Assisting the poorest ones and the sick or lonely, cultural and educational initiatives, sports, environmental protection and civil defence. These are according to the figures submitted by the European Parliament the main lines of work for the 100 million Europeans who carry out volunteer work; over one half are young people. A domain that receives few public funds, even if it can multiply the funds received by 3 to 8 times through a wide range of jobs and services, thus saving on public expenditure. That’s why, "volunteer organisations should have access to adequate, sustainable funds without too many bureaucratic formalities": it was asked by the Assembly which today in Strasbourg passed with a majority vote the report of the Irish MEP Marian Harkin. In addition the report asks for tax exemptions and tax rebates for volunteer associations and asks the EU to carry out initiatives "for volunteers’ mobility" and to "promote cross-the-border projects". (continued)
