::AVSO::Association of Voluntary Service Organisations::

	lobbying
The principal goal of AVSO is to promote and facilitate long term voluntary service. To achieve this goal AVSO lobbies at a European level against barriers to long term volunteering and the mobility of volunteers. We also liaise with the European Commission on behalf of our members for the European Voluntary Service programme. AVSO's lobbying currently focus on the following key areas: Youth in Action Programme Youth in Action programme 2007-2013 The new Youth in Action programme has a few new elements: • “Youth in Action” integrates the activities of the « YOUTH » and « Youth NGO support» programmes; • There are some new actions and measures; • It involves an extended geographical scope; • Extended age access (13-30 years); • One additional target group: youth policy administrations/policy-makers. The general objectives stated in the legal basis of the Youth in Action programme are the following: • Promote young people’s active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular; • Develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, in particular in order to foster social cohesion in the European Union; • Foster mutual understanding between young people in different countries; • Contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field; • Promote European cooperation in the youth field. Priorities of the Youth in Action programme: • European Citizenship; • Participation of young people; • Cultural diversity; • Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities. The following 5 Actions forms the programme: Action 1 - Youth for Europe (youth exchanges) 1.1. Youth exchanges 1.2. Youth initiatives 1.3. Youth democracy projects Action 2 - European Voluntary Service • European Voluntary Service (individual) • European Voluntary service (groups) • More participants • European and international cooperation with partner countries For the EVS programme, the tendency is to move away from micro-project management towards more concentrated, bigger projects. This doesn’t exclude organisations, who would like to start or continue EVS projects with sending/hosting just one volunteer, but they are also encouraged to run bigger projects, for 100-150 volunteers. The duration of an EVS project must not exceed 24 months, including preparation and evaluation/follow-up. The EVS activity abroad should have a minimum duration of 2 months and a maximum overall duration of 12 months (excluding preparation and evaluation). The European Commission also planned to reinforce the non-formal education aspect of the programme, by creating a “Youth Pass”. Every volunteer is entitled to receive a Youthpass, which describes and validates the non-formal learning experience. The achievement report is filled in jointly by the volunteer and a representative of the host organisation, is signed by both and handed over to the volunteer directly at the end of the voluntary activity abroad. The age-group of volunteers participating in EVS has been extended: young people aged 18 to 30 can participate to the EVS. Special efforts are made and incentives given in order to allow young people with fewer opportunities, including young people with disabilities, to participate actively in EVS. These ‘inclusion’ activities are open to 16-30-year-olds, provided that competent and tailor-made preparations, accompaniment and follow-up are provided. Action 3 - Youth in the World Youth exchanges, youth worker exchanges, training, networking, cooperation, innovation in youth work: 3.1. Cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the European Union 3.2. Cooperation with other countries of the world Action 4 - Youth workers and support systems 4.1. Support to bodies active at European level in the field of youth 4.2. Support to the European Youth Forum 4.3. Training and networking of those active in youth work and youth organisationsy 4.4. Projects encouraging innovation and quality 4.5. Information activities for young people and those active in youth work and youth organisations 4.6. Partnerships 4.7 Support for the structures of the programme 4.8 Adding to the value of the programme Action 5 – Support for European cooperation in the youth field 5.1 Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy 5.2. Support for activities to bring about better knowledge of the field of youth 5.3. Co-operation with international organisations In addition to these new features, they will develop more the European Youth Policy. Already examples for this is the European Youth Pact (2005) and the corresponding Council resolution of 15 November 2005 - link of youth policies to EU Lisbon agenda for growth and jobs. They are creating the “Youthpass” as recognition instrument similar to the Europass, a recognition for European internship with the Leonardo da Vinci Programme. They will reinforce a more structured dialogue between policy-makers and young people (a good example for this is the European Youth Week 2005). For more information contact the AVSO Secretariat. * AVSO has tracked the legislative and political history of the YOUTH programme and its predecessors since the early 90's. This dossier provides exhaustive coverage of the procedures leading to the current YOUTH programme AVSO Lobbying Seminar - 2008 Seminar: "Practical information on lobbying techniques - for EU and national level", 15 - 16 April 2008, Brussels, Belgium AVSO, as a European platform for national and international non-profit organisations promotes and facilitates longer term voluntary service opportunities. To achieve this goal, we are actively engaged in lobbying for a legal status of volunteers and enhanced mobility within Europe. As part of supporting members' activities, AVSO organised this lobbying seminar in order to raise attention to the impact of lobbying. 2008 Lobbying seminar mainly focused on the decision-making at EU level and how NGOs can lobby at national and international levels, which is cardinal for such an invisible sector as voluntary sector. The seminar also aimed at clarifying AVSO’s activities, as a bridge between its members and the EU. Here you can download the Lobbying Seminar's Final Report. Mobility Issues Free movement of people in the European Union is still far from reality. This is particularly true for volunteers who, in most countries, have no 'legal status' and are therefore not recognised by the authorities. This is probably the most important barrier to the development and growth of long-term trans-national voluntary service opportunities. Removal of the barriers to mobility is gaining political momentum. Two recent initiatives reflect the growing political attention: The European Parliament and the Council signed the final text of the EU Mobility Recommendation on the 10th of July 2001. The Recommendation calls the Member States to take the measures to remove the legal and administrative obstacles to the mobility of students, persons undergoing training, volunteers, teachers and trainers in another Member State, particularly in the context of Community programmes, but also outside them. Mobility Action Plan launched by the French Presidency in August 2000, follows up the conclusions of the Lisbon Summit which called upon Member States '...to define the means for fostering the mobility of students, teachers & training & research staff...'. The plan foresees 4 priorities: * encouraging mobility preparation; * facilitating the financing procedures; * enlarging & improving the mobility opportunities; * valorisation of the mobility experiences. Youth policy The European Commission launched its White Paper on Youth Policy in November 2001 that promotes: * Participation of young people in society; * Employment & social integration; * Education (formal and non-formal); * Health & well-being, * personal independence & youth culture; * European values, mobility in Europe and Europe in the world. The contribution of AVSO (January 2001) focuses on the role that long-term voluntary service can play in achieving these goals. Among our recommendations, we include the need for increased support for the European Voluntary Service, particularly in the light of the integration of CEE countries, and tackling social exclusion among young people. Adoption of the European Pact for Youth by spring 2005 the European Council, as part of the Lisbon Strategy focusing on growth and jobs, is a recognition that integrating young people in society and working life are essential for ensuring a sustained and sustainable growth in Europe. This initiative highlights youth in core areas of the Lisbon partnership for growth and jobs, and calls for consistency across the initiatives within them. More than ever, Europe needs young people’s ongoing commitment that will help in building an inclusive Europe. This initiative involves Youth organisations, regional and local authorities and social partners.

