European solidarity forces: new jobs and internships

Half a year after the European Commission launched the European Solidarity Solidarity and after the March 2017 alignment of supply and demand for volunteer engagement began to open thousands of jobs and standby jobs.

Because of that, the European Commission supports two projects run by the Italian and French employment bureaux, which will provide up to 6000 young people with a job or internship related to solidarity in another EU country.

Marianne Thyssen, the Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Mobility Commissioner, said: We want to create greater and better opportunities for the European Solidarity forces. Today, they are starting to get hired and I am looking forward to the strength to offer young people their full potential. In cooperation with employment agencies and field partners we will offer thousands of young people a concrete job opportunity or internship in the areas of solidarity across Europe. They will be able to develop their skills and increase future labor market prospects.

Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, said: I am happy that the European Solidarity forces are developing and are now complemented by the offer of new jobs. We know that many young people in Europe want to help others and that this engagement will have a positive impact on them. By joining European solidarity forces, young Europeans will gain valuable experience at the beginning of their career.
Within the framework of two projects run by the French Employment Service (Pôle Emploi) and the Italian National Agency for Active Labor Market Policy (ANPAL), employment agencies and organizations from different EU Member States, such as employers’ organizations and training institutions, Young people from 18 to 30 years of age would offer jobs or internships in areas associated with solidarity. The selected participants will be able to participate in a wide variety of activities in the field of health, social integration, environmental protection, migrants and refugees or food aid in another EU country. As part of the project, he wants to establish contacts with employers, allocate candidates in line with offer and demand, and provide financial and other support to participants, such as training. The projects are funded by the EU Employment and Social Innovation Program with more than EUR 14 million.

Time line and next steps

These two projects will last until March 2019.

At the same time, the European Solidarity Solidarity will be further developed and consolidated. The goal is to provide 100,000 jobs and stand by the end of 2020.
The experience gained in these two new projects will contribute to the full operation of the European Solidarity Force by 2020. Projects will support young people in seeking cross-border engagement by the spring of 2019, and will also link with other projects that offer solidarity to European solidarity forces.

Source: European Commission