51 Amendments of Eider GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL related to 2017/0102(COD)
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The State of the Union address of 14 September 201617 emphasized the need to invest in young people and announced the establishment of a European Solidarity Corps with a view to creating opportunities for young people across the Union to make a meaningful contribution to society, show solidarity and develop their skills, competences and knowledge, thus getting not only work but also and invaluable human experience, which is key as well for the emergence of an active and engaged EU citizenship. __________________ 17 The State of the Union 2016: Towards a Better Europe – A Europe that Protects, Empowers and Defends, IP/16/3042 (http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16- 3042_en.htm).
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Young people should be provided with easily accessible opportunities to engage in solidarity activities, which cwould bring positive effects to society while also enableing them to express their commitment to the benefit of communities whileand 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, trainees and workers.
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The European Solidarity Corps would provide a singlemain entry point for solidarity activities throughout the Union, to which young people can directly refer to. 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 and other relevant civil society organizations including networks representing employers and trade unions, should also be ensured. 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 182 #
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, and 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. 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 186 #
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 in solidarity with and to the benefit of their local communities. Those projects should be an opportunity to try out ideadevelop innovative solutions 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-employment or setting up associations, NGOeither as volunteers or as employees in associations, NGOs, youth organisations or other bodies active in the solidarity, non-profit and youth sectors and set up their own associations.
Amendment 202 #
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 and provided in collaboration with youth organisations and other civil society organisations in order to tap into their expertise on the field. Post-placement support should also prioritise the continuous civic engagement of the participant in their community, guiding them towards local organisations or projects to engage with after the placement.
Amendment 209 #
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 and recognised, 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. As a recognition tool, a Youthpass certificate should be used in order to describe and validate the non- formal and informal learning outcomes acquired through their European Solidarity Corps experience. This European tool will improve the recognition of the learning outcomes of young people. __________________ 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 226 #
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.
Amendment 232 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) 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 workers, interns and volunteers both at EU and national level, in terms of social protection, minimum income, stability, employment protection, 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 246 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) Investing in the European Solidarity Corps must not come at the expense of other EU programmes already offering very valuable opportunities to young people, particularly the Erasmus+ programme and the Youth Employment Initiative. Investment in the European Solidarity Corps should be accompanied by increased investment in other complementary EU programmes and, in the case of Erasmus+ Programmes, 10% of the budget should remain invested in the Youth Chapter of the Programme as initially decided by the co-legislators.
Amendment 248 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 b (new)
Recital 21 b (new)
(21b) The Commission should take initiative to develop an EU Agenda for Volunteering, taking into account the Policy Agenda for Volunteering (PAVE), aimed at guaranteeing the recognition and respect of the rights of volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations and the reduction of administrative and legal barriers to volunteering and volunteer- involving organisations across Europe, in addition to fostering, promoting and supporting a wider culture of solidarity and volunteering in Europe.
Amendment 254 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) IAs in EVS, in addition to the Member States, the European Solidarity Corps should also be open to the participation of other countries on the basis of bilateral agreementErasmus+ Programme and Partner Countries, with particular attention to countries neighbouring the EU, from its start in order to promote equality of opportunities between young people from EU and non- EU countries. This participation should be based, where relevant, on additional appropriations to be made available in accordance with the procedures to be agreed with the concerned countries.
Amendment 256 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The European Solidarity Corps should target young people aged 186-30. It should target young people from 16 for part-time and free-time in-country volunteer placements, solidarity projects and volunteer teams’ placements and from 18 for cross-border volunteer placements, jobs and traineeships. Participation in the activities offered by the European Solidarity Corps should require prior registration in the European Solidarity Corps Portal.
Amendment 262 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Special attention should be paid to ensuring that the activities supported by the European Solidarity Corps are accessible to all young people, notably the most disadvantaged ones such as people with special needs. Special measures should therefore be put in place to promote social inclusion, the participation of disadvantaged young people, such as those with special needs as well as to take into account the constraints imposed by the remoteness of the outermost regions of the Union and the Overseas Countries and Territories24 . Similarly, the participating countries should endeavour to adopt all appropriate measures to remove legal and administrative obstacles to the proper functioning of the European Solidarity Corps. This includes resolving, where possible, and without prejudice to the Schengen acquis and Union law on the entry and residence of third-country nationals, administrative issues that create difficulties in obtaining visas and residence permits. __________________ 24 Individuals from an overseas country or territory (OCT) and competent public and /or private bodies and institutions from an OCT may participate in the programmes in accordance with Council Decision 2001/822/EC of 27 November 2001 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Community, OJ L314, 30.11.2001, p.1.
