Programme actions
1. The Programme shall support the following actions:
(a)
volunteering as set out in Articles 7 and 10;
(b)
solidarity projects as set out in Article 8;
(c)
networking activities as set out in Article 5(1); and
(d)
quality and support measures as set out in Article 5(2).
2. The Programme shall support solidarity activities which present a clear European added value, for example through their:
(a)
transnational character, particularly with regard to learning mobility and cooperation;
(b)
ability to complement other programmes and policies at local, regional, national, Union and international level;
(c)
European dimension regarding their themes and aims, approaches, expected outcomes and other aspects of those solidarity activities;
(d)
approach to involving young people from different backgrounds;
(e)
contribution to the effective use of Union transparency and recognition tools.
3. Solidarity activities shall be implemented in accordance with specific requirements set for each type of activity carried out in the framework of the Programme as referred to in Articles 5, 7, 8 and 10, as well as with applicable regulatory frameworks in Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.
4. References to the European Voluntary Service in the legal acts of the Union shall be read as including references to volunteering under both Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 and this Regulation.
Actions common to both strands
1. Networking activities shall be carried out in-country or cross-border and shall aim to:
(a)
reinforce the capacities of participating organisations to offer high-quality, easily accessible projects to an increasing number of participants;
(b)
attract new participants and new participating organisations;
(c)
provide participants and participating organisations with opportunities to give feedback on solidarity activities and to promote the Programme; and
(d)
contribute to the exchange of experiences and strengthening of a sense of belonging among participants and participating organisations, thereby supporting the wider positive impact of the Programme, including through activities such as the exchange of best practices and the creation of networks.
2. Quality and support measures shall include:
(a)
appropriate measures to provide clearance requirements in accordance with applicable national law;
(b)
measures taken before, during or after the solidarity activities that aim to ensure the quality and accessibility of those activities, including online and offline training, adapted, where appropriate, to the solidarity activity in question and its context, language support, insurance, including accident and sickness insurance, the further use of Youthpass, which identifies and documents the competences acquired by participants during the solidarity activities, capacity building, and administrative support for participating organisations;
(c)
the development and maintenance of a quality label;
(d)
the activities of European Solidarity Corps Resource Centres to support and raise the quality of the implementation of the Programme actions and enhance the validation of their outcomes; and
(e)
the establishment, maintenance and updating of an accessible European Solidarity Corps Portal and of other relevant online services, as well as necessary IT support systems and web-based tools.
