European planning

The European Union represents a very important participation space for voluntary associations.
The recognition of these associations as subjects of European policies through different programmes is a call for their first-hand participation at a transnational, national and regional level.
In March 2006 CEV – Centre Européen du Volontariat (European Volunteer Centre), as a representative of thousands of voluntary organisations, associations and groups of volunteers, has published the
Manifesto of volunteers in Europe
Among the many activities, Cesvot promotes projects that aim at developing knowledge, competences and skills of voluntary associations through training and information activities and support to European planning, besides encouraging the networking and collaboration among Tuscan and European voluntary associations.
So far, the projects carried out thanks to European funds have involved the active participation of voluntary associations and have enabled the testing of some exemplary schemes, as in the case of international cooperation (Opci Project) and the supporting administration (Adiutor Project).
Cesvot partnership has also been important, when asked for, in projects submitted by the same associations or networks of mixed subjects belonging to the private-social sector and the voluntary sector.
Currently, Cesvot is promoting the European project of Grundtvig Partnership, “Active Ageing”.
The aim of the project is to experiment, through the exchange of experiences between European voluntary organisations, new forms of informal learning by volunteers who are aged over fifty-five.