Marian Harkin Your Independent Voice in Europe

The culmination of Marian’s successful efforts to have the year 2011 designated European Year of Volunteering came with the media launch by EU Commissioner for Justice Viviane Reding at a press conference in the Berlymont on December 2nd.  Marian represented the European Parliament at the event  while the Belgian presidency was represented by Jean-Marc Delizée,Belgian Secretary of State for Social Affairs.  Visit the official website for European Year of Volunteering

In June 2009 the European Commission published a legislative proposal to initiate 2011 as the European Year on Volunteering . This was an excellent and exciting outcome for volunteers across Ireland and the EU.

For Marian, it was a positive result to the campaign she spearheaded at a European level in conjunction with an Alliance of over 22 Voluntary Organisations  across the EU. It has demonstrated their combined commitment, drive and support for the estimated 100 million volunteers across the EU and over 1.5 million volunteers in Ireland.

Following the publication of the Commission's proposal in June 2009 - Marian was nominated as the European Parliament draftswoman to an Opinion on the European Year on Volunteering , which was adopted by an overwhelming majority in December 2009. 

More recently the Polish Government, who will be holding the European Presidency during the second half of 2011 have invited Marian as a result of her commitment to the European Year on Volunteering, to work actively with them over the coming year to develop and establish programmes and initiatives to ensure that this year will be a lasting success for volunteers throughout the EU. Marian has had an initial informal exchange of views with the Polish Government and will be continuing active dialogue with them over the coming year. 

In addition to her engagement with the Polish Government, Marian will be continue to work closely the European Commission as they put in place concrete plans for 2011. Over the next coming months Marian will be meeting with senior Commission officials and Commissioner Redding who will be  responsible for the implementation of this year. For further information on Marian's campaign and work in this area please have a look at the following documents:

In 2007 Marian was nominated as European Parliament author to a Report on the Role of Volunteering in contributing to Economic and Social Cohesion

In 2008 Marian launched a Written Declaration  calling for a European Year on Volunteering.

In 2008 - Marian was nominated as MEP of the Year  for her outstanding commitment to the campaign for the European Year on Volunteering.

_{A group of volunteers from Westmeath, Longford, Galway and Sligo visited the European Parliament with Marian on February 28th, 2008 in conjunction with the presentation of her report to the Regional Development Committee.}

_{Volunteers from Sligo, Leitrim and Monaghan also visited the European Parliament with Marian on the same occasion.}

Parliamentary Questions to the Commission and Council:

_{Volunteering Initiatives
European Year on Volunteering
European Year on Volunteering and French Presidency Priorities}

 ^{Green Paper on Volunteering}

Speeches in the European Parliament on volunteering - watch them on Youtube:

_{http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Marian+Harkin+Volunteering&search_type=&aq=f}

European Parliament and Volunteering

Following the success of the European Parliament Volunteering Interest Group under the last mandate, Marian, as co-founder (in 2007) and co-President, has re-established the European Parliament Volunteering Interest Group to ensure that volunteering stays firmly on the EU policy agenda. The Interest Group meets on regular basis and its members take follow-up action on priorities for volunteers and voluntary organisations, such as in putting forward parliamentary questions to the Commission and Council, tabling amendments to parliamentary reports on EU policy and programmes of interest and concern to volunteers.

On many occasions Marian has organised and hosted seminars and conferences in the European Parliament on issues of importance to volunteers across the EU. Some of Marian's more recent conferences can be found below:

On 19th November, 2009 in support of Senior Volunteering - Marian hosted a major conference organised by the European Volunteer Centres entitled "Think Future - Volunteer Together"  which brought senior volunteers from throughout the EU to discuss and exchange opinions, ideas and best practice. Marian sponsored four senior volunteers from County Westmeath to attend the conference - pictured here on the right.  

In an effort to move forward, and engage civil society in the preparation for 2011 as the European Year on Volunteers - Marian organised a seminar in the European Parliament on 16th April 2009 entitled "A Roadmap Towards 2011 as the European Year on Volunteering" which sought to bring together voluntary organisations, volunteers and policy makers in order to discuss and develop objectives, strategies, and projected outcomes from this year which Marian will then submit to the European Commission as a consultation document. 

In association with AVSO - the Association of Voluntary Service Organisations Marian Harkin hosted a seminar in the European Parliament in June 2007 on Shaping Policy for Voluntary Service through Research.

In 2006 - in conjunction with Gislea Kallenbach MEP (Germany), Marian organised a seminar on Mainstreaming Volunteering in European Union Policy.

Please take at some of Marian's press releases on Volunteering below:

_{Marian is pictured with a group attending the Mainstreaming Volunteering in EU Policy in Brussels in December 2006.}

_{Please take a look at Marian's Press Releases on Volunteering below}

Recent Initiatives at EU Level

The European Commission in February 2010 published online a new study on volunteering in the European Union in light of the upcoming European Year on Volunteering. The aim of the study is to help the European Commission to consider ways in which the voluntary sector could be further promoted at EU level and the extent to which volunteering could help the EU in achieveing its wider strategic objectives set out in the European Social Agenda and the EU2020. The study provides research and insights into the current situation of volunteering in the EU. It includes a comparative analysis of volunteering across the EU. To view a copy of the study, follow the lilnk below.
 
http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/eyv2011/doc/Volunteering%20in%20the%20EU%20Final%20Report.pdf