Europe’s 100 million volunteers

“This century is destined to be the century for the third sector, NGOs and volunteers. Indeed, the third sector is the sector most immune to the era of the robot,” said Jeremy Rifkin in his 2004 book, The European Dream. The European Commission seems to have taken his words seriously, so seriously that with a cry of “Volunteers! We make a difference!” the European Commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, Viviane Reding and Irish MEP Marian Harkin, officially launched the European Year for volunteering which has kicked off on January 1.

Every new beginning means an ending and January 1 also marks the end of 2010’s European Year against poverty and social exclusion, a year that ends amid many disappointments and much debate. 2011 is dedicated to the 100 million European volunteers who, according to the EU, give their time gratuitously for social causes in all 27 member states. In support of the year, Brussels has allocated an 11 million euro budget (3 of which have already been spent on preparations), launched two websites (www.eyv2011.eu and http://europa.eu/volunteering) and is aiming especially on sports as a means of involving citizens in volunteering activities.

According to a 2010 Eurobarometer survey, sport is the sector that attracts most European volunteers (34 per cent) followed by education, art, music and culture (22 per cent), charities (17 per cent), religious institutions (16 per cent) and syndicates (13 per cent).

Statistics aside, the European Year for volunteering should be seen as a “relatively small investment (sic!) with a high return. An important means of fostering economic growth,” said Marian Harkin, before warning that “we have to ensure that workers are not replaced by volunteers”. More statistics. The Eurobarometre recently published a report that states that three out of ten Europeans dedicate some of their time to volunteering. According to the Commission volunteers contribute between 0.5 and 5 per cent of the Union’s GDP. Barroso & Co highlight, however, that volunteering is different from country to country. Some countries are very strong, like Austria, The Netherlands, Slovenia, UK (40 per cent of the population volunteers), others are “weak” like Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Lithuania (less than 10 per cent).

 

Interviews with Marian Harkin on the European Year for Volunteering

December 2010: A European Year for volunteers

February 2009: Towards a European year for volunteering 2009