Brussels, 18/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - A flagship of European solidarity with the increasing numbers of victims of natural or man-made disasters throughout the world, the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, which will support and reinforce the EU's humanitarian aid operations in third countries, has been set up. The decision was adopted by the Council of the EU on Tuesday 18 March, without debate, after the European Parliament approved the legislation for this innovation under the Lisbon Treaty (see EUROPE 11026).
This European corps, which establishes the framework for common contributions of European volunteers, has been renamed “EU aid volunteers initiative”. With a budget of €147.9 million up to 2020, it will give some 4,000 volunteers, aged 18 years and over, in-depth training and place them in humanitarian organisations, on the basis of requirements, but under no circumstances will these volunteers be deployed in the framework of operations carried out in a theatre of armed conflict.
The budget will cover the selection, training and deployment of volunteers, as well as a reinforcement of the host organisations' capacities. The EU aid volunteers initiative will give people the opportunity to make a contribution to humanitarian operations on the ground, and also offers online volunteering activities, which will allow people to carry out tasks at home. The initiative will add to the other instruments and fields of EU external action and the existing national and international volunteering programmes, and be included in them.
Citizens of the EU and nationals of various associated states, including candidate countries and partner countries under the European neighbourhood policy, on the basis of bilateral agreements concluded between these countries and the EU, will be eligible to take part in the initiative. (AN)