2011European Year of Volunteering - Set

The European Year of Volunteering aims in a general way to encourage and support, particularly through an exchange of experiences and good practices, the efforts achieved by Member States, regional and local authorities as well as civilians to create favourable conditions for volunteering in the European Union and to increase the visibility of activities in a broad range of volunteering activities.

The European Year has the following objectives:

To work to put in place a favourable framework for volunteering in the European Union. To provide the means for voluntary organisations to act and improve the quality of volunteers. To reward and recognise the activities of volunteers. To increase public awareness of the value and importance of volunteering.

It is important to stress the importance of this European Year of Volunteering which raises awareness of the contributions and activities of numerous benefactors whose efforts lead to the creation of a more just, more democratic, and more responsible society.