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?
European Commission
Objective 1: Create an enabling Objective 1: Create an enabling environment for volunteeringenvironment for volunteering
BeforeBefore AfterAfter
Lower obstacles to volunteering
European Commission
Objective 2: Objective 2: Empower Empower volunteer volunteer
organisationsorganisations
European Commission
Objective 3: Recognise Objective 3: Recognise volunteering activitiesvolunteering activities
European Commission
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?
European Commission
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