Amendment 270 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) An entity willing to apply for funding to offer placements under the European Solidarity Corps should have first received a quality label as a precondition. This requirement should not apply to natural persons seeking financial support on behalf of an informal group of European Solidarity Corps participants for their solidarity projects and should be accompanied by simplified application procedures and open deadlines.
Amendment 274 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Effective performance management, including monitoring and evaluation as well as the fulfilment of objectives determined in this Regulation, requires the development of specific, measurable and realistic indicators which can be measured over time and which reflect the logic of the intervention.
Amendment 289 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) In compliance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the European Union26, the Commission should adopt work programmes and inform the European Parliament and the Council thereof. The work programme should set out the measures needed for their implementation in line with the general and specific objectives of the European Solidarity Corps, the selection and award criteria for grants, as well as all other elements required. Work programmes and any amendments to them should be adopted by implementing acts in accordance with the examination procedure and on the basis of the needs and demands of beneficiaries. __________________ 26 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002, OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.
Amendment 295 #
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 Solidarity Corps. Others relevant civil society organisations including networks representing employers and trade unions should be included as permanent observers without voting rights in the Programme Committee and their presence laid out in the rules of procedures of relevant Committee.
Amendment 315 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) “solidarity activity” means an activity 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, developed in relation to different areas, such as education and training, employment, gender equality, entrepreneurship, in particularformal and non-formal education and training and informal learning, youth work, employment, gender equality, social entrepreneurship, citizenship and democratic participation, intercultural dialogue, social inclusion, environment and nature protection, climate action, , disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery, agriculture and rural development, provision of food and non- food items, health and wellbeing, creativity and culture, physical education and sport, social assistance and, social inclusion, welfare, reception and integration of third-country nationals, particularly asylum seekers and refugees and territorial cooperation and cohesion;
Amendment 328 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) “disadvantaged young people” means individuals who needrequire additional support because of disability, educational difficulties, economic obstacles, cultural differences, health problems, social obstacle, targeted support due to discrimination and a heightened risk of social exclusion as a result of various factors, either individually or in combination with each other. Such factors may include, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, health status, geographical obstacles, or other status;
Amendment 353 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
(6) “vVolunteering” means a full-time32 placement” means a unpaid voluntary service, 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 fieldpublic authorities, not-for-profit organisations, foundations and social enterprises, 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 372 #
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 and with existing local solidarity initiatives;
Amendment 393 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 14
(14) "“European Solidarity Corps Portal"” means a web-based tool that provides relevant online services to the European Solidarity Corps participants and participating organisations, including. Complementing the activities of the participating organisations, the Portal providinges information about the European Solidarity Corps, such as registering participants, searching for participants for placements, advertising and searching for placements, searching for potential project partners, managing contacts and offers for placements and projects, training, communication and networking activities, informing and notifying about opportunities, as well as other relevant developments related to the European Solidarity Corpscorps. The Portal shall also provide a mechanism for young people to evaluate their experience after the placement.
Amendment 405 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
The objective of the European Solidarity Corps is to enhancepromote solidarity and build an inclusive society, thought the engagement of young people and organisations in accessible and high quality solidarity activities as a means to contribute to strengthening the European identity and global outlook, social cohesion and solidarity in Europe, supporting communities and responding to new societal challenges.
Amendment 428 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) the strengthening of a common European outlook among EU citizens, through the engagement in solidarity activities;
Amendment 436 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The Commission shall take initiative to develop an EU Agenda for Volunteering, aimed at guaranteeing the recognition and respect of the rights of volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations and the reduction of administrative and legal barriers to volunteering and volunteer-involving organisations across Europe, in addition to fostering, promoting and supporting a wider culture of Solidarity and Volunteering in Europe.
Amendment 453 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) solidarity placements in the form of volunteering,full-time, part-time and free-time volunteering opportunities as well as traineeships or jobs, including individual cross-border and in- country placements as well as volunteering teams’ placements;
Amendment 475 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) measures aimed at ensuring the quality of solidarity placements, including on-line and off-line training, language support, administrative support for participants and participating organisations, insurance, post-placement support as well as the development of a certificate that identifies and documents the knowledge, skills and competences acquired during the placemenre and post- placement support;
Amendment 490 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) The use of Youthpass, European tool for the recognition of learning outcomes;
Amendment 495 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) the development of a quality framework with quality standards for European Solidarity Corps placement offers;
Amendment 525 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – title
Article 11 – title
Amendment 526 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. The Member States shall participate in the European Solidarity CorpEuropean Solidarity Corps shall operate in the European Union and in third countries.
