focused on addressing concrete needs and gaps in the humanitarian field; |
Amendment 11 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. This Regulation establishes a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (hereinafter referred to as ‘the EU Aid Volunteers’) as a framework for joint contributions from European volunteers in humanitarian aid operations of the Union. |
1. This Regulation establishes a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (hereinafter referred to as ‘the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative') as a framework for joint contributions from European volunteers in humanitarian aid operations of the Union. |
Amendment 12 Proposal for a decision Article 4 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. The safety and security of volunteers shall be a priority. |
3. The training, safety and security of volunteers shall be a priority. |
Amendment 13 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 4 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
4. The EU Aid Volunteers shall promote common activities and participation of volunteers from different countries and foster joint projects and transnational partnerships between implementing organisations as referred to in Article 10. |
4. The EU Aid Volunteers' initiative shall promote common activities, close cooperation and participation of volunteers from different countries and foster joint projects and transnational partnerships between implementing organisations as referred to in Article 10; ensuring coordination, complementarity, coherence and cost effectiveness between the variety of existing EU voluntary schemes for crisis situations in third countries, without duplicating them. |
Amendment 14 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(a) ‘volunteer’ means a person who chooses, out of free will and motivation and without a primary concern for financial gain, to engage in activities that benefit the community, him or herself, and society at large. |
(a) ‘volunteer’ means a person who chooses, out of free will and motivation and without a primary concern for financial gain, to engage in activities that benefit the community and society at large and possibly additionally him or herself. |
Amendment 15 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(c) an ‘EU Aid Volunteer’ means a candidate volunteer that has been selected, trained, assessed as eligible and registered as available for deployment in humanitarian aid operations in third countries. |
(c) an ‘EU Aid Volunteer’ means a candidate volunteer that has been selected, adequately trained, assessed as eligible and registered as available for deployment in humanitarian aid operations in third countries. |
Amendment 16 Proposal for a decision Article 5 –paragraph 1 - point c a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
c a) ‘volunteer leader’ means a person who supervises or manages volunteers, and who draws on experience to educate and train them before, during, and after their assignment. |
Amendment 17 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. In implementing the Regulation, coherence shall be ensured with other areas of Union's external action and with other relevant Union policies. Particular attention shall be given to ensure smooth transition between relief, rehabilitation and development. |
1. In implementing the Regulation, coordination, complementarity and coherence shall be ensured with other areas of Union's external action and with other relevant Union policies. Particular attention shall be given to ensure smooth transition between relief, rehabilitation and development and synergies with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. |
Amendment 18 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 – paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. The Commission and the Member States shall cooperate to improve the consistency and coherence between relevant national volunteering schemes and the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
2. The Commission and the Member States shall cooperate to improve the consistency and coherence between relevant national volunteering schemes and the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative in order to ensure higher cost efficiency. The Commission should make use of the existing European networks, which are efficient. |
Amendment 19 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. The Union shall foster cooperation with relevant international organisation, in particular the United Nations, and other humanitarian aid partners in implementation of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
3. The Union shall foster cooperation with relevant international organisation, in particular the United Nations, and other humanitarian aid partners and stakeholders in the regions in implementation of the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
Amendment 20 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The EU Aid Volunteers shall pursue the following operational objectives: |
1. The EU Aid Volunteers' initiative shall pursue the following operational objectives: |
Amendment 21 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
– the number of volunteers trained and the quality of the training on the basis of the reviews and level of satisfaction; |
– the number of volunteers trained and the quality of the training on the basis of the reviews and level of satisfaction and performance; |
