In line with the European Green Deal, volunteering must respect the ”do no harm” principle and programmes will be evaluated at a later stage taking into account their contribution to EU climate objectives, such as the choice of climate-neutral modes of transport. On Friday, the Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on the European Solidarity Corps for the period 2021-2027, worth more than one billion euros. MEPs ensured that host organisations demonstrated the quality of the volunteer activities offered, with a focus on learning and the acquisition of skills and competences. Organizations must also prove that they comply with occupational health and safety regulations. Today`s agreement still needs to be formally approved by Parliament and the Council. ”Today`s agreement is great news for young people in the EU and beyond. The program will be launched in January 2021, and Parliament has managed to secure many profits for volunteers. Volunteering will be the main activity of the program, which has been our priority from the beginning. We are now able to ensure a better quality of volunteering by forcing hosts to offer new and useful skills. Similarly, from now on we will be able to involve many more people with fewer opportunities,” said Michaela Šojdrova (EPP, CZ), rapporteur for the European Solidarity Corps (ETUC). Thanks to the Members of the European Parliament, the Commission and the Member States must define how they intend to involve people with fewer opportunities. Young people will be able to volunteer in their own countries, especially those with fewer opportunities. Parliament has also succeeded in better protecting target groups.
For volunteers working with children and people with disabilities, special release is required. Programmes must also demonstrate that they contribute to positive societal change in local communities. More value and better conditions for volunteers and target groups As humanitarian action poses particular challenges, MEPs insisted that the age limit for humanitarian aid volunteers be extended to 35 years, with the possibility of hiring experts and trainers without age limit. .