With Harkin’s report, Parliament "encourages the member states and the regional and local authorities to acknowledge the value of volunteer work for the promotion of social and economic cohesion". The public authorities are invited to create a stable legal framework and to "properly consult the sector to develop plans and strategies to acknowledge, support, help and encourage volunteer work". Volunteer work "has not only a measurable financial value, it can also enable the public sector to save a lot of money", although it must not replace the public sector. In addition, the report states that "volunteer work must not replace paid work". Then the report mentions the delay in the adoption of the "European Charter of Volunteer Work" which should "outline the role of volunteer organisations and set forth their rights and responsibilities".
