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The European Solidarity Corps programme 2021-2027

In “Promoting our European Way of Life”

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For a brief overview of the key points of the adopted text and its significance for the citizen, please see the corresponding summary note.

On the 11th June 2018, the European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Solidarity Corps programme, in the run-up to the discussions on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. The programme is under ' Promoting our European Way of Life', under the remit of commissioner Margaritis Schinas.

The MFF proposal follows through a number of issues that the European Parliament had highlighted. The Commission proposed that the European Solidarity Corps 2021-2027 would be a stand-alone programme, with its own budget, and no longer depend on the budget of Erasmus+ and other EU programmes. The European Solidarity Corps 2021-2027 regulation absorbs the European Voluntary Service, which previously fell under the 'Youth' section of the Erasmus+ 2014-2020 programme. This extended the scope of the programme to non-EU countries, especially countries neighbouring the EU’s outermost regions. The Commission also assimilated the EU Aid Volunteers initiative in the same regulation and in this way created a one-stop-shop for all solidarity activities. This restricts the age bracket of volunteers to that permissible under the European Solidarity Corps. The Commission hopes to improve the intake of volunteers by switching from vacancy-based applications to roster-type recruitment.

The European Solidarity Corps is structured in two strands: ‘Participation of young people in solidarity activities addressing societal challenges’ and ‘European Voluntary and Humanitarian Aid Corps'. Both strands offer volunteering placements and networking activities, but the first strand offers grass-roots solidarity projects as well.

The European Parliament’s Committee for Culture and Education (CULT) nominated Michaela Šojdrová (EPP) rapporteur on 1 June 2018. Plenary debated the report on 11 March 2019 and the amended text was adopted the next day, 513 votes in favour, 95 against and 64 abstentions. On 11 January the Committee on Culture and Education voted on the draft regulation following trilogues with 28 votes in favour and 1 abstention. The EP negotiators secured higher quality offers for volunteering, an upper age limit of 35 years for volunteers in the humanitarian aid strand and no upper age limit for hired experts and coaches. On 18 May 2021, the plenary adopted the act in accordance with the Council’s position unanimously.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted its opinion on 17 October 2018. The Committee welcomed the renewal of the Corps, the increase in budget and participation target, and the proposed merger with the EU Aid Volunteers programme. The EESC recommended strict regulation and review of the employment strand. The committee was also against age restrictions for individuals but thought the programme should be open only to non-profit organisations. It stated that the European Youth Forum and the European Volunteering Centre should be central in the regulation and oversight of the Corps. The Committee of the Regions adopted its opinion on 5-6 December 2018. It called for regular meetings with the EU Youth Coordinator and formal cooperation with the Committee of the Regions. It welcomeed the systematic tracking of youth financing programmes and hoped for increased financing. It called for a clear distinction between the voluntary and employment strands. It drew attention to the importance of recognising skills and suggests that quality labels are given to the most original and effective activities. The employment strand was abandoned in the final version of the regulation.

The Education Council met on 26 November 2018 and ministers reached a partial general approach. This excluded the budget-related issues, which were negotiated as part of the next multiannual financial framework. On 11 December 2020, Council and the European Parliament struck a provisional agreement with a budget of over 1 billion euros that would open opportunities for 350 thousand participants. Council adopted its first reading position on 22nd March.

On 10 November, The European Parliament and German Presidency of the Council reached a political agreement on the 2021-2027 MFF and new own resources. On 17 December, the European Parliament gave its consent to the next multiannual financial framework. The Decision was signed on 20 May, and entered into force on 8 June 2021. It applies retroactively from 1 January 2021.

References:

Author: Marie Lecerf, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu

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As of 15/12/2024.