Today, the European Commission launched the European Solidarity Corps 2026 call, marking a double anniversary year: 30 years of EU volunteering, which started in 1996 with a pilot of the European Voluntary Service, and 10 years of the European Solidarity Corps. With an increased budget of €175.3 million, the programme will continue to empower thousands of young people to engage in solidarity actions across Europe and beyond.

Since its creation in 2016, the European Solidarity Corps has offered life-changing opportunities to more than 150,000 young people and reinforced community building through over 22,000 projects in solidarity, humanitarian aid and development cooperation. The 2026 programme builds on these achievements and will continue to fund projects contributing to its four priorities for 2021-2027: inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, and democratic participation.