Activities of Jean LAMBERT related to 2017/0102(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION 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
Amendments (35)
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In its Communication “A European Solidarity Corps” of 7 December 201618 , the Commission emphasised the need to strengthen the foundations for solidarity work across Europe, to provide young people with more and better opportunities for solidarity activities covering a broad range of areas, and to support national and local, regional and local governmental and not for profit actors, in their efforts to cope with different challenges and crises. The Communication launched a first phase of the European Solidarity Corps whereby different Union programmes have been mobilised to offer volunteering, traineeship or job opportunities to young people across the EU. These activities, whether implemented before or after the entry into force of this Regulation, should continue to apply the rules and conditions set by the respective Union programmes that have financed them under the first phase of the European Solidarity Corps. __________________ 18 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions A European Solidarity Corps, COM(2016) 942 final of 7.12.2016.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Young people should be provided with easily accessible opportunities to engage in solidarity activities, which could enable them to express their commitment to the benefit of communities while acquiring useful experience, skills and competences for their personal, educational, social, civic and professional development, thereby improving their employability. Those activities would also support the mobility of young volunteers, and trainees and workers.
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The solidarity activities offered to young people should be of high quality, in the sense that they shouldhelp respond to unmet societal needs, and contribute to strengthening communities, offer young people and citizenship, and should therefore be of high quality and effectively accessible to young people, offering them the opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge and competences, be financially accessible to young people and to have their efforts recognised, and be implemented in safe and healthy conditions. Particular efforts should be made to ensure the effective inclusiveness and accessibility of the solidarity activities offered, notably in relation to young people with fewer opportunities.
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The European Solidarity Corps would provide a singlemain entry point for solidarity activities carried out by young people throughout the Union. Consistency and complementarity of that framework should be ensured with other relevant Union policies and programmes. The European Solidarity Corps should build on the strengths and synergies of existing programmes, notably the European Voluntary Service. It should also complement the efforts made by Member States to support young people and ease their school-to-work transition under the Youth Guarantee19 by providing them with additional opportunities to make a start on the labour market in the form of traineeships or jobs in solidarity-related areas within their respective Member State or across borders. Complementarity with existing Union level networks pertinent to the activities under the European Solidarity Corps, such as the European Network of Public Employment Services, EURES and the Eurodesk network, should also be ensurin accessing volunteering opportunities and ease their school-to-work transition. Complementarity with existing Union level networks pertinent to the activities under the European Solidarity Corps, such as the European Network of Public Employment Services, EURES and the Eurodesk network should be ensured as well as links with bodies such as, the European Youth Forum (YFJ), the European Volunteer Centre (CEV) and other relevant civil society organisations including the social partners. Partnerships with European networks which are specialised in certain urgent social problems which are insufficiently tackled by Member States such as extreme poverty, homelessness, destitution among Roma communities, exclusion of asylum seekers, should be established. Furthermore, complementarity between existing related schemes, in particular national solidarity schemes and mobility schemes for young people, and the European Solidarity Corps should be ensured, building on good practices where appropriate. __________________ 19 Council Recommendation of 22 April 2013 on establishing a Youth Guarantee (2013/C 120/01).
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The European Solidarity Corps should open up new opportunities for young people to carry out volunteering, traineeship or job placements in solidarity- related areas as well as to devise and develop solidarity projects based on their own initiative. Those opportunities should contribute to enhancing their personal, educational, social, civic and professional development. The European Solidarity Corps should also support networking activities for European Solidarity Corps participants and organisations as well as measures to ensure the quality of the supported activities and to enhance the validation of their learning outcomes. It should also contribute to supporting and strengthening existing organisations implementing solidarity actions.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Voluntary activities constitute a rich experience in a non-formal and informal learning context which enhances young people's personal, socio-educational and professional development, active citizenship and employability. Voluntary activities should not have an adverse effect on potential or existing paid employment, nor should they be seen as a substitute for it. However, given the cross-sectorial nature of solidarity-related activities, the different status of entities and organisations potentially involved into these activities, as well as the socio-economic significance of the solidarity sector in the EU, provisions should be taken in this Regulation to ensure that voluntary activities do not have an adverse effect on potential or existing paid employment, nor should they be seen or effectively deployed as a substitute for it. For this reason, solidarity placements in the form of volunteering under this Regulation should be offered exclusively by public authorities or by participating organisations in the non-profit and social economy sectors .In order to ensure continuity with respect to the volunteering activities that are supported at Union level, the volunteering activities under the European Voluntary Service that fall within the geographical scope of the European Solidarity Corps should be supported by the latter in the form of cross- border volunteering placements. The other volunteering activities under the European Voluntary Service that do not fall under the geographical scope of the European Solidarity Corps should continue to be supported under the Programme established by Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing 'Erasmus+': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport20 . With respect to the interpretation of related legislation at Union level, both the cross-border volunteering placements under the European Solidarity Corps and the volunteering activities that continue to be supported under Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 should be considered equivalent to those carried out under the European Voluntary Service. __________________ 20 Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing 'Erasmus+': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and No 1298/2008/EC, OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 50.