(1)

The European Union is built on solidarity, among its citizens and among its Member States. This common value , enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union, guides its actions and provides the necessary unity to cope with current and future societal challenges, which young Europeans are willing to help address by expressing their solidarity in practice. [Am. 1]

(1a)

Given the significant increase in humanitarian crises and global emergencies, and with a view to enhancing the promotion of solidarity and the visibility of humanitarian aid among Union citizens, there is a need to develop solidarity between Member States and with third countries affected by man-made or natural disasters. [Am. 2]

(1b)

Humanitarian aid is based on the principles of impartiality, neutrality and non-discrimination, which are embedded in international humanitarian law and Union law. Humanitarian aid provides a needs-based emergency response aimed at preserving life, preventing and alleviating human suffering, maintaining human dignity and providing protection for vulnerable groups affected by man-made or natural disasters. Disaster risk reduction and preparedness through capacity and resilience building activities are also essential elements of humanitarian aid. [Am. 3]

(2)

The State of the Union address of 14 September 2016 emphasised the need to invest in young people and announced the establishment of a European Solidarity Corps (the ‘Programme’) with a view to creating opportunities for young people across the Union to make a meaningful contribution to society, show solidarity and develop their skills, thus getting not only work but also invaluable human experience.

(3)

In its Communication ‘A European Solidarity Corps’ of 7 December 2016 (4), the Commission emphasised the need to strengthen the foundations for solidarity work across Europe, to provide young people with more and better opportunities for solidarity activities covering a broad range of areas, and to support national , regional and local actors, in their efforts to cope with different challenges and crises. The Communication launched a first phase of the European Solidarity Corps whereby different Union programmes were mobilised to offer volunteering, traineeship or job opportunities to young people across the Union. [Am. 4]

(4)

Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union highlights solidarity as one of the principles key to the European Union. That principle is also referred to in Article 21(1) of the Treaty of the European Union as one of the foundations of the EU’s external action.

(4a)

Within the context of this Regulation, solidarity is understood as a sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone to commit oneself to the common good, which is expressed through concrete actions without consideration of return service. [Am. 5]

(4b

) Providing assistance to people and communities outside the Union which are confronted with disasters or which are particularly vulnerable to disasters and in need of humanitarian aid, based on the fundamental principles of neutrality, humanity, independence and impartiality, is an important expression of solidarity. [Am. 6]

(4c)

Participating volunteers and organisations implementing actions under the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps should abide by the principles set out in the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid. [Am. 7]

(4d)

There is a need to further develop solidarity with victims of crises and disasters in third countries and to raise both awareness levels and the visibility of humanitarian aid and volunteering in general as a lifelong activity among Union citizens. [Am. 8]

(4e)

The Union and the Member States have committed to implement the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals thereof, both internally and through external actions. [Am. 9]

(4f)

In its conclusions of 19 May 2017 on operationalising the humanitarian-development nexus, the Council recognised the need to strengthen resilience by better linking humanitarian assistance and development cooperation and to further strengthen the operational links between the complementary approaches of humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and conflict prevention. [Am. 10]

(5)

Young people should be provided with easily accessible , inclusive and meaningful opportunities to engage in solidarity activities, which could enable them to express their commitment to the benefit of communities while acquiring useful experience , knowledge , skills and competences for their personal, educational, social, civic and professional development, thereby improving their employability. Those activities should also support the mobility of young volunteers, trainees and workers and a multicultural exchange . [Am. 11]

(6)

The solidarity activities offered to young people should be of high quality, in the sense that; they should respond to aim to tackle unmet societal needs, enhance solidarity and contribute to strengthening communities, and democratic participation. They should offer young people the opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge , skills and competences, . They should be financially accessible to young people, and be implemented in safe , inclusive and healthy conditions. Dialogue with local and regional authorities and European networks specialised in urgent social problems should be encouraged in order to best determine unmet societal needs and ensure a needs-oriented programme. Solidarity activities should not have a negative impact on existing jobs or traineeships and should contribute to reinforcing the corporate social responsibility commitments of companies, while not replacing them. [Am. 12]

(7)

