EU launches 'peace corps'
(BRUSSELS) - The EU executive Wednesday announced the launch of a giant European 'peace corps' of 10,000 volunteers for worldwide humanitarian operations from 2014 to 2020.
"EU Aid Volunteers will demonstrate our European solidarity by helping those most in need," said Kristalina Georgieva, the commissioner for humanitarian aid.
"They will at the same time learn invaluable skills. Saving lives is a life-changing experience that they will never forget."
The scheme will be open to European citizens and long-term residents aged over 18 and comes with a budget of 239 million euros for training, deployment and capacity building in communities hit by disasters.
Some 10,000 people will be deployed from 2014 to 2020, the next European Union budget period, with training also provided for 7,000 local staff and volunteers of organisations in countries hit by disasters, the European Commission said.
The scheme will be organised in cooperation with recognised humanitarian organisations.
Georgieva said there was wide public support for the scheme despite the economic crisis.
She quoted a recent Eurobarometer poll in the 27-nation bloc that showed 88 percent support for a scheme to select, train and deploy humanitarian aid volunteers.