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Traineeships and jobshe European Solidarity Corps will also provide for a framework for traineeships and start-up employment initiatives launched by young people in solidarity- related areas can offer additional opportunities for young people to make a start on the labour market while contributing to addressing key societal challenges. This can help foster the employability and productivity of young people while, which should be clearly separated from voluntary activities, both from a financial and organisational point of view. Besides, remunerated traineeships and start-up employment initiatives launched by young people can represent an incentive for young people with fewer opportunities to participate in solidarity-related activities that they may not be able to afford otherwise. The traineeship placements can easinge their transition of young people from education to employment, which is key to enhancing their chances onachieve their sustainable integration into the labour market. The traineeship placements offered under the European Solidarity Corps should always be remunerated by the participating organisation and should follow the quality principles outlined in the Council Recommendation on establishing a Quality Framework for Traineeships of 10 March 201421 . The traineeships and job, the traineeship placements should be based on a written agreement concluded at the beginning of the traineeship between the trainee and the participating organisation, which should indicate the educational and training objectives, the working conditions, the remuneration and the rights and obligations of the parties under applicable national law and/or applicable collective agreements of the participating country where the traineeship takes place, as well as the duration of the traineeship. Traineeship placements offered should constitute a stepping stone for young people to enter the labour market and should therefore be accompanied by adequatenot substitute jobs. Traineeship placements should be temporary and should have a reasonable duration, as defined in this Regulation. Start-up employment initiatives in solidarity- related areas initiated by young people could for instance consist in the setting up, piloting and development of associations, cooperatives, social enterprises, youth organisations, and community centres. Traineeships should be accompanied by adequate preparation, on-the-job training and post-placement support. The traineeship and job placements should be facilitated by relevant labour market actors, in particular public and private employment services, social partners and Chambers of Commerce. Start-up employment initiatives should also benefit from technical support and advice, such as assistance in the development of the business plan, legal, financial and fiscal advice, risk assessment, mentorship, stakeholders’ mapping, advice on communications, promotion and marketing activities. As participating organisations, they should be able to apply for funding via the competent implementing structure of the European Solidarity Corps in view of intermediating between the young participants and employers offering traineeship and job placements in solidarity sectors. __________________ 21 Council Recommendation of 10 March 2014 on a Quality Framework for Traineeships, OJ C 88, 27.3.2014, p. 1.
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Young people’s spirit of initiative is an important asset for society and for the labour market. The European Solidarity Corps should contribute to fostering this aspect by offering young people the opportunity to devise and implement their own projects aimed at addressing specific challenges to the benefit of their local communities. Those projects should be an opportunity to try out ideas and support young people to be themselves drivers of solidarity actions. They could also serve as a springboard for further engagement in solidarity activities and could be a first step towards encouraging European Solidarity Corps participants to engage in self- employmentocial entrepreneurship or setting up associations, NGOs or other bodies active in the solidarity, non-profit and youth sectors.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Particular attention should be paid to ensuring the quality of the placements and other opportunities offered under the European Solidarity Corps, in particular by offering online and offline training, language support, insurance, administrative and pre and post- placement support to participants as well as the validation of the knowledge, skills and competences acquired through their European Solidarity Corps experience. This support should be created in collaboration with youth organisations, other civil society organisations and start-up support structures in order to tap into their expertise on the field. Post-placement support should also prioritise the continuous civic engagement of the participants in their community, guiding them towards local organisations or projects to engage with after the placement.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) To ensure the impact of European Solidarity Corps placements on the personal, educational, social, civic and professional development of the participants, the knowledge, skills and competences that are the learning outcomes of the placement should be properly identified and, documented, assessed and certified, in accordance with national circumstances and specificities, as recommended in the Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning22 . This process should be facilitated by the European Commission which published for this purpose the European Guidelines for validating non- formal and informal learning and a European Inventory on validation. __________________ 22 Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation of non- formal and informal learning, OJ C 398, 22.12.2012, p. 1.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) A quality label for volunteering placements should be put in place to ensure compliance of the participating organisations with the principles and requirements of the European Solidarity Corps Charter, as regards their rights and responsibilities during all stages of the solidarity experience. Obtaining a quality label should be a precondition for participation but should not automatically lead to funding under the European Solidarity Corps. The quality label should be created in partnership with relevant stakeholders. With regard to the quality of traineeship placements, quality standards are already defined by national legislation, plus the European Quality Framework for Traineeships. Specific rules similar to the ex-ante conditionality on the transition from institutional to community-based services contained in the European Structural and Investment Funds regulations will be developed in the Staff Working Document to ensure European funding does not lead to building institutional services.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) A European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre established through a transparent procurement procedure should assist the implementing bodies, the participating organisations and the young people taking part in the European Solidarity Corps in order to raise the quality of the implementation and of the activities of the European Solidarity Corps as well as to enhance the identification and validation of competences acquired through these activities. The resources centre should publicize the European guidelines and assist young people in case of abuses concerning the volunteering and traineeships placements.
