Proposal for a Council Decision on the European Year of Volunteering (2011)

Abstract

Volunteering is a core expression of civic participation and democracy, putting European values such as solidarity and non discrimination into action and contributing to the harmonious development of our societies. It plays an important role in sectors as varied and diverse as education, youth, culture, sport, environment, health, social care, consumer protection, humanitarian aid, development policy, research, equal opportunities and external relations. At the same time, volunteering is also an important learning opportunity because getting involved in voluntary work provides citizens with new skills and heightens their sense of belonging to society. Volunteering therefore has twin benefits: it both contributes to the social cohesion of society with the results it achieves and the bonds of solidarity it creates and it helps the volunteers themselves by boosting their skills and personal development. These twin benefits make a real contribution to the EU’s social agenda, which aims to create more opportunities for EU citizens, improve access to quality services and demonstrate solidarity with those who are affected negatively by change. In difficult economic times, it is even more important for the European Union to recognise the value of volunteering. In addition, from an international perspective, volunteering is an expression of solidarity with the developing world and an acknowledgement of the inter-dependence of all communities in an increasingly globalised world.