Parliamentary question

Written question to the European Commission

Organizations participating in the European Solidarity Unit face problems such as the administrative burden and the different treatment of volunteers due to inconsistencies in the way European national agencies interpret and implement the rules and guidelines. The current crisis has increased the costs of European Solidarity Unit projects, which meet the needs of society, promote the well-being of volunteers and ensure the sustainability of organizations. Can the Commission explain how it will adapt the program to the situation resulting from the pandemic?

1. Will it adopt harmonized guidelines for national agencies on how to respond to a pandemic and require them to properly inform all stakeholders and implement the new rules and procedures in the same way?

2. Will it recognize that the additional costs associated with coronavirus pandemic measures are justified and increase the project budget accordingly, and will it ensure that organizations receive the initial amount earmarked for administrative costs and organizational support despite activities being suspended due to the pandemic?

3. Will it allow online volunteering and increase the number of volunteers within countries so that new projects can be implemented as long as travel and socializing restrictions apply, so that the European Solidarity Unit can serve the current and future needs of the community?

Answer given by Commissioner Maria Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

The Commission has provided the National Agencies and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) with a detailed set of guidelines explaining the emergency measures that project beneficiaries can take to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission is in close contact with the National Agencies and the EACEA to ensure the best possible implementation of the guidelines issued. In this regard, the Commission needs to find the right balance between the necessary degree of consistency in all countries and the urgent need to comply with the various COVID-19 measures in each country introduced by national governments.

The Commission shall use the greatest possible flexibility in the implementation of the program within the limits of the applicable legal framework. It issued guidelines that financial support granted under the European Solidarity Entity will continue to be provided in all cases where activities have been suspended, terminated or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This very flexible approach provides support for additional costs up to the maximum amounts approved for projects.

The Commission encourages project coordinators to carry out activities within the country, pas long as they remain within the legal basis of a maximum of 20% of available budget for such activities. The Commission has also recently issued guidelines to enable participants in the European Solidarity Force to start their activities by virtual tools.