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) A European Solidarity Corps Portal should continuously be 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, information on existing solidarity placements or projects and on participating organisations, relevant European and national contact points, online training, language and pre and post- placement support, direct feedback mechanisms as well as other useful functionalities, which may arise in the future. Particular attention will be made for the Portal to be fully accessible by all young people regardless of their abilities.
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17 a) A quality Framework with quality standards for European Solidarity Corps placement offers should be developed. The basis of this should be existing legislation protecting the rights of interns and volunteers both at EU and national level, in terms of social protection, minimum income, stability, employment rights, mental and physical health. The definition of the standards should be an inclusive process with the full participation of social partners, youth organisations and volunteering organisations.
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) For reasons of efficiency and effectiveness, the committee established under Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 should also assist the Commission in the implementation of this Regulation. With respect to the European Solidarity Corps, that committee should convene in a specific configuration and its mandate should be aligned in order to fulfil this new role. It should be for the participating countries to appoint the relevant representatives for those meetings, taking into account the volunteering and occupational dimensions of the European Solidarihat should include as permanent observers the European Youth Forum, the European Volunteer Centre and other relevant civil society Corpganisations.
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) The financial envelope of the European Solidarity Corps under Heading 1a of the Multiannual Financial Framework should additionally be supplemented by financial contributions from other programmes and headings, which require the amendment of Regulations (EU) No 1293/201327 , (EU) No 1303/201328 , (EU) No 1305/201329 , (EU) No 1306/201330 as well as of Decision No 1313/2013/EU31 of the European Parliament and of the Council. That financial envelope should be supplemented whilst ensuring that there is no detrimental impact on existing funding provisions for volunteering, social inclusion and employment already provided in existing programmes. Furthermore, in order to ensure the success and effectiveness of the Initiative and in particular to support young people with fewer opportunities, the budget should be increased by the use of all financial means available under the existing MFF-Regulation. Investment in the European Solidarity Corps should be accompanied by increased investment in other complementary EU programmes such as Erasmus+ and the Youth Employment Initiative __________________ 27 Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the establishment of a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 614/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 185). 28 Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p.320). 29 Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 487). 30 Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 352/78, (EC) No 165/94, (EC) No 2799/98, (EC) No 814/2000, (EC) No 1290/2005 and (EC) No 485/2008 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 549). 31 Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism, (OJ L347 20.12.2013, p. 924).
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) “solidarity activity” means an activity, delivered by a non-profit or social economy organisation or in close collaboration with one, aimed at addressing unmet societal needs to the benefit of a community while also fostering the individual’s personal, educational, social, civic and professional development, which may take the form of placements, projects or networking activities with a European added value and a transnational dimension, developed in relation to different areas, such as formal and non-formal education and training, employment, gender equality, entrepreneurship, in particularyouth work, employment, social inclusion, equality and anti- discrimination, gender equality, social entrepreneurship, citizenship and democratic participation, environment and nature protection, climate action, disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery, solidarity, agriculture and rural development, provision of food and non- food items, health and wellbeing, creativity and culture, physical education and sport, social assistance and welfare, reception and integration of third-country nationals, including asylum seekers and refugees, territorial cooperation and cohesion;
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) “disadvantaged young people"young person with fewer opportunities” means an individuals aged 17 to 30 who needs additional support because of disabilityhe or she is at a disadvantage compared to his or her peers since he or she faces one or more exclusion factors or obstacles such as disability, health status, educational difficulties, economic obstacl or learning disabilities, cultural differences, health problemsrace or ethnic origin, gender identity or sexual orientation, economic, social obstacles,r geographical obstacles;,
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(4) “participating organisation” means any public or private entity, or NGO or actor from civil society, that has been attributed the European Solidarity Corps quality label, which offers a volunteering or traineeship placement to a participant in the European Solidarity Corps or implements other activities in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps;
Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
(5) “solidarity placement” means a volunteering activity, or traineeship or job in a solidarity-related area, which is organised by a participating organisation and which contributes to addressing key societal challenges while enhancing the personal, educational, social, civic and professional development and the employability of the European Solidarity Corps participant who undertakes it, either in a country other than the country of residence (cross-border) or, exceptionally for young people with fewer opportunities, in the country of residence of the participant (in-country);
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
(6) “volunteering” means a full-time32 unpaid voluntary service within a public authority or a participating organisation in the non- profit or social economy sector, either full-time32, part-time or during free time for a period of up to twelve months, which provides young people with the opportunity to contribute to the daily work of organisations active in solidarity-related fields, to the ultimate benefit of the communities within which the activities are carried out, including a solid learning and training dimension in order to enable the young volunteer(s) to gain skills and competences, which will be useful for their personal, educational, social and professional development, and which will also contribute to improving their employability; __________________ 32 As a general principle, an activity carried out continuously, 5 days a week for 7 hours a day.
