Major European civil society networks welcome decision of the European Commission to work towards the European Year of Volunteering 2011.  This announcement follows an intensive two and a half year campaign led by an alliance of nineteen European networks active in volunteering and coordinated by the European Volunteer Centre (CEV).

We are delighted to see that the European Commission has taken up a civil society initiative. We believe that the decision to work towards 2011 as the European Year of Volunteering brings the Commission closer to the people of Europe and to their real concerns. It has responded to the voice of its citizens: over 100 million Europeans contribute to society as volunteers, putting into practice shared values of solidarity, social cohesion and active citizenship.

Since volunteers contribute to so many EU policies, we welcome this move to acknowledge, celebrate and promote their engagement. We want the European Year of Volunteering 2011 to make an impact at every level and we are ready to support the Commission in its efforts to organise and deliver a meaningful and successful Year.

A number of European bodies (the European Economic and Social Committee (2006); the Council of Education and Youth Ministers (2007); the Committee of the Regions (2008) and the European Parliament, with a Written Declaration adopted by 454 MEPs in 2008) have already declared their support for this Year.

The European Year of Volunteering is both a celebration and a challenge: It is a celebration of the commitment of the 94 million people in Europe who work in their communities during their free time without being paid – in schools, hospitals, and sports clubs, protecting the environment, providing social services and helping people in developing countries.

Their efforts make a huge difference to our lives in countless ways. The world would be much worse off without volunteers! The EYV is also a challenge to the three-quarters of the European population who do not do any volunteering. We would like to say to them that they can also make a difference. Perhaps they have a mistaken view of how volunteering can benefit the individual as well as society, or they have been prevented from getting involved for some reasonWhat is the aim of the European Year of Volunteering?

The goals of the European Year of Volunteering are as follows:

• To help create a more volunteer-friendly environment, with more people participating in civic activities throughout Europe. 
• To enable volunteer organisations to be a more effective force – to make it easier for people to volunteer and to foster greater cooperation among volunteer organisations and other sectors throughout the EU.
• To encourage the recognition and compensation of volunteering activities. 
• To increase awareness of the value of volunteering to the economy and society – volunteering is not only enriching for the individual, but it is also a valuable expression of civic engagement that makes a significant contribution to society. 

Who will benefit and how?
The European Year of Volunteering will enable volunteers all over Europe to meet and learn about best practices in each European country. Public authorities, volunteer organisations and businesses will learn more about volunteering and how to make it easier for people to contribute. People who have never heard about volunteering will learn to appreciate what volunteers do and might become volunteers themselves one day. Do you want to know more about the European Year of Volunteering 2011? Visit the official campaign website: www.ec.europa.eu/volunteering

EYV 2011 Tour 
The EYV 2011 Tour will bring Europe closer to volunteers, but will also bring them closer to society as a whole. The campaign will tour Europe’s 27 capitals over a one-year period. It will last from one week to fifteen days in each Member State, and will provide volunteers and organisations involving volunteers with an opportunity to: Exhibit their work Meet each other Share their concern with citizens and convey their energy and enthusiasm Discuss key issues for the future of volunteers Citizens and volunteers will also discover aspects of volunteering in other Member States and better understand the European dimension of volunteering.  The European Tour launches in Brussels from the 5th to 21st December 2009 and the tour will be in Dublin from August 8th to 14th 2011.

Further Information and resources will be available online in the coming months.

Below is a video relating to the launch of the year at the EU Commission.

>> 100 Million Europeans = 100% Volunteers
>> 2011 European Year of Volunteering