The European Solidarity Corps provides a single entry point for solidarity activities throughout the Union and beyond. Consistency and complementarity should be ensured with other relevant Union policies and programmes. The European Solidarity Corps is built on the strengths and synergies of predecessor and existing programmes, notably the European Voluntary Service (5) and the EU Aid Volunteers (6). It also complements the efforts made by Member States to support young people and ease their school-to-work transition under schemes such as the Youth Guarantee by providing them with additional opportunities to make a start on the labour market in the form of traineeships or jobs in solidarity-related areas within their respective Member State or across borders. Complementarity with existing Union level networks pertinent to the activities under the European Solidarity Corps, such as the European Network of Public Employment Services, EURES and the Eurodesk network, are and relevant civil society organisations, including social partners and networks representing young people and volunteers, is also ensured. Furthermore, complementarity between existing related schemes, in particular national solidarity schemes , such as volunteering, civil service and mobility schemes for young people, and the European Solidarity Corps should be ensured, building on good practices where appropriate , to mutually enhance and enrich the impact and qualities of such schemes and build upon good practices . The European Solidarity Corps should not substitute national schemes. Access for all young people to national solidarity activities should be ensured. The Commission should develop practical guidelines on the complementarity of the Programme with other Union programmes and sources of funding and on synergies between them. [Am. 13]

(8)

With respect to the interpretation of related legislation at Union level, both the cross-border volunteering activities under the European Solidarity Corps and the volunteering activities that continue to be supported under Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 should be considered equivalent to those carried out under the European Voluntary Service.

(8a)

The certification of sending and hosting organisations, carried out in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 375/2014, should not be duplicated under the Programme and equivalence should be recognised when implementing this Regulation from 2021 onwards. [Am. 14]

(9)

The European Solidarity Corps opens up new non-formal and informal learning opportunities for young people to carry out volunteering, traineeship or job activities in solidarity-related areas as well as to devise and develop solidarity projects based on their own initiative. These opportunities contribute to enhancing their personal, educational, social, civic and professional development. The European Solidarity Corps also supports networking activities for European Solidarity Corps participants and organisations as well as measures to ensure the quality of the supported activities and to enhance the validation of their learning outcomes. It will thus also contribute to European cooperation relevant to young people and raising awareness of its positive impact. It should also contribute to strengthening communities and supporting existing organisations that implement solidarity actions. [Am. 15]

(10)

These activities should have a clear European added value and be to the benefit of communities while also fostering the individual’s personal, educational, social, civic and professional development, which may . It should be possible for those activities to take the form of volunteering, traineeships and jobs, projects or networking activities, developed in relation to different areas, such as education and training, employment, gender equality, entrepreneurship — in particular social entrepreneurship –, citizenship and democratic participation , intercultural and interreligious dialogue, social inclusion, inclusion of people with disabilities , environment and nature protection, climate action, disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery, agriculture and rural development, provision of food and non-food items, health and wellbeing, culture, including cultural heritage, creativity and culture, physical education and sport, social assistance and welfare, reception and integration of third-country nationals , with a focus on overcoming the challenges faced by migrants , territorial cooperation and cohesion, and cooperation across borders. Such solidarity activities should include a solid learning and training dimension through relevant activities that can be offered to participants before, during and after the solidarity activity. [Am. 16]

(11)

Volunteering activities (both within and beyond the Union) constitute a rich experience in a non-formal and informal learning context which enhances young people’s personal, socio-educational and professional development, active citizenship, democratic participation and employability. Volunteering should be based on a written volunteering agreement and volunteering activities should not have an adverse effect on potential or existing paid employment, nor should they be seen as a substitute for it. The Commission and the Member States should cooperate regarding volunteering policies in the youth field via the open method of coordination. [Am. 17]

(12)