Amendment 170 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
(8) “traineeship” means a period of work practice from two to twelve months,hree to six months, renewable only once and for a maximum duration of twelve months within the same participating organisation with experience and expertise in the relevant solidarity area remunerated by the organiszation hosting the European Solidarity Corps participant, based on a written traineeship agreement, which includes a learning and training component, and is undertaken in order to gain practical and professional experience with a view to improving employability and facilitating transition to regular employmentgain competences useful for the personal, educational, social, civic and professional development of the participant. It shall be based on a written agreement concluded at the beginning of the traineeship between the participant and the participating organisation, indicating the educational objectives, the working conditions, the remuneration and the rights and obligations of the parties under national law and/or applicable collective agreements of the country where the traineeship takes place, as well as the duration of the traineeship. Such traineeships shall not substitute jobs;
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Amendment 184 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10
(10) “solidarity project” means a local initiative for a period from two to twelve months, which is set up and carried out by groups of at least five European Solidarity Corps participants, with a view to addressing key challenges within their local community while linking them to a broader European perspective. The organisation of guidance as well as pre- support and post-support by an intermediary organisation or the local authorities is mandatory for a solidarity action to take place in order to ensure the sustainability of the project and the quality of the services delivered;
Amendment 185 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10 a (new)
(10 a) “Start-up employment initiative” in solidarity-related areas means any entrepreneurial activity initiated by young people, such as the setting up, piloting and development of associations, cooperatives, social enterprises, youth organisations, and community centres. Financial support will be given to cover the expenses linked with the start-up, as well as to cover the salaries, social security and social protection of the jobs created. Technical support and advice will cover the assistance in the development of the business plan, legal, financial and fiscal advice, risk assessment, mentorship, stakeholders’ mapping, advice on communications, promotion and marketing activities;
Amendment 188 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
(11) “quality label” means the certification attributed to a public or private entity or an international organisation willing to provide placements under the European Solidarity Corps following a procedure aimed at ensuring compliance with the principles and requirements of the European Solidarity Corps Charter and at ensuring the quality of services delivered by the participating organisations;
Amendment 203 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) increasing the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities in the European Solidarity Corps by creating adapted formats and promoting special tailored and personalized guidance, support measures and a ‘Special Needs’ dedicated budget;
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) solidarity placements, in the form of (i) volunteering; (ii) traineeships or start-up employment initiatives launched by young people; (iii) projects and networking activities;
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) solidarity placements in the form of volunteering, or traineeships or jobs, including individual cross-border and, exceptionally for young people with fewer opportunities, in- country placements as well as volunteering teams’ placements;
Amendment 213 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) measures aimed at ensuring the quality and accessibility of solidarity placements, including online and offline training, language support, administrative support for participants and participating organisations, insurance, pre and post- placement support as well as the development of a certificate, building on the experience of the Youth Pass, that identifies and documents, assesses and certifies the knowledge, skills and competences acquired during the placement;
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
Amendment 222 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The remaining should be financed by the use of all financial means available under the existing MFF-Regulation;
Amendment 224 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. The financial support to solidarity placements and projects referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Article 7(1) shall indicatively be 805% for volunteering placements and solidarity projects; and 2015% for traineeship and job placementstart-up employment initiatives.
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
4. The financial allocation may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities which are required for the management of the European Solidarity Corps and the achievement of its objectives, in particular, tailored and personalized support to participating young people with fewer opportunities, studies, meetings of experts and information and communication actions, expenses linked to the establishment, maintenance and updating of the European Solidarity Corps Portal and the necessary IT support systems, and all other technical and administrative assistance expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the European Solidarity Corps.
Amendment 229 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. When implementing this Regulation, the Commission and the participating countries shall ensure that particular efforts are made to promote social inclusion, in particular for the participation of disadvantaged young people.young people with fewer opportunities. Indicatively 40% of traineeship placements should be addressed to young people with fewer opportunities. Those efforts shall include adjusted support systems and guidance, special contact persons and individual formats and short-term placements, the additional costs for which for participating organisations shall be covered. The European Solidarity Corps /Initiative shall be fully accessible to persons with disabilities through individualised reasonable accommodation and information on their accessibility rights should be made available to young persons with disabilities to encourage their participation;