Council of the European Union Brussels, 9 January 2017 (OR. en)

Conseil UE Council of the European Union Brussels, 9 January 2017 (OR. en) PUBLIC 15649/16 LIMITE SPORT 93 EDUC 438 JEUN 118 SOC 813 EMPL 550 CULT 119 NOTE From: To: Subject: General Secretariat of the Council Delegations Draft Council conclusions on sport as a platform for social inclusion through volunteering Delegations will find attached a draft set of conclusions drafted by the Presidency on the above topic, in preparation for the Working Party on Sport meeting on 23 January 2017. Written comments are welcome already before the meeting and, at the latest, by 19 January midday. 15649/16 KT/mj 1 DG E - 1C LIMITE EN

ANNEX Draft Council conclusions on Sport as a Platform for Social Inclusion through Volunteering THE COUNCIL OF THE EU AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, A) RECALLING THAT 1. Sport is the largest social and voluntary activity in Europe. It easily attracts people and plays an important role in including people from different backgrounds. 2. Volunteering in sport is a unique platform to reach out to all parts of society including the socially excluded people. It is a tool for combating social exclusion which is the process which pushes people to the edge of society, which limits their access to resources and opportunities, curtails their participation in normal, social and cultural life leaving them feeling marginalized, powerless and discriminated'. European societies are facing challenges to remain cohesive and inclusive. 3. Sport has a key role to play and all vulnerable groups of society can be included through sport volunteering which can be used to help all feel included, valid and induce active citizenship. Recognising the multiple diversities within the European society, these conclusions aim to address migrants and refugees, senior citizens (60 plus), persons with disabilities and vulnerable young people. These are the groups at risk of marginalization identified for this conclusion. 15649/16 KT/mj 2

B) ACKNOWLEDGING THAT: 4. With only a slow recovery from the economic and financial crisis, a number of EU Member States continue to fight poverty and social exclusion. Social inclusion requires equal treatment of all groups within society and a special focus on social equity. 1 5. Conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Eritrea have been the biggest drivers of migration. Over 1,2 million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe in 2015, sparking a refugee crisis in Europe, with EU Member States struggling to cope with the influx. These unauthorised entrants included not only asylum seekers but also economic migrants. 2 6. The joint declaration of the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament on the EU's legislative priorities for 2017 aims at addressing the most urgent challenges the EU faces today. The joint declaration sets out six specific areas which should be treated as a priority. Addressing the social dimension of the EU and reforming and developing the EU migration policy are amongst these six priority areas. 3 7. Sport can be a powerful social tool in many areas such as addressing increasing migrant population, combating social exclusion or increasing solidarity between generations. It is an integral part of creating social cohesion and inclusive communities. Volunteering in sport can reach people at local level and encourage active citizenship. 8. Given the universal nature of sport, the social inclusion of ethnic minorities and migrants can be enhanced through sport. In this regard, local authorities, in cooperation with sport clubs and associations, will play a crucial role. 1 2 3 Social Policy Reforms in the EU: A Cross-national Comparison Social Inclusion Monitor Europe (SIM) Reform Barometer. Jan Arpe, Simona Milio, Andrej Stuchlik (Eds.) Migrant Crisis: Migration to Europe explained in seven charts (BBC). Joint declaration on annual interinstitutional programming for 2017 Approval. doc. 15375/16 15649/16 KT/mj 3

9. Senior citizens represent an important and ever growing part of our European society, our economy, our culture, and our lives. Irrespective of the current difficult economic context, this poses manifold questions as to how one can best ensure that these citizens are socially included. From the perspective of older people, a combination of factors such as low income, poor health, old age and/ or gender-based discrimination, reduced physical or mental capacity, unemployment, isolation, abuse, and limited access to services can all play a part in increasing their risk of poverty and social exclusion 4. 10. Volunteering in sport can serve as a safety net for young people out of education or employment and on the margins of society 5. Volunteering in sport exposes young people to non-formal learning through which they can acquire positive social attitudes based on values developed through sport. 6 11. Supporting equal opportunities for persons with disabilities enables them to participate as sport volunteers on an equal basis with others. 7 C) RECOGNISING THAT 12. According to the Eurobarometer 2014, the majority of European volunteers (24%) are engaged in voluntary work in a sports club or a club for outdoor pursuit 8. It is evident through the study that a third of the respondents spend more than six hours a month volunteering, with 8% giving 21 hours or more. People who stay longer in education are more prone to volunteering. 4 5 6 7 8 Active Senior Citizens for Europe - A Guide to the EU (2012) AGE Platform Europe. Promoting Inclusion and Fundamental Values through Formal and Non-Formal Learning: EU Level measures to implement the Paris Declaration. 2011/C 372/06 2010/C 326/04 Sport and Physical Activity Special Eurobarometer 412 (2014) 15649/16 KT/mj 4