Easily accessible traineeships and jobs should be clearly separated from volunteering, both from a financial and an organisational point of view. Traineeships should never lead to job substitution. Paid traineeships and jobs, however, can represent an incentive for disadvantaged young people and young people with fewer opportunities to participate in solidarity-related areas can offer additional opportunities for activities that they might not otherwise be able to access while giving a clear European added value in contributing to addressing key unmet social challenges and to strengthening local communities. Traineeships can ease the transition of young people to make a start on the labour market while contributing to addressing key societal challenges. This from education to employment and can help foster the employability and productivity of young people while easing their transition from education to employment, which is key to enhancing achieving their chances on sustainable integration into the labour market. The traineeship activities The traineeships and jobs offered constitute a stepping stone for young people to enter the labour market. Traineeships and jobs offered under the European Solidarity Corps should always be paid by the participating organisation hosting or employing the participant. Traineeships should be based on a written traineeship agreement in accordance with the applicable law of the country where the traineeship takes place, as appropriate, and should follow the quality principles outlined in the Council Recommendation of 10 March 2014 on establishing a Quality Framework for Traineeships (7). The Jobs should be based on an employment contract in accordance with the national law or applicable collective agreements, or both, of the participating country where the job is being carried out. Financial support to participating organisations offering jobs should not exceed twelve months. The participating organisations should apply for funding via the competent implementing body of the European Solidarity Corps in view of intermediating between the young participants and employers offering traineeship and job activities in solidarity sectors. Traineeships and jobs offered constitute a stepping stone for young people to enter the labour market and are should be accompanied by adequate post-activity preparation, on-the-job training and post-placement support in relation to the participation of the participant . The traineeship and job activities are Traineeships and jobs could be facilitated by relevant labour market actors, in particular public and private employment services, social partners and Chambers of Commerce, and are remunerated by the participating organisation. As participating as well as the member organisations, they should apply for funding via the competent implementing body of the European Solidarity Corps in view of intermediating between the young participants and employers offering traineeship and job of EURES, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/589 of the European Parliament and of the Council  (8) in the case of cross-border activities in solidarity sectors. [Am. 18]

(12a)

Efforts should be made to ensure that traineeships and jobs are open to the participation of all young people, in particular to young people with fewer opportunities, including young people with disabilities, social or cultural disadvantages, migrants and residents in isolated rural areas and the outermost regions of the Union. [Am. 19]

(13)

Young people’s spirit of initiative is an important asset for society and for the labour market. The European Solidarity Corps contributes to fostering this aspect by offering young people the opportunity to devise and implement their own projects aimed at addressing specific challenges to the benefit of their local communities. These projects are an opportunity to try out ideas to develop innovative solutions to common challenges through a bottom-up approach and support young people to be themselves drivers of solidarity actions. They also serve as a springboard for further engagement in solidarity activities and are a first step towards encouraging European Solidarity Corps participants to engage in self-employment or setting up and continue to be active citizens either as volunteers, trainees or as employees in associations, non-governmental organisations or other bodies active in the solidarity, non-profit and youth sectors. The European Solidarity Corps should essentially create an atmosphere in which young people are increasingly motivated to engage in solidarity activities and serve the public interest. [Am. 20]

(13a)

Volunteers can contribute to strengthening the Union's capacity to provide needs-based and principled humanitarian aid and can contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of the humanitarian sector where they are adequately selected, trained and prepared for deployment so as to ensure that they have the necessary skills and competences to help people in need in the most effective way, and provided that they can count on sufficient on-site support and supervision. Therefore, highly skilled, highly trained and experienced coaches or mentors on the ground play an important role in contributing to the effectiveness of the humanitarian response as well as towards supporting volunteers. [Am. 21]

(14)

Young people and organisations participating in the European Solidarity Corps should feel that they belong to a community of individuals and entities committed to enhancing solidarity across Europe. At the same time, participating organisations need support to strengthen their capacities to offer good quality activities to an increasing number of participants. The European Solidarity Corps supports networking activities aimed at strengthening young people and participating organisations’ engagement in this community, at fostering a European Solidarity Corps spirit, as well as at encouraging the exchange of useful best practices and experience. These activities also contribute to raising awareness about the European Solidarity Corps among public and private actors as well as to collect detailed and meaningful feedback from participants and participating organisations on various stages of the implementation of the European Solidarity Corps. Feedback should include questions regarding the Programme's objectives in order to better evaluate their fulfilment. [Am. 22]

(14a)

Ensuring successful implementation of the Programme requires increased visibility and awareness and further promoting the funding opportunities available through information campaigns, including an annual European Solidarity Corps Information Day, and dynamic means of communication, with a strong focus on social media, ensuring the largest possible awareness among the target groups, both individuals and organisations. [Am. 23]

(15)

