The European Commission has announced the call for the European Solidarity Corps 2026, marking a double anniversary, 30 years of volunteering in the EU and 10 years since the establishment of the European Solidarity Corps.
The effort that started in 1996 with a pilot program of the European Voluntary Service, according to the program for 2026 will have an increased budget of €175.3 million and will thus be able to continue the work of empowering thousands of young people participating in solidarity actions both in the EU and in third countries.
As stated, the increased budget of 5.6% compared to 2025 aims to expand access and ensure fair opportunities for all regions of the Member States and associated countries. The 2026 work program also maintains its global reach through humanitarian aid volunteering, with a 17.7% increase in funding compared to 2025.
Since its establishment in 2016, the European Solidarity Corps has provided unique experiences to over 150,000 young men and women and strengthened social cohesion through more than 22,000 solidarity, humanitarian aid and development cooperation projects, it added. According to the Commission, the 2026 program builds on these successes and will continue to fund projects that contribute to its four priorities for 2021–2027: inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, digital transformation and democratic participation.
In 2026, the European Solidarity Corps will also strengthen quality and support measures such as training programmes, evaluation cycles, digital tools and Quality Certificate mechanisms for participating organisations.
With the central action "Volunteer Teams in Priorities of High Importance", the program will focus on three annual political priorities: strengthening preparedness and assistance for people affected by armed conflict or natural disasters, promoting positive educational experiences and improving basic skills for young people with fewer opportunities, as well as promoting intergenerational justice and solidarity, ensuring dialogue and cooperation between generations and combating age discrimination.
With the budget fully absorbed since the program's inception, demand for volunteering opportunities continues to outstrip available funding, with only one in ten people registered being able to participate today.
Public and private organizations can apply for funding under the 2026 call, which is expected to be announced soon. Organizations must hold a Quality Certificate to ensure compliance with the principles and standards of the programme, and applications can be submitted through the National Units in the EU Member States and associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia and Turkey) or through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) for directly managed actions.
