European Commission Directorate-General Communication The European Year of Volunteering 2011 NA...

European Commission

Directorate-General Communication

The European Year of Volunteering 2011

NA Meeting Youth in Action

18 November 2010

Jutta König Georgiades

European Commission


Why is volunteering important enough to have a European Year dedicated to it?

• It’s an expression of active citizenship• Important indicator of civic engagement• Rich learning experience:

– Develops social skills & competences– Prepares young people for working life

• Promotes: – solidarity– non-discrimination– harmonious development of society– sense of citizenship

European Commission


How does the Commission define ‘Volunteering’? • Our 'definition' is purposefully broad-brushed

– Because of different traditions and cultural attitudes to volunteering in the EU

• ‘Volunteering’ refers to all types of voluntary activity, whether formal, non-formal or informal, and which are undertaken of a person’s own free will, choice and motivation, without concern for financial gain.

European Commission


What is the volunteering landscape in Europe like today? • 94 million people, or 23% of Europeans aged 15 and

older engage in some form of voluntary activity• The typical volunteer is —

– 30 to 50 years old,– in employment, and – well-educated (higher education and beyond),– male (males outnumber female volunteers in 11 Member

States, and are roughly equal in number in a further 9 countries).

• Sport attracts the most volunteers, – followed by volunteering in the social sector, aid to the

disadvantaged, and the health sector.

European Commission


What challenges face the volunteering sector in the EU? • Lack of internationally comparable data • National volunteering strategies? Rarely!• Lack of a legal framework for

– the social insurance coverage of volunteers, – their training, – entitlement to holidays, – accommodation or pocket money, – etc.

• Increased professionalisation of the volunteering sector– Result: growing mismatch between the needs of volunteering

organisations and the aspirations of volunteers. • Lack of recognition of skills and competences gained through

volunteering activities. • Problem with finding sustainable funding.

European Commission


What does the Year hope to achieve? The Year has four objectives:1. To foster an enabling environment for

volunteering in the EU2. To empower volunteer organisations and

improve the quality of volunteering3. To reward and recognise volunteering

activities4. To raise awareness of the value and

importance of volunteering

European Commission


Who will be doing what?

There are three main levels of active participants:

1. The EU & international level

2. The national, regional and local level

3. Activities in close cooperation with civil society organisations

European Commission


1. The EU & international level

• Commission EU-wide communication campaign• Commission DGs & Services

– DG EAC (re. Grundtvig, Sport, Youth in Action and EVS), DG EMPL (re. social & employment laws), DG ENTR (re. CSR & employee volunteering), etc…

• Other EU Institutions:– European Parliament– Economic and Social Committee– Committee of the Regions

• United Nations, • Council of Europe

European Commission


2. The national, regional and local level • Initiatives in the Member States

– Coordinated by the ‘National Coordination Bodies’ - each country has one

– Responsible for preparing and implementing activities for the Year in their country

– Addresses of the NCBs are here:http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/annexes-citizenship/doc1069_en.htm

European Commission


3. Cooperation with civil society organisations

Our strategic partner for the Year =• ‘The Alliance’ — the voice of the

volunteering sector in EU• Represents

– 24 volunteering networks, and– Over 1,500 volunteering organizations

• We consult & collaborate closely with them

European Commission


What are the main elements of our communication campaign?• Common slogan ("Volunteer! Make a

Difference") and logo• Four thematic conferences • Media launch in December 2010• Communication toolbox - free to use (videos,

leaflets, promotional items, posters)• Official website (in November):

www.europa.eu/volunteering • The EYV ‘Tour’ & journalists’ relay

Our planned conferences:• January 2011: Official launch event for the Year, in Budapest.

Accompanied by a half-day conference on 'recognition of volunteering' (= third objective of the year). 200 participants. Date: 8 January

• May/June 2011: an agora-type event, two days' duration, celebrating volunteers themselves, and their valuable contribution to economy and society. 500 invitees, in the EP in Brussels. Date tbc

• Sept/Oct 2011: 'traditional' 1½ day conference on second objective of the Year, namely 'empowering volunteering organisations'. 250 participants. Location: possibly Athens. Date tbc.

• December 2011: Closing conference of the Year, in Warsaw. 1½ days. Around 250 Participants. Largely a policy-oriented conference. Date tbc.

European Commission


EYV Tour: the ‘pavilion’

• Big space: 300 to 400m2

• Can be subdivided for different activities:– Live demonstrations,– Debates, Interviews– Exhibitions

European Commission


Possible role of the NAs of Youth in Action

You can become a strategic partner for the Year !!

• Promote the EYV 2011,• Use the EYV Tour, when it comes to your

country,• Send us “success stories” for our website,• Establish links to our future website from

your websites.

European Commission


More Information• Our (interim) web page:

– http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/focus/focus840_en.htm

• EYV Task Force team members:

– [email protected]



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