European Solidarity Corps programme 2021–2027

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2021/888 establishing the European Solidarity Corps programme

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme aims to enhance the engagement of young people and organisations in accessible and high-quality solidarity activities*, primarily volunteering, as a means to strengthen cohesion, solidarity, democracy, European identity and active citizenship in the European Union (EU) and beyond.

KEY POINTS

• The programme is intended as a unique EU gateway to solidarity activities for young people.
• It replaces the European Solidarity Corps 2018–2020 and also builds on the European Voluntary Service, the EU’s previous volunteering initiative (part of the Erasmus+ programme until 2018), and the EU Aid Volunteers programme 2014–2020.
• The programme is required to be consistent and complementary with other EU policies, in particular with the EU youth strategy and with Erasmus+, established by Regulation (EU) 2021/817 (see summary).

Specific objective

The ESC programme aims to provide young people, including those with fewer opportunities, with easily accessible opportunities for engagement in solidarity activities that induce positive changes in society in the EU and beyond, while also improving and properly validating their skills, and facilitating their continuous engagement as active citizens.

Action strands

The programme sets up two strands of action for the participation of young people.

• Participation of young people in solidarity activities. Actions under this strand include volunteering and solidarity projects.
• The European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. Actions under this strand include volunteering and must contribute to providing needs-based humanitarian aid aimed at preserving life, preventing and alleviating human suffering and maintaining human dignity, while also strengthening the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities.

Both strands of the programme also include networking activities, and quality and support measures.

The programme will be implemented through work programmes adopted by the European Commission by means of implementing acts.

Participation

• The ESC offers voluntary activities to young people between 18 and 30 years of age. The upper age limit for volunteers in the field of humanitarian aid is 35, with the possibility of hiring experts and coaches without an upper age limit.
• Projects can last up to 36 months and include one or several supported activities running simultaneously or consecutively.
• The programme allows young people to take part in more than one project, provided that the total time of their activity supported by the programme is not more than 12 months.
• The young people may go through the ‘Youthpass’ process and obtain a certificate at the end of the experience, explaining the activities in which they participated, reflecting the learning process of the participants and documenting the skills they acquired through their participation.

Budget

• The programme runs from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027, the duration of the multiannual financial framework.
• The financial envelope for the implementation of the programme for 2021–2027 is set at €1.009 billion in current prices.
• With a maximum of 20% allocated to national volunteering, the amount is broken down as follows:
  • 94% for volunteering and solidarity projects;
  • 6% for volunteering under the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps.

Inclusion measures

In 2021, the Commission adopted an implementing act aimed at more inclusive and diverse participation in the ESC programme for the 2021–2027 period. Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1877 will enable more people to volunteer in another country by reaching out to increasing numbers of people with fewer opportunities, thus improving equity and inclusion in the programme. The measures include:

• increased financial support for people with fewer opportunities to cover any additional expenses or needs;
• tailored support to participants throughout all phases of their project such as linguistic support, preparatory visits and reinforced mentorship before, during and after their project or mobility to ensure that they get the most out of their experience;
• additional help for participating organisations involved in inclusive projects;
• a wider array of projects and mobility opportunities of different durations and formats (virtual or physical, individual or in a group) to allow all participants to find what best fits their needs;
• giving priority to quality projects involving participants with fewer opportunities and addressing the themes of inclusion and diversity;
• the availability of more user-friendly, accessible and multilingual documents and materials.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2021.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

• European Solidarity Corps guide (European Commission)
• European Solidarity Corps (European Youth Portal)
• European Solidarity Corps (website).

KEY TERMS

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2021/888 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing the European Solidarity Corps Programme and repealing Regulations (EU) 2018/1475 and (EU) No 375/2014 (OJ L 202, 8.6.2021, pp. 32–54).

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1877 of 22 October 2021 on the framework of inclusion measures of the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Programmes 2021–2027 (OJ L 378, 26.10.2021, pp. 15–21).

Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 (OJ L 189, 28.5.2021, pp. 1–33).

Resolution of the Council of the European Union and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on a framework for European cooperation in the youth field: The European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027 (OJ C 456, 18.12.2018, pp. 1–22).

European Parliament legislative resolution P8_TA(2018)0328 European Solidarity Corps ***I of 11 September 2018 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the legal framework of the European Solidarity Corps and amending Regulations (EU) No 1288/2013, (EU) No 1293/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1305/2013, (EU) No 1306/2013 and Decision No 1313/2013/EU (COM(2017) 262 – C8-0162/2017 – 2017/0102(COD)) P8_TC1-COD(2017)0102 – Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 11 September 2018 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2018/… of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the legal framework of the European Solidarity Corps and amending Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013, Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 and Decision No 1313/2013/EU (OJ C 433, 23.12.2019, pp. 222–224).

last update 23.03.2022