"Promoting volunteering through Community policies, supporting voluntary action using EU funds, and recognising and committing to voluntary activity at EU level helps to establish direct links between citizens, their communities and the Union", rapporteur Marian Harkin explained.  

The report stresses that volunteering is a major force nurturing civil society, strengthening solidarity and supporting community development programmes. It is therefore noted that 're-stimulating' volunteering may be especially necessary in those Member States, such as those emerging from a post-communist transition period, where voluntary activity has come to be associated with actions of a compulsory nature. However, the report also stresses that volunteering and voluntary activity should in any event not take the place of paid work.

The report encourages firms to help fund initiatives to promote and enhance volunteering, as part of their corporate social responsibility strategies. It also urges Member States to create incentives for business to fund and support the voluntary sector, so as to help transfer corporate skills and know-how to the public sector and to improve the quality of life locally, by encouraging " self help" solutions to local problems.

The report recommends that all Member States produce regular non-profit institution (NPI) "satellite accounts", and include volunteer work in them, to enable policy makers to take account of NPIs in policy formulation. It also suggests that volunteering be made a specific category in EUROSTAT accounts.

Source: European Parliament

The report was presented to the European Parliament by Irish MEP Marian Harkin. The EP adopted the report on April 22nd. It has now been sent to the European Commission.

European Parliament
Brussels
Marian Harkin (MEP), tel. +32 - 2 284 7797

22/04/2008

policy

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Citizens' participation