19/05/2021 (Agence Europe) – The European Solidarity Corps, the first autonomous European volunteer programme with its own budget, will soon be able to enter into force: the European Parliament, meeting in plenary session on Tuesday 18 May, approved the EU Council’s position on this programme. The approved text was the subject of an agreement between the two institutions last December (see EUROPE 12622/28). It provides that anyone between the ages of 18 and 30 will be able to carry out volunteer activity for a period of two to twelve months in any EU country, as well as in Iceland, North Macedonia, Turkey and Liechtenstein, third countries that are participating in the programme. The UK has decided not to participate in any EU-funded exchange programmes, including this one. To consult the text approved by the MEPs: https://bit.ly/3fthrFT (AC)