Particular attention should be given to ensuring the quality of , and the aim of inclusiveness to be achieved through, the activities and other the opportunities offered under the European Solidarity Corps, in particular by offering adequate online or offline training, language support, reasonable accommodation, insurance, simplified administrative procedures and pre- and post-activity support to participants as well as the validation of the knowledge, skills and competences acquired through their European Solidarity Corps experience. Support measures should be developed and provided in collaboration with youth organisations and other non-profit and civil society organisations in order to tap into their expertise in the field. Security and safety of the volunteers participants as well as of the intended beneficiaries remain of paramount importance and volunteers . All activities should comply with the ‘do no harm principle’. Participants should not be deployed to operations conducted in the theatre of international and non-international armed conflicts , or to facilities that contravene international human rights standards . Activities involving direct contact with children should be guided by the ‘best interests of the child’ principle and should entail, where appropriate, the carrying out of background checks on participants or the adoption of other measures with a view to ensuring the protection of children . [Am. 24]

(15a)

In line with the EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child (2017) and Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Union and the Member States are to promote and support the transition from institutionalisation of vulnerable people, such as persons with disabilities and children, to family and community-based care. In that context, the Programme should not support measures or initiatives that hamper the commitment to end institutionalisation or any placement that would be harmful to children or persons with disabilities. [Am. 25]

(15b)

The Union’s principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination should be fully respected at all stages of the implementation of the Programme, including the identification and selection of participants and organisations. [Am. 26]

(16)

To ensure the impact of European Solidarity Corps activities on the personal, educational, social, cultural, civic and professional development of the participants, the knowledge, skills and competences that are the learning outcomes of the activity should be properly identified and documented, in accordance with national circumstances and specificities, as recommended in Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (9). To ensure that registered candidates are offered appropriate solidarity activities, the learning outcomes of solidarity activities should be made available to them before they choose to participate. To that end, the use of effective instruments at Union and national level for the recognition of non-formal and informal learning, such as Youthpass and Europass, should be encouraged, as appropriate. [Am. 27]

(16a)

National agencies should also encourage young volunteers to become ambassadors of the Programme in order to share their experiences through youth networks, educational establishments and workshops. Former volunteers or ambassadors could also contribute to the training of future candidates. [Am. 28]

(17)

A quality label should ensure compliance of the participating organisations with the values, principles and objectives of the Union as well as with the principles and requirements of the European Solidarity Corps, as regards their rights and responsibilities , and safety standards, during all stages of the solidarity experience , including the pre-activity and post-activity phases . Obtaining a quality label is a precondition for participation but should not automatically lead to funding under the European Solidarity Corps. Quality labels should be differentiated by type of solidarity activity . [Am. 29]

(18)

Any entity willing to participate in the European Solidarity Corps should receive a quality label provided that the appropriate conditions are fulfilled. To ensure the effective compliance of participating organisations with the principles and requirements of the European Solidarity Corps as regards their rights and responsibilities, separate quality labels should be put in place for volunteering in solidarity activities, volunteering in support of humanitarian aid operations, and for traineeships and jobs, and should also vary depending on the function of the participating organisation . The process that leads to the attribution of a quality label should be carried out on a continuous basis by the implementing bodies of the European Solidarity Corps. The attributed quality label should be reassessed periodically and could regularly and should be revoked if, in the context of the checks to be performed, the conditions that led to its attribution were found to be no longer fulfilled. The administrative process should be reduced to a minimum in order to avoid discouraging smaller organisations. [Am. 30]

(19)

An entity willing to apply for funding to offer activities under the European Solidarity Corps should have first received a quality label as a precondition. This requirement does not apply to natural persons seeking financial support on behalf of an informal group of European Solidarity Corps participants for their solidarity projects.

(19a)

As a general rule, grant requests should be submitted to the national agency of the country in which the participating organisation is based. Grant requests for solidarity activities organised by Europe-wide or international organisations, solidarity activities of volunteering teams in priority fields identified at the European level, and solidarity activities in support of humanitarian aid operations in third countries should be submitted to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) established by Commission Implementing Decision 2013/776/EU  (10) . [Am. 31]

(20)

Participating organisations may perform several functions in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps. In a host function they will carry out activities related to receiving the participants, including the organisation of activities and providing guidance and support to participants during the solidarity activity as well as feedback after the activity , as appropriate. In a support function they will carry out activities in relation to the sending and the preparation of participants before departure, during and after the solidarity activity, including training and guiding participants to local organisations after the activity in order to increase opportunities for further solidarity experiences . National agencies should also encourage volunteers to become ambassadors for the Programme and share personal experiences through youth networks and educational establishments, thus contributing to the promotion of the Programme. To that end, national agencies should provide volunteers with support. [Am. 32]

