European Commission

The European Year of The European Year of Volunteering 2011 Volunteering 2011 ––

progress so farprogress so far

John MacdonaldJohn Macdonald

Head of EYV 2011 Task ForceHead of EYV 2011 Task Force

European CommissionEuropean Commission

DG COMM DG COMM –– C.2C.2

European Commission

““The European Year of The European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Voluntary Activities Promoting

Active Citizenship (2011)Active Citizenship (2011)””

Council Decision of 27 November 2009Council Decision of 27 November 2009

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European Commission

Key factsKey facts

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European Commission

94 million 94 million peoplepeople

23% of Europeans 23% of Europeans > 15 years old> 15 years old

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European Commission

Key challenges in the EUKey challenges in the EU

� Lack of data on volunteering� Lack of national volunteering strategies� Lack of a clear legal framework � Increasing professionalisation & skills

mismatch � Lack of recognition of skills and

competences� Problem with finding sustainable funding

European Commission

What did we What did we set out to do?set out to do?

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Objective 1: Create an enabling Objective 1: Create an enabling environment for volunteeringenvironment for volunteering

BeforeBefore AfterAfter

Lower obstacles to volunteering

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Objective 2: Objective 2: Empower Empower volunteer volunteer

organisationsorganisations

European Commission

Objective 3: Recognise Objective 3: Recognise volunteering activitiesvolunteering activities

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Objective 4: Raise awareness Objective 4: Raise awareness about value & importance of about value & importance of

volunteeringvolunteering

European Commission

CommissionCommission’’s Budget for the Years Budget for the Year

�� €€ 3 million3 millionfor Preparatory Actions in 2010for Preparatory Actions in 2010

�� €€ 88 millionmillionfor the Year itselffor the Year itself

�� + other sources+ other sources……

European Commission

We need to build up

momentum for change…

…but how?

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Our advantage: there are Our advantage: there are many, many many, many

interested parties!interested parties!

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European Commission

The importance of The importance of ‘‘SubsidiaritySubsidiarity’’

The decision-making power in most policies that affect volunteering lies

with the relevant Member State authorities

European Commission

European Parliament

Council of Europe

Committee of the Regions

European Economic &

Social Committee

United Nations

Non-EU Countries

Non-Alliance volunteering organizations etc…

EYV 2011

The Commission

The National Coordination

Bodies

The “EYV 2011Alliance”

European Commission

How do we keep the

momentum going?

European Commission

The National Coordination Bodies

� The ‘voice’ of the Member State authorities

� Were asked to develop a national action plan� Useful focus on volunteering

� Responsible for EYV activities at national level� Led to lots of conferences and events across

EU

European Commission

The EYV2011 Alliance

� 39 EU-wide volunteering networks such as the European Red Cross, Caritas, European Youth Forum, etc.

� The ‘voice’ of volunteering� Set up six working groups: they report on

their work in December

European Commission

EU-level thematic conferences

�Four conferences

�Bring together government, business and civil society

�Aim: stimulate policy-making legacy for the European Year

European Commission

Multilingual website

� www.europa.eu/volunteering� Includes non-EU activities� Human interest stories, official documents,

news, downloadable resources� Lively: 6 new items per day� One-stop-shop for EYV agenda� Complements the EYV2011 Alliance’s

website (www.eyv2011.eu)

European Commission

EYV ‘Tour’ and Relay

� Showcase for volunteering in each country� Comes to the capital cities � Stays for about a week� Provides media moments

� Volunteer ‘Relay Reporters’ cover the Tour� A/V and written reports uploaded to our

website� ‘Best of’ compilation to be made into a TV

documentary about the Year

European Commission

Flagship projects

� EUR 2 million available� For innovative projects that bring together

minimum of 4 partners from volunteering organisations and public sector

� 33 projects chosen� Results will be known in 2012

European Commission

Major political milestones Major political milestones at the EU levelat the EU level

�� Commission CommunicationCommission Communication on EU on EU Policies and VolunteeringPolicies and Volunteering(20 September 2011)(20 September 2011)

�� Council ConclusionsCouncil Conclusionson on ‘‘ the role of voluntary activities in the role of voluntary activities in social policysocial policy ’’(3 October 2011)(3 October 2011)

European Commission

International milestones International milestones �� United Nations VolunteersUnited Nations Volunteers

acclamation of acclamation of ‘‘Declaration on Declaration on Volunteering for a sustainable Volunteering for a sustainable futurefuture ’’(17 September 2011)(17 September 2011)

�� Council of EuropeCouncil of EuropeCommittee of Ministers adopted Committee of Ministers adopted their reply to the their reply to the Recommendation of CoE Recommendation of CoE Parliamentary Assembly on Parliamentary Assembly on volunteeringvolunteering(15 September 2011)(15 September 2011)

European Commission

International milestones (contInternational milestones (cont’’d)d)

� ILO publishes the ‘Manual on the Measurement of Volunteering’

� Developed by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Civil Society Studies

� Supported by UNV

European Commission

ThematicallyThematically--linked European linked European Years help keep the ball rolling!Years help keep the ball rolling!

�� 2010: EY against Poverty and Social 2010: EY against Poverty and Social ExclusionExclusion

�� 2011: EY of Volunteering2011: EY of Volunteering�� 2012: EY of Active Ageing & Inter2012: EY of Active Ageing & Inter--

generational solidaritygenerational solidarity�� 2013: EY of the Citizen (to be confirmed)2013: EY of the Citizen (to be confirmed)

Volunteers are important Volunteers are important in all these areas!in all these areas!

European Commission

More informationMore information

�� Your countryYour country’’s s National Coordination BodyNational Coordination Body

�� Our Our official websiteofficial website at at www.europa.euwww.europa.eu/volunteering/volunteering

�� TheThe EYV 2011 Alliance EYV 2011 Alliance website atwebsite atwww.eyv2011.euwww.eyv2011.eu

Volunteer! Make a differenceVolunteer! Make a difference