Agreement reached on legal framework and budget for the period 2018-2020.

SW – 07/2018

The European Parliament and the Council have reached agreement on a legal framework and a budget for the Commission’s proposal for a European Solidarity Corps (see DSV article). The European Solidarity Corps will be provided with a budget of €376.5 million until 2020. 90% of the budget will be used for voluntary and solidarity projects, 10% for traineeships and/or jobs. 

 

80% of the European Solidarity Corps will be funded through redeployment under the ‘Competitiveness for growth and jobs’ heading of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020, and 20% through fresh money in the form of unexploited margins. 

The Commission has proposed a total of €1.26 billion for the European Solidarity Corps for the period between 2021 and 2027. In addition to the 100,000 young people that the Commission intends to support by the end of 2020, another 350,000 people could join the Solidarity Corps in the coming period. 

 

Solidarity activities can be carried out both inside or outside a person’s country, with a maximum of 20% of the budget being reserved for in-country activities. 

 

The activities will be for a period of between three and twelve months. Special attention will be placed on inclusion and participation in the programme by young people who are disadvantaged. In order to help them, shorter placements will be available. The need for an inclusive approach had been stressed by stakeholders in the run-up to the Commission’s proposals. 

Background

The German Social Insurance has particularly focused on the topic in terms of social security protection during a placement. The proposal provides for participants to receive complementary health and accident insurance for any expenses not already covered by the European Health Insurance Card or other existing insurance schemes. Jobs and traineeships may be subject to special rules that are governed by the national laws, regulations and collective agreements of the country in which the activity is carried out. 

Next steps

Following the agreement, the European Parliament and the Council will now have to formally agree to the Commission’s proposal. 

 

Click here for the Council’s press release