(20a)

In order to support solidarity activities among young people, participating organisations should be public or private entities or international organisations, non-profit or profit making, and may include youth organisations, religious institutions and charity associations, secular humanistic organisations, NGOs or other actors from civil society. The Programme should only provide funding to cover the non-profit part of the activities of participating organisations. [Am. 33]

(21)

The scaling-up of European Solidarity Corps projects should be facilitated. At the same time, accurate and continually updated information regarding those opportunities should be provided for potential beneficiaries. Specific measures should be put in place to help promoters of European Solidarity Corps projects to apply for grants or develop synergies through the support of the European Structural and Investment Funds and the programmes relating to migration, security, justice and citizenship, health and culture. [Am. 34]

(22)

European Solidarity Corps Resource Centres should assist the implementing bodies, the participating organisations and the young people taking part in the European Solidarity Corps in order to raise the quality of the implementation of the activities of the European Solidarity Corps as well as to enhance the identification and validation of competences acquired through these activities including through producing Youthpass certificates.

(23)

The European Solidarity Corps Portal should be continuously developed in order to ensure easy , barrier-free and user friendly access to the European Solidarity Corps and to provide , in compliance with the standards established by Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council  (11) . The European Solidarity Corps Portal provides a one-stop shop for both interested individuals and organisations as regards, inter alia, registration, identification and matching of profiles and opportunities, networking and virtual exchanges, online training, language and pre-activity and post-activity support , feedback and evaluation mechanisms as well as other useful functionalities, which may arise in the future. While a one-stop shop provides the advantage of integrated access to diverse activities, individuals may encounter physical, social and other obstacles in accessing the European Solidarity Corps Portal. In order to overcome such obstacles, participating organisations should provide participants with registration support. [Am. 35]

(24)

The European Solidarity Corps Portal should be further developed taking into account the European Interoperability Framework (12), which gives specific guidance on how to set up interoperable digital public services and is implemented in the Member States and other member of the European Economic Area through National Interoperability Frameworks. It offers public administrations 47 concrete recommendations on how to improve governance of their interoperability activities, establish cross-organisational relationships, streamline processes supporting end-to-end digital services, and ensure that both existing and new legislation do not compromise interoperability efforts. Additionally, the Portal should be built in accordance with the standards established by Directive (EU) 2016/2102. [Am. 36]

(24a)

In order to enhance the transparency of the implementation process and increase the Programme's effectiveness, the Commission should regularly consult key stakeholders, including participating organisations, on the implementation of the Programme. [Am. 37]

(24b)

In order to ensure the proper functioning of the Programme and the timely deployment of the Programme’s actions, it is essential that mechanisms are put in place within the Programme’s work programmes to guarantee that offers are presented to registered candidates within a reasonable and relatively predictable amount of time. Periodic information and updates on available placements and actively involved participating organisations should therefore be sent to registered candidates in order to stimulate their engagement with the Programme after their registration, while also offering them the opportunity to directly get in touch with the actors involved in the field of solidarity at both the national and European level. [Am. 38]

(25)

Regulation [the new Financial Regulation] (13) (the ‘Financial Regulation’) applies to this Programme. It lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget, including the rules on grants, prizes, procurement, indirect implementation, financial assistance, financial instruments and budgetary guarantees.

(26)

In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (14) and Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 (15), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 (16), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute fraud and other criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council (17). In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors (ECA) and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights.

(27)

The European Solidarity Corps targets young people aged 18-30, and participation in the activities offered by the European Solidarity Corps should require prior registration in the European Solidarity Corps Portal.

