Operation of the new European Solidarity Corps

4.11.2016

Question for written answer E-008353-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Enrique Guerrero Salom (S&D) , Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto (S&D) , Ramón Jáuregui Atondo (S&D) , Jonás Fernández (S&D)

In his State of the Union Address on 14 September 2016, President Juncker announced the setting-up of a European Solidarity Corps, which will provide people under 30 with the opportunity — via a grant or an employment contract — to volunteer in support of local organisations or civil society in any EU country.

Although it has been made clear that no new resources will be required, the volunteers will apparently receive appropriate training and financial support from existing programmes. Does that mean that funding will be reassigned from schemes like Erasmus+ and the Youth Guarantee?

In addition, which employment (e.g. EURES), education and civil society networks are expected to be mobilised in order to ensure that this proposal can be put into practice effectively? Does the Commission take the view that this is a first step towards the establishment of a European labour market?