Amendment 22 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 1 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
- an evaluation of new skills and competences acquired based on existing EU tools such as the Skills Passport or the European Qualifications framework |
Amendment 23 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – introductory part | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
(e) Enhancement of coherence and consistency of volunteering across Member States in order to improve opportunities for Union citizens to participate in humanitarian aid activities and operations. Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
(e) Enhancement of coherence, consistency and reliability of volunteering across Member States in order to improve opportunities for Union citizens to participate in humanitarian aid activities and operations. Progress towards the achievement of this operational objective shall be assessed on the basis of indicators, such as: |
Amendment 24 Proposal for a regulation Chapter 2 – title | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
ACTIONS OF THE EU AID VOLUNTEERS |
ACTIONS of THE EU AID VOLUNTEERS' initiative |
Amendment 25 Proposal for a regulation Article 8 – title | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
Actions of the EU Aid Volunteers |
Actions of the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative |
Amendment 26 Proposal for a regulation Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
The EU Aid Volunteers shall pursue the objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 7 through the following types of actions: |
The EU Aid Volunteers' initiative shall pursue the objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 7 through the following types of actions: |
Amendment 27 Proposal for a decision Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
a) the identification, selection and preparation of candidate volunteers for deployment in humanitarian aid operations; |
a) the identification, briefing – both before and after the assignment – selection and preparation of candidate volunteers for deployment in humanitarian aid operations; |
Amendment 28 Proposal for a regulation Article 9 – paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. These standards shall ensure duty of care and cover notably the responsibilities of the sending and hosting organisations, minimum requirements on the coverage of subsistence, accommodation and other relevant expenses, insurance coverage, security procedures and other relevant elements. |
2. These standards shall ensure duty of care and cover notably the responsibilities of the sending and hosting organisations, the supervision, ongoing training and management of the volunteers, minimum requirements on the coverage of subsistence, accommodation and other relevant expenses, insurance coverage, security procedures and other relevant elements, such as the provision of meals and accommodation, transport from the international airport to the place of work, medical, travel and cancellation insurance, social security coverage during the service and 24-hour support and assistance for the team both on-site and at headquarters, as well as coverage of other costs depending the country of action, the type of humanitarian aid and the terms under which the volunteer and/or the hosting or sending organisation may cancel. |
Amendment 29 Proposal for a regulation Article 10 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall establish a certification mechanism ensuring that sending organisations comply with the standards referred to in Article 9 and a differentiated certification mechanism for hosting organisations. |
1. The Commission shall establish a certification mechanism, developed in close cooperation with NGOs renowned for humanitarian work, ensuring that sending organisations comply with the standards referred to in Article 9 and a differentiated certification mechanism for hosting organisations. |
|
|
Volunteer representatives shall be consulted when updating such mechanisms. |
Amendment 30 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. The Commission shall establish a training programme in order to prepare the candidate volunteers for undertaking humanitarian activities and for deployment in humanitarian aid operations. |
1. The Commission shall establish a training programme based on the expertise of renowned humanitarian aid organisations in order to prepare the candidate volunteers for undertaking humanitarian activities and for deployment in humanitarian aid operations, notably by providing necessary background information on the Union's role and values regarding humanitarian issues. |
Amendment 31 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. Candidate volunteers who have been identified and selected in accordance with Article 11 shall be eligible to participate in the training programme. The individual scope and content of the training each candidate volunteer needs to accomplish shall be determined on the basis of his or her needs taking into account prior experience. |
2. Candidate volunteers who have been identified and selected in accordance with Article 11 shall be eligible to participate in the training programme. The individual scope and content of the training each candidate volunteer needs to accomplish shall be determined on the basis of his or her needs, taking into account prior experience. Prior to their deployment, the EU aid volunteers shall received additional training specifically tailored to the needs and special circumstances of the country and of the project to which they are sent. |
