European Year of Volunteering

European Year of Volunteering
Name	European Year of Volunteering
Genre	Awareness campaign
Date	2011
Location	European Union
Patrons	European Commission
Organisers	Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture

European Year of Volunteering. The European Year of Volunteering was a year-long initiative designated by the European Union to take place in 2011. It aimed to celebrate, recognize, and promote the immense value of volunteering across the continent. The campaign sought to strengthen the infrastructure supporting volunteers and to encourage more citizens to engage in voluntary activities.

Introduction

The initiative was formally proposed by the European Commission and subsequently adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. It built upon the foundational work of the European Voluntary Service and aligned with broader EU strategies for social cohesion and active citizenship. The year was officially launched in Budapest and concluded in Warsaw, with events coordinated across all member states.

Background

The concept emerged from a growing recognition within European institutions of volunteering's critical role in society. Preceding policy documents like the Europe 2020 strategy and the Treaty of Lisbon, which enshrined the principle of participatory democracy, provided a political framework. Key figures such as Viviane Reding and Androulla Vassiliou championed the cause, while organizations like the European Youth Forum and the European Volunteer Centre provided crucial advocacy and expertise from the civil society sector.

Objectives

The Year had four primary, interlinked objectives. First, to create an enabling environment for volunteering by working with entities like the United Nations Volunteers programme to remove legal and administrative barriers. Second, to empower volunteer organizations, providing them with better tools and resources for effective operation. Third, to recognize and reward volunteer activities, highlighting contributions to communities from Sicily to Stockholm. Finally, to raise public awareness about the importance of voluntary work for achieving goals in areas like social inclusion and environmental protection.

Activities

A vast array of activities was organized under the banner "Volunteer! Make a difference." The central team, based in Brussels, coordinated a traveling exhibition that visited cities including Madrid, Berlin, and Athens. National committees in countries like France, Poland, and Romania implemented local campaigns, conferences, and media events. Major happenings included the opening ceremony in Hungary, the mid-year conference in Luxembourg, and the closing summit in Poland, which gathered stakeholders from NGOs, governments, and the European Economic and Social Committee.

Impact

The Year succeeded in placing volunteering higher on the political agenda of the EU and its member states. It facilitated the creation of new partnerships between institutions like the Council of Europe and volunteer networks. A significant outcome was the increased profile of the European Solidarity Corps, a later initiative that drew direct inspiration from the Year's momentum. The campaign also generated extensive research and data, such as the Eurobarometer survey on volunteering, which informed subsequent policy discussions in bodies like the European Committee of the Regions.

Legacy

The lasting legacy of the European Year of Volunteering is multifaceted. It directly influenced the proposal for the European Solidarity Corps, launched by President Jean-Claude Juncker. The networks and policy dialogues established during 2011 continued through forums like the Annual Convention for Inclusive Growth. Furthermore, the Year reinforced the integration of volunteering metrics into broader social indicators monitored by Eurostat, ensuring its recognition as a key component of European civic life alongside pillars like the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Category:European Union