13. Volunteering plays a key role in including people within a community by strengthening the role of active citizens, increasing employability, promoting values and intercultural dialogue. Voluntary activities in sport can take different forms and can be performed occasionally (for example, the preparation and organization of sporting events) or on a more regular day-to-day basis (for example, activities carried out in running various sport bodies or civil organizations active in the field of sport) 9. 14. There is lack of knowledge concerning evidence-based policies in the area of social inclusion and volunteering. No systematic, cross-national studies with a focus on the political conditions; economic and social implications and structural characteristics of sports clubs that promote social inclusion and sport volunteering has so far been conducted. 10 15. Through the European Solidarity Corps, young people can contribute towards volunteering and are willing to make meaningful contributions to society through solidarity where help is needed mostly addressing social challenges such as social exclusion, poverty, health and demographic challenges or working on the reception and integration of refugees. 11 9 10 11 Expert Group on Human Resources Development and Sport. Recommendations to encourage volunteering in sport, best practices on legal and fiscal mechanisms. Project Social Inclusion and volunteering in sports clubs in Europe (SIVSCE) with the support of the ERASMUS+ Programme of the European Union (2015-2017) Docs. 15420/16 and 15421/16. 15649/16 KT/mj 5

RECOMMENDATIONS In that context, invite Member States to 16. Endorse sport volunteering as a tool for social inclusion. This can be done through supporting and encouraging local authorities in cooperation with sport clubs and organisations to provide access to / availability of and facilitate participation in various aspects of sport to the socially excluded and inactive people and to promote and develop innovative ways which socially include minorities and vulnerable groups in and through sport volunteering, thereby equipping such minorities with new skills and instilling in them the spirit of sport as a lifestyle. 17. Promote and facilitate sport volunteering opportunities which could serve as a means for social inclusion amongst employees of governmental organizations and private entities who are physically inactive such as educational courses. 18. Create or improve the existing data collection process related to sport volunteering. This should done through improving collaboration with statistical offices. A database of skillful volunteers should be developed and which can be easily accessed by all member states, thereby facilitating exchange of information. 19. Raise awareness and bring into sport volunteering people from all spheres of society including inactive citizens, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and vulnerable young people with emphasis on those who opt not to go beyond secondary education. 20. Promote voluntary work as a valued educational concept to be included across the different levels of education from primary schooling onwards and beyond schooling, such as educational programmes in schools in collaboration with sports organisations highlighting the importance of volunteers in sport. It is recommended that volunteering in sport is included within the European Solidarity Corps so that also young people, active in the field of sport, can have access to this programme. 15649/16 KT/mj 6

Invite the European Commission to 21. Support research across all EU Member States regarding the contribution and impact that sport volunteering has on social inclusion, including the collection of good practice. 22 Use the European Week of Sport as a means to reach all sections of society by not only organizing activities in specific vulnerable areas but also by attracting volunteers coming from these areas. Erasmus+ projects related to social inclusion and volunteering in sport should be further supported. Invite the European Commission and Member States within their respective spheres of competence to 23. Make use of the European Week of Sport as a catalyst for promoting and educating on sport volunteering and engage individuals from all parts of society to volunteer in the events over the week. 24. Promote the recognition and validation of non-formal and informal learning gained through volunteering in sport, in particular by the dissemination of European instruments, recognizing existing skills and qualifications of individuals. 25. Promote better use of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund for infrastructure as well as soft programmes for sport clubs to enhance the social conditions prevailing especially in areas of high concentration of ethnic minorities. 15649/16 KT/mj 7

Invite the Sports Movement to consider 26. Encouraging the inclusion of migrants and refugees, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, vulnerable young people and other minorities in various volunteering roles within grassroots sport through small and major sports events and making the entry into the field of sport volunteering within grassroots sport more accessible in order to empower these individuals. 27. Exploring the cooperation, the exchange of good practices and strengthening of the networks with other sport organisations, youth organizations and other non-governmental organizations on how to promote, engage and retain volunteers in order to maximize opportunities for volunteering in sport. 28. Create training opportunities for the upskilling of sport volunteers including migrants and refugees, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, vulnerable young people and other minorities. 29. Create a key concept of equal opportunities in sport clubs, including equal treatment of migrants and ethnic minority groups with regards to membership and participation as club volunteer. 30. Promote the engagement of senior citizens in sport clubs and integrate senior volunteers, using their valuable life experiences, in the sport structures at all levels. 15649/16 KT/mj 8

ANNEX TO THE ANNEX The following key documents highlight the importance of volunteering in sport as a tool for social inclusion: 1. The Europe 2020 Strategy and one of its seven flagship initiatives, which emphasizes the need for growth and job creation that will help people who are on the poverty line and socially excluded to live in dignity and take an active part in the society (7110/10). 2. Council conclusions of 18 November 2010 on the role of sport as a source of and a driver for active social inclusion (OJ 326, 3.12.2010). 3. Communication on EU Policies and Volunteering: Recognising and Promoting Cross-border Voluntary Activities in the EU (COM(2011) 568 final) 4. The EU Work Plan for Sport 2014-2017 (OJ C 183, 14.6.2014) 5. Sport and Physical Activity Special Eurobarometer 412 (2014) 6. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A New Skills Agenda for Europe: Working to strengthen human capital, employability and competitiveness (doc. 10038/16) 7. Joint declaration on annual interinstitutional programming for 2017 doc.15375/16 8. Investing in Europe's Youth a) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Investing in Europe's Youth (doc. 15420/16). b) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - A European Solidarity Corps (doc. 15421/16). 15649/16 KT/mj 9 ANNEX TO THE

9. Expert Group on Human Resources Development and Sport. Recommendations to encourage volunteering in sport, best practices on legal and fiscal mechanisms (December 2016). 15649/16 KT/mj 10 ANNEX TO THE