Amendment 32 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. As part of their training and notably their preparation for deployment candidate volunteers may undertake apprenticeship placements in certified sending organisations, where possible in a country other than their country of origin. |
3. As part of their training and notably their preparation for deployment candidate volunteers should be offered the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship placement in certified sending organisations, where possible in a country other than their country of origin. |
Amendment 33 Proposal for a decision Article 12 – paragraph 4 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
4. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, candidate volunteers who have not benefited from an apprenticeship placement may be given, where appropriate, additional pre-deployment preparation by certified sending organisations. This preparation and the apprenticeship placement shall comply with the standards for preparation referred to in Article 9(1)(a). |
4. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, candidate volunteers who have not benefited from an apprenticeship placement may be given, where appropriate, additional pre-deployment preparation by certified sending organisations. This preparation and the apprenticeship placement shall comply with the standards for preparation referred to in Article 9(1)(a). Candidate volunteers who have not benefited from an apprenticeship and those being sent to a foreign country must be given additional training. |
Amendment 34 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 5 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
5. The training programme shall include an assessment of the candidate volunteers' readiness to be deployed in humanitarian aid operations. |
5. The training programme shall include an assessment of the candidate volunteers' readiness to be deployed in humanitarian aid operations and to help ensure security and safety when deployed. |
Amendment 35 Proposal for a regulation Article 12 – paragraph 5 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
5 a. If the training programme is longer than 3 months, the candidate volunteer should receive a monthly grant to cover the costs of accommodation at the place of training, including during the time of the apprenticeship if no gratification is foreseen. |
Amendment 36 Proposal for a decision Article 13 – paragraph 1 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
1. Candidate volunteers who have successfully passed the assessment referred to in Article 12(5) shall be considered EU Aid Volunteers. They can be as such included in the Register of EU Aid Volunteers (hereinafter referred to as 'the Register') and shall be eligible for deployment. |
1. Candidate volunteers who have successfully passed the assessment referred to in Article 12(5) shall be considered EU Aid Volunteers. They can be as such included in the Register of EU Aid Volunteers (hereinafter referred to as 'the Register') and shall be eligible for deployment for a period of no more than two years, after which they must be reassessed. |
Amendment 37 Proposal for a regulation Article 13 – paragraph 2 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
2. The Commission shall establish, maintain and update the Register and shall regulate the access and the use of it. |
2. The Commission shall establish, maintain and update the Register, notably by keeping track of the number of volunteers deployed in countries hit by disasters and shall regulate the access and the use of it. |
Amendment 38 Proposal for a regulation Article 14 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. The specific terms of deployment of volunteers shall be set-out in a contract between the sending organisations and the volunteer, including the duration and location of deployment and the tasks of the volunteer. |
3. The specific terms of deployment of volunteers shall be set-out in a contract between the sending organisations and the volunteer, including the duration and location of deployment and the tasks of the volunteer. The contract shall provide for, inter alia, payment of the volunteer's return air fare, the provision of meals and accommodation, transport from the international airport to the place of work, medical, travel and cancellation insurance and 24-hour support and assistance for the team both on-site and at headquarters, as well as payment of other costs depending the country of action, the type of humanitarian aid and the terms under which the volunteer and/or the hosting or sending organisation may cancel. The contract shall either specify the rights and obligations of the volunteer or indicate where the rights and obligations are documented. |
Amendment 39 Proposal for a regulation Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
4 a. On the basis of a certificate issued by the Commission, the actual time of the EU aid volunteering period shall be counted in the length of professional experience when the contract between the sending and hosting organisations is longer than six months. For contracts shorter than six months, the experience gained as an EU Aid Volunteer can be recognised as a traineeship, on the basis of a certificate issued by the Commission. |
Amendment 40 Proposal for a decision Article 15 – paragraph 1 - point c a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