lobbying

The principal goal of AVSO is to promote and facilitate long term voluntary service. To achieve this goal AVSO lobbies at a European level against barriers to long term volunteering and the mobility of volunteers. We also liaise with the European Commission on behalf of our members for the European Voluntary Service programme.

AVSO's lobbying currently focus on the following key areas:

Youth in Action Programme

Youth in Action programme 2007-2013

The new Youth in Action programme has a few new elements:

• “Youth in Action” integrates the activities of the « YOUTH » and « Youth NGO support» programmes;
• There are some new actions and measures;
• It involves an extended geographical scope;
• Extended age access (13-30 years);
• One additional target group: youth policy administrations/policy-makers.

The general objectives stated in the legal basis of the Youth in Action programme are the following:

• Promote young people’s active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular;

• Develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, in particular in order to foster social cohesion in the European Union;

• Foster mutual understanding between young people in different countries;

• Contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field;

• Promote European cooperation in the youth field.

Priorities of the Youth in Action programme:

• European Citizenship;

• Participation of young people;

• Cultural diversity;

• Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities.

The following 5 Actions forms the programme:

Action 1 - Youth for Europe (youth exchanges)

1.1. Youth exchanges
1.2. Youth initiatives
1.3. Youth democracy projects

Action 2 - European Voluntary Service

• European Voluntary Service (individual)
• European Voluntary service (groups)
• More participants
• European and international cooperation with partner countries

For the EVS programme, the tendency is to move away from micro-project management towards more concentrated, bigger projects. This doesn’t exclude organisations, who would like to start or continue EVS projects with sending/hosting just one volunteer, but they are also encouraged to run bigger projects, for 100-150 volunteers.

The duration of an EVS project must not exceed 24 months, including preparation and evaluation/follow-up. The EVS activity abroad should have a minimum duration of 2 months and a maximum overall duration of 12 months (excluding preparation and evaluation).

The European Commission also planned to reinforce the non-formal education aspect of the programme, by creating a “Youth Pass”. Every volunteer is entitled to receive a Youthpass, which describes and validates the non-formal learning experience. The achievement report is filled in jointly by the volunteer and a representative of the host organisation, is signed by both and handed over to the volunteer directly at the end of the voluntary activity abroad.

