Policy makers must urgently establish a clear legal framework and protection for e-volunteering on both European and national levels.

• 1.1 Establish a harmonised definition of e-volunteering to guide the legal framework across the EU
  We call for adopting a clear, EU-wide definition of e-volunteering to guide laws across all Member States.
  This common definition should recognize fully digital and hybrid volunteering as complementary to traditional volunteering and not as a replacement.
• 1.2 Include e-volunteering in already existing European programmes such as European Solidarity Corps (ESC) to cover e-volunteers and integrate e-volunteering opportunities into Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges (EVE). This ensures formal recognition, funding, and support (training, insurance, cost coverage) for e-volunteers in EU initiatives.
• 1.3 Develop and update national legislative frameworks Encouraging all countries to update or act on national volunteering laws to explicitly recognise and protect e-volunteers. Legal frameworks should consider each country’s context while closing gaps that leave e-volunteers without clear status, rights, or benefit.

Establish clear and enforceable quality standards and comprehensive protection frameworks to ensure the safety, rights and meaningful engagement of e-volunteers.

• 2.1 Develop European-level quality standards for volunteering
  • 2.1.1 Volunteers rights and protection framework
    This common definition should recognize fully digital and hybrid volunteering as complementary to traditional volunteering and not as a replacement.
  • 2.1.2
    Training and Organisational standards and guidelines support to e-volunteers is key to ensure that e-volunteering could be integrated into all aspects of their work.
    We need to create inclusive and safe online environments that motivate and appreciate volunteers, so that learning opportunities and engagement are possible.
• 2.2 Encourage the integration of quality standards nationally
  Programmes should promote social cohesion and intercultural learning, treating online volunteers as valued team members. This involves fostering team bonding (even remotely), encouraging cross-cultural dialogue, and ensuring e-volunteers feel equally included and supported as on-site volunteers.

Youth organisations should be empowered through funding mechanisms at all levels to ensure the sustainable development of e-volunteering

• 3.1 Allocate European and international funds for e-volunteering initiatives
  The EU should expand support for e-volunteering in the next Multiannual Financial Framework by integrating it into Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and the Digital Europe programme. The Council of Europe, through the European Youth Foundation, and the United Nations, through its volunteer programmes, should also invest in e-volunteering and recognise online service as a key form of civic engagement.
• 3.2 Funding from national authorities
  Governments should provide grants for youth organisations for digital transformation, to create local digital hubs that facilitate e-volunteering and remove financial barriers for volunteers,ensuring that any cost reimbursements for e-volunteers are not taxed or counted as income.

Authorities should recognise e-volunteering as an equal form of civic engagement by integrating it into programmes, frameworks, and training systems to guarantee its visibility, value, and sustainability.

• 4.1 Integrate e-volunteering to the European recognition framework
  At the European level, e-volunteering should be included in existing programmes and endorsed in programme guidelines by adding it explicitly to Youthpass and academic credit systems such as ECTS, linking it to the European Skills Agenda, and expanding frameworks to cover digital volunteering skills.
  These steps would ensure that participation in and management of e-volunteering are formally recognised as valuable experiences.
• 4.2 Recognise volunteering experiences through national certification schemes
  Governments should treat online volunteering in the same way as offline volunteering in certification and reward schemes. Systems should be updated to record skills and experiences gained through e-volunteering so they are officially documented and recognised. Such recognition in education and employment contexts is essential to motivate participation and highlight the societal value of e-volunteers’ contributions.

Authorities should invest in capacity building, stakeholder mapping, and accessible online platforms to ensure all actors are equipped, connected, and empowered to engage in e-volunteering.

• 5.1 Develop capacity of youth organisations to implement e-volunteering initiatives
  European programmes should extend accreditation and quality labels to explicitly include e-volunteering. This would encourage organisations to launch virtual volunteering projects and enable them to create high-quality, impactful opportunities that fully integrate digital engagement.
• 5.2 Stakeholder mapping and multi-level stakeholder engagement
  Identify relevant actors such as youth NGOs, volunteer platforms, educational institutions, businesses, and public agencies, to establish an advisory board that brings these actors together. This multi-stakeholder body potentially involving the European Commission, relevant EU agencies (like SALTO), the Council of Europe, National Authorities, and Digital Volunteering Experts should guide ongoing policy development and cross-sector cooperation so that we will ensure an holistic approach and alignment across sectors in advancing e-volunteering.
• 5.3 Online platforms and resources
  Policymakers should support European platforms connecting volunteers with projects and promote national portals. Investment in digital infrastructure and resource hubs will ease access, ensure safe participation, and help standardise practices across Europe.