European education ministers do not want to use the margins that are not being used as part of the European budget to finance the European Solidarity Corps for the 2018-2020 period.
This was revealed in their general approach adopted on 20 November in Brussels.
Italy is the only member state to be opposed to this and emphasised that it would support the tool but not its financing method.
In his introductory speech, the Commissioner for Education, Tibor Navracsics, stated, “It appears to be clear that political goals must be financed appropriately. I also consider that strong demand from young people regarding solidarity activities will be difficult to meet without fresh money from unused budget margins”.
The European Solidarity Corp was launched by the Commission in December 2016 (see EUROPE 11684). It offers young people aged between 18-30 an opportunity to participate in a range of solidarity activities in voluntary work or vocational projects underpinned by a work contract. According to the Commission’s figures, 41,000 young people have already enrolled on the Solidarity Corps (the 2020 target is 100,000 young people).
The European Commission has been bolstered by this experience and last May proposed to provide this tool with a legal basis and specific budget up to 2020 (see EUROPE 11798).
Two substantial amendments
The Council’s general approach introduces two significant amendments to the Commission text. The member states are suggesting an extension of the geographical scope of the Solidarity Corp to cover young people who are eligible for the Erasmus + programme. Therefore, young people from EU accession countries, candidate countries, countries that can potentially benefit from a pre-accession strategy, EFTA countries, Switzerland and those covered by neighbourhood policy, will be able to participate in voluntary activities and networking opportunities.
The other amendment involves funding for the corps. The member states support the earmarking of €341.5 million for the 2018-20 period but they do not agree on how this money should be raised. The Commission proposed financing the European Solidarity Corps budget through transfers from existing programmes (half of this would come from Erasmus+). It added that the remaining amount should be covered by, “mobilising the overall margin for 2018 commitments and margins that have not been used up and are available in 2019 and 2020”. The Council’s general approach would provide the entire funding for the corps through the transfer of existing funds available for growth and employment (section 1a) or from those relating to education and training, research and innovation, the Trans-European Network, social policy and economic integration. The general approach adopted on 20 November does not, however, provide much detail, “discussions on the exact sources of financing will come later and will be based on negotiations with the Parliament”, explained one well-informed source.
Commission response
Commissioner Tibor Navracsics appeared “prepared to examine the idea of whether and how” to extend the geographical scope of the Solidarity Corps. On the other hand, he clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with regards to the basis for financing the tool, “I think that exclusive use of financing from section 1a would go against the philosophy of the European Solidarity Corps, which seeks to bring solidarity activities from different sectors together in the same system”.
At the European Parliament, the rapporteur, Helga Trupel (Greens/EFA, Germany), appears to agree with the vision outlined by Commissioner Navracsics. His report retains the idea of using margins in the European budget that have not been used up and it will be put to a vote on 23 January 2018 during the culture committee (CULT).
It should also be noted that the inter-institutional agreement reached on 18 November on the 2018 budget reduces Community funding for the European Solidarity Corps (see other article). This reduction will be €30 million for commitment appropriations and €22 million for payment commitments. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)