The age-group of volunteers participating in EVS has been extended: young people aged 18 to 30 can participate to the EVS. Special efforts are made and incentives given in order to allow young people with fewer opportunities, including young people with disabilities, to participate actively in EVS. These ‘inclusion’ activities are open to 16-30-year-olds, provided that competent and tailor-made preparations, accompaniment and follow-up are provided.

Action 3 - Youth in the World

Youth exchanges, youth worker exchanges, training, networking, cooperation, innovation in youth work:
3.1. Cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the European Union
3.2. Cooperation with other countries of the world

Action 4 - Youth workers and support systems

4.1. Support to bodies active at European level in the field of youth
4.2. Support to the European Youth Forum
4.3. Training and networking of those active in youth work and youth organisationsy
4.4. Projects encouraging innovation and quality
4.5. Information activities for young people and those active in youth work and youth organisations
4.6. Partnerships
4.7 Support for the structures of the programme
4.8 Adding to the value of the programme

Action 5 – Support for European cooperation in the youth field

5.1 Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy
5.2. Support for activities to bring about better knowledge of the field of youth
5.3. Co-operation with international organisations

In addition to these new features, they will develop more the European Youth Policy. Already examples for this is the European Youth Pact (2005) and the corresponding Council resolution of 15 November 2005 - link of youth policies to EU Lisbon agenda for growth and jobs. They are creating the “Youthpass” as recognition instrument similar to the Europass, a recognition for European internship with the Leonardo da Vinci Programme.
They will reinforce a more structured dialogue between policy-makers and young people (a good example for this is the European Youth Week 2005).

For more information contact the AVSO Secretariat.

* AVSO has tracked the legislative and political history of the YOUTH programme and its predecessors since the early 90's. This dossier provides exhaustive coverage of the procedures leading to the current YOUTH programme

AVSO Lobbying Seminar - 2008

Seminar: "Practical information on lobbying techniques - for EU and national level", 15 - 16 April 2008, Brussels, Belgium

AVSO, as a European platform for national and international non-profit organisations promotes and facilitates longer term voluntary service opportunities. To achieve this goal, we are actively engaged in lobbying for a legal status of volunteers and enhanced mobility within Europe.
As part of supporting members' activities, AVSO organised this lobbying seminar in order to raise attention to the impact of lobbying. 2008 Lobbying seminar mainly focused on the decision-making at EU level and how NGOs can lobby at national and international levels, which is cardinal for such an invisible sector as voluntary sector. The seminar also aimed at clarifying AVSO’s activities, as a bridge between its members and the EU.

Here you can download the Lobbying Seminar's Final Report.

Mobility Issues

Free movement of people in the European Union is still far from reality. This is particularly true for volunteers who, in most countries, have no 'legal status' and are therefore not recognised by the authorities. This is probably the most important barrier to the development and growth of long-term trans-national voluntary service opportunities.

Removal of the barriers to mobility is gaining political momentum. Two recent initiatives reflect the growing political attention:

The European Parliament and the Council signed the final text of the EU Mobility Recommendation on the 10th of July 2001.

The Recommendation calls the Member States to take the measures to remove the legal and administrative obstacles to the mobility of students, persons undergoing training, volunteers, teachers and trainers in another Member State, particularly in the context of Community programmes, but also outside them.

Mobility Action Plan launched by the French Presidency in August 2000, follows up the conclusions of the Lisbon Summit which called upon Member States '...to define the means for fostering the mobility of students, teachers & training & research staff...'.

The plan foresees 4 priorities:

* encouraging mobility preparation;
* facilitating the financing procedures;
* enlarging & improving the mobility opportunities;
* valorisation of the mobility experiences.

Youth policy

The European Commission launched its White Paper on Youth Policy in November 2001 that promotes:

* Participation of young people in society;
* Employment & social integration;
* Education (formal and non-formal);
* Health & well-being,
* personal independence & youth culture;
* European values, mobility in Europe and Europe in the world.

The contribution of AVSO (January 2001) focuses on the role that long-term voluntary service can play in achieving these goals. Among our recommendations, we include the need for increased support for the European Voluntary Service, particularly in the light of the integration of CEE countries, and tackling social exclusion among young people.

Adoption of the European Pact for Youth by spring 2005 the European Council, as part of the Lisbon Strategy focusing on growth and jobs, is a recognition that integrating young people in society and working life are essential for ensuring a sustained and sustainable growth in Europe.

This initiative highlights youth in core areas of the Lisbon partnership for growth and jobs, and calls for consistency across the initiatives within them.

More than ever, Europe needs young people’s ongoing commitment that will help in building an inclusive Europe. This initiative involves Youth organisations, regional and local authorities and social partners.