EU programmes

The European Solidarity Corps creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects that benefit communities and people around Europe. In the period 2018-2020, the European Solidarity Corps has a total budget of € 375.6 million. For the period 2021–2027 there is a total budget of € 1.009 billion.

JINT was founded in 1989 by the Flemish government, in consultation with the Flemish youth organizations. From there, JINT was given the task of stimulating and supporting the international mobility and cooperation of young people and youth organizations. JINT is structurally financed by the Ministry of the Flemish Community, Department of Culture, Youth and Media and by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture as a National Agency for the implementation of the European Programs. JINT vzw is the Flemish coordinating body for international youth work and  implements the European Solidarity Corps in Flanders. This European volunteer work component involves information and promotion, allocation of funds and evaluation. 

Inclusion is one of the spearheads of the European Youth Programs. Young people and youth workers in a socially vulnerable situation or with fewer opportunities can count on extra support or more flexible conditions to participate. JINT also offers extra guidance to organizations that work with these groups. The SALTO-YOUTH Inclusion & Diversity Resource Centre, housed at JINT, supports the entire Network of National Agencies to make European Youth Programs inclusive.

JINT is a partner of RAY network which conducts research-based analysis and monitoring of the European Solidarity Corps (report). Besides, JINT itself monitors the Flemish participation in the programme (report in Dutch In 2023, JINT allocated funds of a total of € 2.012.952 to 46 organisations for voluntary work and 46 and 25 solidarityprojects within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps (overview).

Other Programmes

The Bel'J programme (Bel’J – Vlaamse Gemeenschap) is supported by the three Belgian ministers responsible for youth and is implemented by the national agencies, where young people can be supported to do an exchange or volunteering activities in another community of Belgium. Bel’ J focuses on young people between the ages of 16 and 30 and gives youngsters of the three communities the opportunity to meet each other. Through Bel'J, the Flemish Community gives youngsters financial support for accommodation, meals and transport. JINT vzw is the coordinating body for the Bel’J programme in Flanders. 

Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers

The Act on the Rights of Volunteers (2005, Vrijwilligerswet) provides the legal framework for voluntary work in Belgium. With regard to foreign volunteers, the Act stipulates that only people from the European Union and people who are married to a Belgian/European citizen can participate in voluntary work but, all people with a valid residence permit and certain asylum seekers are allowed to volunteer without any problems.

Young people (18-30 years old) wishing to volunteer in Flanders with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) must be ordinarily resident in an ESC programme country. Non-EU nationals can come and work as volunteers in Flanders within an approved European Solidarity Corps volunteer program. The volunteer organization must apply for permission to work via the Unique Desk ‘Working in Belgium’.

A foreign national can carry out voluntary work within the ESC program in Flanders for a maximum of 12 months, if this person meets the following conditions:

• the volunteer organization employing the volunteer must have an approved volunteer program within the framework of European Voluntary Service. The ESC retains supervision.
• the placement of the young person with a volunteer organization is, for Flanders, controlled by the national agency for the European Solidarity Corps, the VZW JINT.

Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can travel freely to Belgium on the basis of their national ID card or passport and do not require a visa to travel to Belgium nor a work permit to engage in economic activities. As a rule, third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens) need a visa to enter Belgium and a work permit to engage in economic activities.

All young people participating in the ESC are covered by health insurance during their volunteering activities. This insurance runs until two months after the end of their activity, although participants are required in some cases to initiate the policy themselves. The cost of the insurance is covered by the European Commission.