European Commission The European Year of Volunteering 2011 Ekaterini Karanika Policy Officer EYV 2011 Task Force European Commission DG COMM – C.2

European Commission “The European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship (2011)” Council Decision of 27 November

European Commission Why is volunteering important? 3

European Commission Intercultural Dialogue Inter- religious Dialogue Integration of migrants Active citizenship Environmental protection Learning opportunities Improves employability Active ageing Solidarity Builds up European identity Social inclusion Promotes human rights 4

European Commission Volunteering is important! Imagine a world without volunteers… 5

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 Key facts 7

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 do we want to achieve?

European Commission Objective 1: Create an enabling environment for volunteering BeforeAfter Lower obstacles to volunteering

European Commission Objective 2: Empower volunteer organisations

European Commission Objective 3: Recognise volunteering activities

European Commission Objective 4: Raise awareness about value & importance of volunteering

European Commission Commission’s Budget for the Year  € 3 million for Preparatory Actions in 2010  € 8 million for the Year itself  + other sources…

European Commission There are many, many interested parties! 15

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 The challenge: to coordinate these many, diverse initiatives 17

European Commission Our response: an Action Plan 18

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 5. Communication Activities 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 19

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 5. Communication Activities 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 20

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Communication Activities 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 1. Cooperation with Member States 21

European Commission 1. Cooperation with Member States Flagship Projects (1 or 2 per Member State) National Coordination Bodies Responsible for preparing and implementing activities for the Year in their country Contact details for the NCBs are here: citizenship/doc1069_en.htm 22

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 5. Communication Activities 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 23

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 5. Communication Activities 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 24

European Commission 2. Cooperation with Civil Society A key partner for us is ‘The EYV 2011 Alliance’ — the voice of the volunteering sector 25

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 5. Communication Activities 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 26

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 5. Communication Activities 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 27

European Commission 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission Eurostat DG EAC DG MARKT DG EMPLDG ENTR DG REGIO DG SANCO etc… 28

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 5. Communication Activities 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 29

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 5. Communication Activities 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 30

European Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation United Nations 31 IYV European Parliament Committee of the Regions Economic & Social Committee Council of Europe

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 5. Communication Activities 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 32

European Commission Action Plan for EYV Cooperation with Member States 2. Cooperation with Civil Society 3. Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission 4. Inter- institutional & International Cooperation 5. Communication Activities 33

European Commission 5. Communication Activities Logo & Slogan Communication toolbox Thematic conferences EYV Relay of journalists Opening & closing events Goodwill Ambassadors Website EYV ‘Tour’ 34

European Commission European Conferences  8 January 2011: Launching event in Budapest, theme: recognition  May 2011: Agora-type event in Brussels, theme: celebrating the volunteers  3-4 November 2011: Athens, theme: empowering volunteering organisations  December 2011: Closing conference in Warsaw: political conclusions

European Commission Wow! A series of thematically- linked European Years!  2010: EY against Poverty and Social Exclusion  2011: EY of Volunteering  2012: EY of Active Ageing (to be confirmed)  2013: EY of the Citizen (also to be confirmed) Volunteers are important in all these areas!

European Commission Great! A chance to build on the momentum  …but how?

European Commission Commission Communication (20 September 2011) & Council Conclusions (3 October 2011)

European Commission Some useful contacts  Your country’s National Coordination Body Addresses here: citizenship/doc1069_en.htm citizenship/doc1069_en.htm  The EYV 2011 Alliance website at  Our official website at

European Commission More Information  Our official web site:   EYV Task Force team members:    40

Volunteer! Make a difference