Amendment 531 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. The European Solidarity Corps shall be open for the participation of other cOther Participating Countries onf the basis of bilateral agreements. Cooperation shall be based, where relevant, on additional appropriations to be made available in accordance with the procedures to be agreed with those countrieErasmus+ Programme, as referred in Article 24 of the Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013, shall also participate the European Solidarity Corps.
Amendment 536 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Young people aged 175 to 30 years willing to participate in the European Solidarity Corps shall register in the European Solidarity Corps Portal. However, at the moment of commencing a placement or a project a registered young person shall be at least 18 years of age and not older than 30: (a) 16 years of age and not older than 30 for part-time and free time in country volunteer placements, solidarity projects and volunteer teams placements; (b) 18 years of age and not older than 30 for full-time and cross-border volunteer placements.
Amendment 540 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The Commission will aim to provide placements to all applicants.
Amendment 542 #
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. 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.
Amendment 546 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. When implementing this Regulation, the Commission, Member States and the participating third countries shall ensure that particular efforts are made to promote social inclusion, in particular for the participation of disadvantaged young people.
Amendment 582 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Any public or private entity established in athe European Union or participating country as well as international organisations carrying out solidarity activities in the participating countries may apply for funding under the European Solidarity Corps. In the case of the activities referred to in point (a) of Article 7(1), a quality label shall be obtained by the participating organisation as a pre- condition for receiving funding under the European Solidarity Corps. In the case of the solidarity projects referred to in point (b) of Article 7(1), natural persons may also apply for funding on behalf of informal groups of European Solidarity Corps participants.
Amendment 587 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, in cooperation with the participating countries, participating organisations as well as EU and national stakeholders such as youth organisations, shall regularly monitor the performance of the European Solidarity Corps towards achieving its objectives.
Amendment 589 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, in cooperation with Member States and the participating third countries, shall regularly monitor the performance of the European Solidarity Corps towards achieving its objectives.
Amendment 613 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) satisfaction rate of participants with European Solidarity Corps placements.
Amendment 615 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) number of Youthpass certificates obtained by the participants;
Amendment 618 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e b (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e b (new)
(eb) rate of achievement of project objectives in terms of identified community needs;
Amendment 635 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, in cooperation with theMember States and participating third countries, shall ensure the dissemination of information, publicity and follow-up with regard to all actions supported in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps.
Amendment 642 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. National agencies shall cooperate with specialised youth information services that inform, reach out, guide and support young people, especially those from disadvantaged background, in order to ensure a coherent and diverse dissemination and outreach.
Amendment 644 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency - EACEA at Union level;
Amendment 646 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the national agencies at national level in the Member States and participating third countries.
Amendment 647 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 1
In each country participatingMember States and participating third country in the European Solidarity Corps, the national authorities designated for the management of actions referred to in Chapter III of Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 shall also act as national authorities in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps. Paragraphs 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of Article 27 of that Regulation shall apply to the European Solidarity Corps by analogy. For countries referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 11 of this Regulation, where a national authority is not identified for that country, it shall be designated in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 6 and 8 to 15 of Article 27 of Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013.
Amendment 656 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 a (new)
Article 20 a (new)
Article 20a Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency 1. At Union level, the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency - EACEA shall be responsible for managing all stages of the grant for project actions of the European Solidarity Corps listed in Article 7 of this Regulation submitted by Europe-wide or international organisations The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency – EACEA shall also be responsible for the accreditation and monitoring of Europe-wide or international organisations; 2. The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency – EACEA shall also be responsible for the accreditation and monitoring of Europe-wide or international organisations;
Amendment 659 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) funds for grant support in the Member State or participating third country concerned for the actions of the European Solidarity Corps the management of which is entrusted to the national agency;
Amendment 669 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 3
Article 22 – paragraph 3
3. National agencies and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency - EACEA, shall be responsible for the primary controls of grant beneficiaries for the actions of the European Solidarity Corps which are entrusted to them. Those controls shall give reasonable assurance that the grants awarded are used as intended and in compliance with the applicable Union rules.