EUCIS-LLL key messages on the European Year 2011 on Volunteering

The value of volunteering is to be an expression of active citizenship that enriches democracy and contributes to develop solidarity and social cohesion, a value which is not only in great need in the current economic and social climate, but also one upon which the European Union has been built. The EU should capitalize on the outputs of the European Year 2011 on Volunteering and impulse better recognition, promotion and facilitation of volunteering in order to realize its full potential. More

 EUCIS-LLL 10 key points on active citizenship and lifelong learning

Apart from its role of imparting learning content, education and training have a crucial social and civic role to play. They contribute to the strengthening of democracy and of social cohesion. The results of the European elections, with a European turnout of 43.1 %, teach us a lesson. Most citizens do not feel their vote will change the way the EU functions and sometimes do not even know what is going on in Brussels. How to create the conditions for a better appropriation of the European construction? In September 2009, EUCIS-LLL organized a public hearing on “LLL, a key to achieve European active citizenship” and issued a position paper stating some proposals to make European active citizenship a reality in Europe.

Learn more:

 EUCIS-LLL 10 key points on active citizenship and lifelong learning

 EUCIS-LLL is a member of the Civil Dialogue expert group of the DG Communication

 DG Justice, Communication "EU Citizenship Report 2010: Dismantling the obstacles to EU citizens' rights”

 EUCIS-LLL communication “Citizenship is more than communication!”

EUCIS-LLL regularly reminds the Commission about the need to implement article 11 of the Lisbon Treaty, to ensure that organised civil society and their representative associations are actively involved in the formulation of European policies. Rules must be established. EUCIS-LLL was also worried about the decision to move the “Citizenship Unit” under DG Communication. Indeed, it is not by “communicating Europe” that citizens will feel part of the political project. It is rather by providing proper information, by offering proper modules in schools and continuing training to teachers, by involving civil society representatives actively in the process of decision-making and by proposing policies that correspond to citizens’ needs. With processes of participatory democracy, with listening and respecting citizens’ voice, representative democracy will be strengthened.

Learn more:

 Letter addressed to Mr Barroso and Mrs Reding on 24 March 2010, reply from Ms Reding.

 2013 will be the “European Year of Citizens”

The Commission proposed to make 2013 the “European Year of Citizens” to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of union citizenship (Maastricht Treaty). The aim is to raise citizens' awareness of their right to reside freely within the EU and of how they can benefit from them. EUCIS-LLL welcomes the initiative that can give a stronger focus to topics that are crucial for our networks such as recognition and validation of diplomas and qualifications. However, EUCIS-LLL vision on what European Citizenship implies goes beyond and includes important topics such as education to (European) citizenship or civil dialogue and participatory democracy that are so crucial to re-connect citizens to the EU project especially one year before the European elections. EUCIS-LLL will join a coalition of NGOs led by the European Civic Forum to push the European institutions to broaden their perspective but also to allocate a proper budget to the EY2013 as the initial proposal of the Commission is only 1 million EUR.

 Volunteering and lifelong learning

The value of volunteering goes far beyond the provision of services and economic growth. It is an expression of active citizenship and therefore enriches democracy and contributes to develop solidarity and social cohesion, a value which is not only in great need in the current economic and social climate, but also one upon which the European Union has been built. Moreover, volunteering fosters European identity and citizenship by developing a sense of common identity and enhancing mutual understanding. Volunteering is freely given, but not cost free – it needs and deserves targeted support from all stakeholders – volunteer organisations, government at all levels, businesses and an enabling policy environment including a volunteering infrastructure.

Volunteering plays an indispensable and capital role in lifelong learning. In education and training, volunteers are parents, learners or educators of all ages willing to improve education and training systems. Volunteering enables volunteers to develop skills and competencies for personal, social and civic development that one could not have gained in traditional or professional systems. In this sense, EUCIS-LLL organized a conference in Krakow, 9 May 2011 on the role, place and value given to volunteering in education and training.

General Report of the EUCIS-LLL conference on volunteering
EUCIS-LLL Key messages on the European Year 2011 on volunteering (to be published)
EUCIS-LLL is a member of the European Year of Volunteering Alliance