By the EESC Diversity Europe Group

People in all European Member States are willing to volunteer, confirms a recent EESC study on New trends in the development of volunteering in the European Union. However, although there is plenty of zeal for volunteering, actual volunteering rates vary across Member States, largely due to varying levels of tradition and infrastructure.

The study also reveals two pan-European trends in volunteering infrastructure: new players are becoming more involved in creating volunteer energy and matching it to volunteer opportunities, and spontaneous volunteering is increasing due to new technologies and social media.

The study suggests investing in the development of third-party involvement and removing barriers to spontaneous, individual volunteering. It also recommends helping volunteer organisations to better tailor volunteer activities to the preferences of potential volunteers.

The EESC commissioned the study at the request of the Diversity Europe Group, whose members are in close contact with volunteers on a daily basis and play a crucial role in organising and sustaining volunteer energy.

The study was published in December in the context of International Volunteer Day and presented at an online event organised by the Diversity Europe Group. The press event was moderated by the vice-president of the Diversity Europe Group, Kinga Joó, with an introduction by the president of the Diversity Europe Group, Séamus Boland, and a presentation by the lead author of the study, Dr Lucas Meijs, and the rapporteur for the latest EESC opinion on Volunteers – Citizens building the future of Europe, Krzysztof Pater.

You can find out more about the study, the EESC opinion and the study presentation on the EESC website. (jk)