Recommendation 1985/308 - 85/308/EEC: Council Recommendation of 13 June 1985 on social protection for volunteer development workers - Main contents

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85/308/EEC: Council Recommendation of 13 June 1985 on social protection for volunteer development workers

Official Journal L 163 , 22/06/1985 P. 0048 - 0051

Spanish special edition: Chapter 05 Volume 4 P. 0150

Portuguese special edition Chapter 05 Volume 4 P. 0150

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COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 13 June 1985

on social protection for volunteer development workers

(85/308/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,

Having regard to the draft recommendation submitted by the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

Whereas the European Council which met on 25 and 26 June 1984 called on the Member States to take steps to encourage young people to participate in projects organized by the Community beyond its frontiers, and in particular to support the creation of national committees of European volunteers for development, bringing together young Europeans who wish to work on projects in developing countries;

Whereas measures to encourage voluteers to work on such projects will contribute to the practical implementation of cooperation policies determined jointly by the Community, the Member States and Third World countries, the aim of which is to promote the economic, social and cultural development of the developing countries;

Whereas such work can provide valuable experience and further training for persons who are motivated and qualified in areas relevant to development work, in line with the objectives set out in Article 128 of the Treaty;

Whereas steps should therefore be taken to remove obstacles to taking up employment as a volunteer development worker;

Whereas a disincentive to this form of employment is the absence of adequate cover for such persons and for members of their families under the social security systems of certain Member States during or in respect of the period spent as a volunteer development worker or the period spent in preparation for such work;

Whereas, however, the powers necessary for achieving this Community objective are not provided for elsewhere in the Treaty; whereas recourse should therefore be had to Article 235 thereof,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS THE MEMBER STATES:

• A. 

  - to recognize as one of the objectives of their social policy the introduction of social protection for volunteer development workers or the removal of shortcomings in this area,

• - 

  to regards as 'volunteer development workers' those persons who are sent, where appropriate pursuant to national law, to developing countries through the intermediary of approved non-governmental organizations, whether State-aided or not, under conditions of remuneration similar to local conditions, for the purpose of making a positive contribution to the physical, economic and social development of such countries; to regard as 'members of their families' those persons so defined under national laws and practices,

• - 

  to take, to this end, the measures necessary for the achievement of social protection for volunteer development workers and for members of their families on the basis of the following principles:

• 1. 

  Volunteer development workers and members of their families should benefit from a level of social protection similar to that which exists in the sending country for persons carrying out a comparable activity in that country.

That cover shall extend to the period of preparation spent under contract by the person concerned in the sending country.

The cover should relate to benefits during service in a developing country and the acquisition and maintenance of social entitlements during such service with a view to guaranteeing social protection on return.

• 2. 

  Cover should relate to the...

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