c a) protection of volunteers by all necessary means, including the provision of specific information to local parties and partners, especially in conflict zones |
Amendment 41 Proposal for a regulation Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point 1 a (new) | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
|
1 a. The network can be used to set up a mechanism for the election of a volunteer representation of active volunteers, which will represent the volunteers in a similar manner as staff representatives. Volunteer representatives have to be consulted on changes addressing the rights and obligations of the volunteers. |
Amendment 42 Proposal for a regulation Article 16 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. The Network shall also provide and promote opportunities for on-line volunteering to complement and reinforce the activities of the EU Aid Volunteers. |
3. The Network shall also provide and promote opportunities for on-line volunteering to complement and reinforce the activities of the EU Aid Volunteers. The Commission should use existing European networks, which are efficient, such as the EURES network. The EURES network could be useful as, after six months of experience volunteers might want to use their humanitarian aid experience. |
Amendment 43 Proposal for a decision Article 17 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. EU Aid Volunteers shall, where necessary with the assistance and direction of the sending and hosting organisations, participate in appropriate information, communication and awareness raising activities before, during and after deployment to promote the EU Aid Volunteers and their engagement therein. The Commission shall define those activities, which shall not impose disproportionate obligations on the volunteers. |
3. EU Aid Volunteers shall, with the assistance and direction of the sending and hosting organisations, participate in appropriate information, communication and awareness raising activities before, during and after deployment to promote the EU Aid Volunteers and their engagement therein. The Commission shall define those activities, which shall not impose disproportionate obligations on the volunteers. |
Amendment 44 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 3 | |
|
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
|
3. Sending organisations deploying volunteers in operations outside the Union shall be responsible for the monitoring of their activities and shall submit to the Commission monitoring reports on a regular basis. |
3. Sending organisations deploying volunteers in operations outside the Union shall be responsible for the monitoring of their activities and shall submit to the Commission monitoring reports on a regular basis safeguarding all rights of individual volunteers regarding personal data protection. |
PROCEDURE
|
Title |
Establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps EU Aid Volunteers |
||||
|
References |
COM(2012)0514 – C7-0303/2012 – 2012/0245(COD) |
||||
|
Committee responsible Date announced in plenary |
DEVE 22.10.2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
Opinion by Date announced in plenary |
EMPL 22.10.2012 |
||||
|
Rapporteur Date appointed |
Philippe Boulland 27.11.2012 |
||||
|
Discussed in committee |
14.1.2013 |
24.1.2013 |
20.2.2013 |
|
|
|
Date adopted |
21.2.2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Result of final vote |
+: –: 0: |
36 2 4 |
|||
|
Members present for the final vote |
Regina Bastos, Edit Bauer, Heinz K. Becker, Jean-Luc Bennahmias, Phil Bennion, Pervenche Berès, Philippe Boulland, Alejandro Cercas, Ole Christensen, Derek Roland Clark, Minodora Cliveti, Emer Costello, Sari Essayah, Richard Falbr, Thomas Händel, Marian Harkin, Nadja Hirsch, Stephen Hughes, Danuta Jazłowiecka, Jean Lambert, Patrick Le Hyaric, Verónica Lope Fontagné, Olle Ludvigsson, Thomas Mann, Elisabeth Morin-Chartier, Csaba Őry, Konstantinos Poupakis, Sylvana Rapti, Licia Ronzulli, Elisabeth Schroedter, Joanna Katarzyna Skrzydlewska, Jutta Steinruck, Traian Ungureanu, Inês Cristina Zuber |
||||
|
Substitute(s) present for the final vote |
Georges Bach, Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Antigoni Papadopoulou, Csaba Sógor |
||||
|
Substitute(s) under Rule 187(2) present for the final vote |
Alexander Alvaro, Nirj Deva, Pat the Cope Gallagher |
||||
PROCEDURE
|
Title |
Establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps EU Aid Volunteers |
||||
|
References |
COM(2012)0514 – C7-0303/2012 – 2012/0245(COD) |
||||
|
Date submitted to Parliament |
19.9.2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee responsible Date announced in plenary |
DEVE 22.10.2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee(s) asked for opinion(s) Date announced in plenary |
BUDG 13.12.2012 |
EMPL 22.10.2012 |
|
|
|
|
Rapporteur(s) Date appointed |
Michèle Striffler 25.10.2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussed in committee |
5.11.2012 |
21.1.2013 |
19.2.2013 |
|
|
|
Date adopted |
23.4.2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Result of final vote |
+: –: 0: |
21 0 0 |
|||
|
Members present for the final vote |
Michael Cashman, Ricardo Cortés Lastra, Nirj Deva, Leonidas Donskis, Eva Joly, Filip Kaczmarek, Gay Mitchell, Norbert Neuser, Bill Newton Dunn, Andreas Pitsillides, Jean Roatta, Michèle Striffler, Alf Svensson, Keith Taylor, Patrice Tirolien, Ivo Vajgl, Iva Zanicchi |
||||
|
Substitute(s) present for the final vote |
Enrique Guerrero Salom, Cristian Dan Preda, Judith Sargentini, Jan Zahradil |
||||
|
Date tabled |
30.4.2013 |
||||