The European Solidarity Corps will receive €1.26bn in the next multiannual financial framework, to support a new programme of volunteering, traineeships and job placements.
First launched in December 2016, the European Solidarity Corps aims to offer young people in Europe the opportunity to participate in a wide range of solidarity activities, including volunteering, traineeships, job placements and more.
Almost 64,000 young people have joined the corps since its launch in 2016, and the project was allocated €376.5m in funding from 2018-2020, with the aim of supporting up to 100,000 applicants. The growth in funding over the seven years of the next multiannual financial framework aims to significantly expand participation among young Europeans.
How will the additional funding be allocated?
This expansion will include a programme of targeted measures to provide allocating funding and short-term dedicated activities to enable disadvantaged young people to participate in the European Solidarity Corps, and a consolidation of opportunities.
In particular, this will involve the consolidation of the European Solidarity Corps with the EU Aid Volunteers programme, to provide opportunities to get involved in volunteering programmes outside the EU, either individually or in a group, as well as making it easier to follow traineeships or get a job in a solidarity field whether within or outside of Europe.
Why is this an EU priority?
Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education and Youth, welcomed the announcement and the opportunity it represents to engage more young people than ever before in strengthening the EU and developing its future.
He explained: “With this proposal, the European Commission has confirmed its commitment to strengthening solidarity and empowering young people. We are putting everything in place to enable the European Solidarity Corps to grow into a broad community of people and organisations ready to support those in need across our continent and beyond, helping to build resilient, cohesive societies. Young people, in turn, will gain skills, new friendships, and a strong sense of what it feels like to be European.”