(27a)

The Union's principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination suggest that Union citizens and long-term residents in the Union of all walks of life and ages should be able to engage as active citizens. In view of the specific challenges of humanitarian action, participants in the EU Aid Volunteers initiative should be at least 18 years of age and may represent a wide variety of profiles and generations whose skills are relevant to the successful conduct of such humanitarian operations. [Am. 39]

(28)

Special attention should be given to ensuring that the activities supported by the European Solidarity Corps are accessible to all young people, notably the most disadvantaged ones in particular those with fewer opportunities, as further detailed in the Inclusion and Diversity Strategy developed and applied within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme . Special measures , such as appropriate formats of solidarity activities and personalised guidance, should be in place to promote social inclusion, the participation of disadvantaged young people with fewer opportunities , as well as to take into account the constraints imposed by the remoteness of a number of rural areas and of the outermost regions of the Union and the Overseas Countries and Territories. To that end, young people with fewer opportunities should, without prejudice to the possibility to participate full-time and in a country other than the country of residence, also have the possibility to participate part-time or in the country of residence, and should benefit from other measures aimed at facilitating their participation in the Programme . Similarly, the participating countries should endeavour to adopt all appropriate measures to remove legal and administrative obstacles to the proper functioning of the European Solidarity Corps. This should resolve, where possible, and without prejudice to the Schengen acquis and Union law on the entry and residence of third-country nationals, administrative issues that create difficulties in obtaining visas and residence permits, as well as the issuing of a European Health Insurance Card in the case of cross-border activities within the European Union. [Am. 40]

(28a)

Particular attention and support should be given to the capacity of hosting partner organisations in third countries and the need to embed the activities of volunteers within the local context and to facilitate volunteers’ interaction with local humanitarian actors, the hosting community and civil society. [Am. 41]

(29)

Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this Programme will contribute to mainstream climate action and to the achievement of an overall target of at least 25 % of the Union budget expenditures supporting climate objectives over the 2021-2027 period of the Multiannual Financial Framework, and an annual target of 30 % as soon as possible and not later than 2027 . Relevant actions will be identified during the Programme's preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes. [Am. 42]

(30)

This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for the period 2021-2027 which is to constitute the prime reference amount, within the meaning of Point 17 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, for the European Parliament and the Council during the annual budgetary procedure (18).

(30a)

An adequate part of the budget should be dedicated to the exchange of best practices among Member States and the development of youth networks. [Am. 43]

(31)

The types of financing and the methods of implementation under this Regulation shall be chosen on the basis of their ability to achieve the specific objectives of the actions and to deliver results, taking into account, in particular, the costs of controls, the administrative burden, and the expected risk of non-compliance. For grants, this shall include consideration of the use of lump sums, flat rates and scales of unit costs.

(32)

Third countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) may participate in the Programme in the framework of the cooperation established under the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement, which provides for the implementation of Union programmes by a decision under that agreement. Third countries may also participate on the basis of other legal instruments. This Regulation should grant the necessary rights for and access to the authorising officer responsible, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) as well as the European Court of Auditors to comprehensively exert their respective competences. The full participation of third countries in the Programme should be subject to the conditions laid down in specific agreements covering the participation of the third country concerned to the Programme. Full participation entails, moreover, the obligation to set up a national agency and managing some of the actions of the Programme at decentralised level. Individuals and entities from third countries that are not associated to the Programme should be able to participate in some of the actions of the Programme, as defined in the work programme and the calls for proposals published by the Commission.

(33)

In order to maximise the impact of the European Solidarity Corps, provisions should be made to allow participating countries and other Union programmes to make additional funding available in accordance with the rules of the European Solidarity Corps.

(34)

Pursuant to [Article 88 of New Council Decision on association of OCTs] (19), persons and entities established in overseas countries and territories are eligible for funding subject to the rules and objectives of the Programme and possible arrangements applicable to the Member State to which the relevant overseas country or territory is linked.

(35)

In line with the Commission's communication on ‘A stronger and renewed strategic partnership with the Union's outermost regions’ (20), the Programme should take into account the specific situation of these regions. Measures will be taken to increase the outermost regions' participation in all actions , including reinforced publicity . Such measures will be monitored regularly and evaluated. [Am. 44]

(36)

Given that the Programme is implemented over a seven-year period, it is necessary to provide for adequate flexibility to enable the Programme to adapt to changing realities and political priorities for the implementation of solidarity activities. As such, this Regulation does not set out in detail how the actions will be designed and it does not prejudge political priorities or respective budgetary priorities for the next seven years. Instead, the secondary policy choices and priorities, including details of specific actions, to be implemented through the different activities should be determined through an annual work programme in compliance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council  (21) (the Financial Regulation), the Commission should adopt work programmes and inform the European Parliament and the Council thereof. The work programme should set out the measures needed for their implementation in line with the general and specific objectives of the Programme, the selection and award criteria for grants, as well as all other elements required. Work programmes and any amendments to them should be adopted by implementing acts in accordance with the examination procedure means of a delegated act. To ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level and ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council . [Am. 45]

(37)

Pursuant to paragraph 22 and 23 of the Interinstitutional agreement for Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016, there is a need to evaluate this Programme on the basis of information collected through specific monitoring requirements, while avoiding overregulation and administrative burdens, in particular on Member States. Such requirements should include specific, measurable and realistic indicators which can be measured over time as a basis for evaluating the effects of the Programme on the ground.

