Activities of Adam SZEJNFELD related to 2018/0230(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
European Solidarity Corps programme (A8-0079/2019 - Michaela Šojdrová) PL
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Solidarity Corps programme and repealing [European Solidarity Corps Regulation] and Regulation (EU) No 375/2014
Amendments (26)
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Given the significant increase in humanitarian crises and global emergencies, and with a view to enhancing the promotion of solidarity and the visibility of humanitarian aid among Union citizens, there is a need to develop solidarity between Member States and with third countries affected by man-made or natural disasters.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid, which was signed in 2007, shall provide the framework within which the EU will respond to humanitarian crises. It reaffirms the commitment to an approach based on needs and the fundamental principles of neutrality, humanity, independence and impartiality. The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid should guide the activities of the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 b (new)
Recital 4 b (new)
(4b) Participating volunteers and organisations implementing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps should abide by the principles set out in the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The solidarity activities offered to young people should be of high quality, in the sense that they should respond to unmet societal needs, contribute to strengthening communities, offer young people the opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge and competences, be financially accessible to young people, and be implemented in safe and healthy conditions. Where appropriate, volunteers should also contribute to capacity building and support volunteering in partner countries, thus adding strong developmental value to solidarity activities.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Volunteering activities (both within and beyond the Union) constitute a rich experience in a non-formal and informal learning context which enhances young people’s personal, socio-educational and professional development, sense of responsibility, active citizenship and employability. Volunteering activities should not have an adverse effect on potential or existing paid employment, nor should they be seen as a substitute for it. The Commission and the Member States should cooperate regarding volunteering policies in the youth field via the open method of coordination.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) National agencies should encourage former participants to become ambassadors of the European Solidarity Corps in order to share their experiences through youth organisations, educational institutions and workshops. As ambassadors, they would participate in the training of future candidates, thus contributing to the promotion of the programme. To that end, national agencies should provide volunteers with support.
Amendment 71 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Particular attention should be given to ensuring the quality of the activities and other opportunities offered under the European Solidarity Corps, in particular by offering training, language support, insurance, administrative and post-activity support to participants as well as the validation of the knowledge, skills and competences acquired through their European Solidarity Corps experience. Security and safety of the volunteers remain of paramouAdequate training, security and protection of volunteers remain essential and should be subject to regular information exchange and risk assessment, importance and vn particular with regard to the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. Volunteers should not be deployed to operations conducted in the theatre of international and non-international armed conflicts.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The EU principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination should be fully respected at all stages of the implementation of the European Solidarity Corps, including the identification and selection of participating volunteers and organisations.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) A quality label should ensure compliance of the participating organisations with universal values, the principles and objectives of the EU, as well as the principles and requirements of the European Solidarity Corps, as regards their rights and responsibilities during all stages of the solidarity experience. Obtaining a quality label is a precondition for participation but should not automatically lead to funding under the European Solidarity Corps.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Any entity willing to participate in the European Solidarity Corps should receive a quality label provided that the appropriate conditions are fulfilled. The process that leads to the attribution of a quality label should be carried out on a continuous basis by the implementing bodies of the European Solidarity Corps, in line with existing certification schemes and with a view to the simplification of administrative procedures. The attributed quality label should be reassessed periodically and could be revoked if, in the context of the checks to be performed, the conditions that led to its attribution were found to be no longer fulfilled.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The European Solidarity Corps Portal should be continuously developed in order to ensure easy access to the European Solidarity Corps and to provide a one-stop shop for both interested individuals and organisations as regards, inter alia, registration, identification and matching of profiles and opportunities, networking and virtual exchanges, online training, language and post-activity support as well as other useful functionalities, which may arise in the future. Given the particularly long time lag between the volunteer's arrival and the deployment of a humanitarian aid mission, it is important to ensure that participants in humanitarian activities do not face additional barriers compared to participants in other areas.
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) The European Solidarity Corps targets young people aged 18-30, and pbut the specific nature of humanitarian aid operations in third countries allows for the participation of people up to the age of 35 in relation to the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. Participation in the activities offered by the European Solidarity Corps should require prior registration in the European Solidarity Corps Portal.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) In order to better achieve the objectives of the Programme, the Commission, Member States and national agencies should preferably work closely together in partnership with national governments, non- governmental organisations, youth organisations, the private sector and local stakeholders having expertise in solidarity actions, in accordance with existing national and regional volunteer programmes.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 42
Recital 42
(42) In order to ensure sound financial management, cost optimisation and legal certainty in each participating country, each national authority should designate an independent audit body. Where feasible, and in order to maximise efficiency, the independent audit body could be the same as the one designated for the actions referred to in Chapter III of [New Erasmus Regulation].
