European voluntary service for young people: Community action programme 1998-2002

In its opinion amending the proposal concerning European voluntary service, the Commission incorporates only two of the amendments adopted by Parliament at second reading. These are the amendments concerned with: - removing obstacles to the mobility of young volunteers, using a less strict wording and stressing young people's access to national infrastructures within the framework of voluntary service, - the composition of the committee, with minor changes to the text. The Commission has not, however, incorporated some amendments which Parliament considers fundamental; these are concerned with: - compatibility between European voluntary service and existing national civilian services, as this is within the exclusive competence of the Member States, - the budget for the service (Parliament has ECU 80 m whereas the Council has ECU 35 m); the Commission is keeping to its initial proposal of ECU 60 m, - informing and raising the awareness of volunteers with regard to their rights and obligations, - a state for young volunteers, - Parliament's right to information concerning the committee.