(38)

Appropriate outreach, publicity and dissemination of the opportunities and results of the actions supported by the Programme should be ensured at European, regional, national and local level. The Programme should be promoted through dynamic means of communication, with special focus on social media, in order to reach out to a large number of potential candidates . Special attention should be paid to social enterprises encouraging them to support the European Solidarity Corps activities. The outreach, publicity and dissemination activities should rely on all the implementing bodies of the Programme, including, on Union websites, Union programmes associated with the European Solidarity Corps, and should , when relevant, with involve the support of other key stakeholders. [Am. 46]

(39)

In order to better achieve the objectives of the Programme, the Commission, Member States and national agencies should preferably work closely together in partnership with non-governmental organisations, social enterprises, youth organisations , organisations representing people with disabilities, and local stakeholders having expertise in solidarity actions, including volunteer infrastructure and support agencies such as volunteer centres . [Am. 47]

(40)

In order to ensure greater efficiency in communication to the public at large and stronger synergies between the communication activities undertaken at the initiative of the Commission, the resources allocated to communication under this Regulation should also contribute to covering the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union in a barrier-free way , provided that these are related to the general objective of this Regulation. [Am. 48]

(41)

In order to ensure efficient and effective implementation of this Regulation, the Programme should make maximum use of existing management arrangements already in place. The implementation of the Programme should therefore be entrusted to existing structures, namely the Commission and the national agencies designated for the management of the actions referred to in Chapter III of [New Erasmus Regulation]. The Commission should regularly consult key stakeholders, including participating organisations, on the implementation of the European Solidarity Corps.

(42)

In order to ensure sound financial management , cost optimisation and legal certainty in each participating country, each national authority should designate an independent audit body. Where feasible, and in order to maximise efficiency, the independent audit body could be the same as the one designated for the actions referred to in Chapter III of [New Erasmus Regulation]. [Am. 49]

(43)

Member States should endeavour to adopt all appropriate measures to remove legal and administrative obstacles to the proper functioning of the Programme. This includes resolving, where possible, and without prejudice to Union law on the entry and residence of third-country nationals issues that create difficulties in obtaining visas and residence permits and other legal difficulties that could prevent young people’s access to the Programme . In line with Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council (22), Member States are encouraged to establish fast-track admission procedures. [Am. 50]

(44)

The performance reporting system should ensure that data for monitoring programme implementation and evaluation are collected efficiently, effectively and in a timely manner, and at the appropriate level of granularity. Such data should be communicated to the Commission in a way that complies with relevant data protection rules.

(45)

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (23). [Am. 51]

(46)

In order to simplify requirements for beneficiaries, simplified grants in the form of lump-sums, unit-costs and flat-rate funding should be used to the maximum possible extent. The simplified grants to support the mobility actions of the Programme, as defined by the Commission, should take into account the living and subsistence costs of the host country. In accordance with national law, Member States should also be encouraged to exempt those grants from any taxes and social levies. The same exemption should apply to public or private entities awarding such financial support to the individuals concerned.

(47)

In accordance with the Financial Regulation, Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/95 (24), Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities, including fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In order to review and/or complement the performance indicators of the Programme, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council should receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

(48)

This Regulation respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (25). In particular, this Regulation seeks to ensure full respect for the right to equality between men and women and the right to non-discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, socioeconomic background and to promote the application of Articles 21 and 23 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. [Am. 52]

(49)

Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective Union funding.

(50)

Since the objective of this Regulation, namely to enhance the engagement of young people and organisations in accessible and high-quality solidarity activities, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of its scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(51)

[European Solidarity Corps Regulation] should be repealed with effect from 1 January 2021.

(52)

In order to ensure continuity in the funding support provided under the Programme, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2021.