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) ‘registered candidate’ means an individual aged between 17 and 30 years, and up to 35 years for the activities referred to in Chapter IV, who has registered in the European Solidarity Corps Portal to express the interest to engage in a solidarity activity but is not yet participating in such activity;
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) ‘participant’ means an individual aged between 18 and 30 years, and up to 35 years for the activities referred to in Chapter IV, who has registered in the European Solidarity Corps Portal and takes part in a solidarity activity under the European Solidarity Corps;
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Programme is to enhance the engagement of young people and organisations in accessible and high-quality solidarity and non-profit activities as a means to contribute to strengthening cohesion, solidarity, sustainable development and democracy in the Union and abroad, addressing societal and humanitarian challenges on the ground, with particular effort to promote social inclusion.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
(a a) solidarity projects, as referred to in Article 9;
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. On the basis of a prior assessment of needs in third countries, this Regulation should support actions aimed at strengthening humanitarian aid capacity in order to enhance local preparedness and response to humanitarian crises and to ensure that volunteers' work has an effective and sustainable impact on the ground, including: a) management of risks associated with natural disasters, preparedness and response, coaching, training in volunteer management, and other relevant areas for staff and volunteers from hosting organisations; b) exchange of best practices, technical assistance, twinning programmes and exchange of staff and volunteers, creation of networks and other relevant actions.
Amendment 118 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Volunteering must meet the real needs and gaps identified at local level by the host organisations.
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Assessing the level of risk with regard to the safety and security of volunteers should be a priority, especially in countries or areas considered to be unstable, or where there are immediate risks.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 a (new)
Article 11 a (new)
Article 11a Identification and selection of candidate volunteers 1. On the basis of a prior assessment of needs in third countries, the Commission should identify and select candidate volunteers for training in cooperation with national agencies and host organisations. 2. The identification and selection of candidate volunteers shall be carried out in accordance with Article 14, respecting the principles of non-discrimination, gender equality and equal opportunities.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 b (new)
Article 11 b (new)
Article 11b Training of candidate volunteers 1. Building on existing programmes and procedures, the Commission shall establish a training programme to prepare candidate volunteers to support and complement humanitarian aid actions. 2. Candidate volunteers who have been identified and selected in accordance with the application procedure shall be eligible to participate in the training programme implemented by qualified organisations. The individual scope and content of the training to be undertaken by each volunteer candidate shall be determined in consultation with the certified host organisation according to needs, taking into account the previous experience of the volunteer candidate and the planned volunteering location. 3. The training programme shall include an assessment of the readiness of candidate volunteers to be seconded to support and complement humanitarian aid activities in third countries, as well as to meet local needs.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Young people aged 17 to 30 years, and up to 35 years in relation to the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, willing to participate in the European Solidarity Corps shall register in the European Solidarity Corps Portal. However, at the moment of commencing volunteering, traineeship, job or a solidarity project a young person shall be at least 18 years of age and not older than 30. For the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, the maximum age limit shall be 35 years. The following are eligible to apply for volunteer status: a) EU citizens, b) third-country nationals legally residing in a Member State, and c) nationals of the countries referred to in Article 14 under the conditions laid down in that Article.
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 2
Article 28 – paragraph 2
2. The actions of the European Solidarity Corps shall also be consistent with and complementary to the relevant policies, programmes and instruments at national level in the participating countries, in order to guarantee a sense of responsibility on the part of the participating countries. To this end, the Commission, national authorities and national agencies shall exchange information on existing national schemes and priorities related to solidarity and youth, youth and humanitarian needs, on the one hand, and actions under the European Solidarity Corps, on the other hand, with a view to build on relevant good practices and achieve efficiency and effectiveness.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 3
Article 28 – paragraph 3
3. The actions of the European Solidarity Corps in third countries referred to in Article 11 shall be in particular consistent with and complementary to other areas of Union external action, in particular humanitarian aid policy, development cooperation policy, security policy, enlargement policy, neighbourhood policy and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.