D. whereas the European Volunteer Centre, the European Youth Forum, the Association of Voluntary Service Organisations, the World Organisation of the Scout Movement, the Red Cross/European Union Office, volonteurope, the European Older People's Platform (AGE), Solidar, Caritas Europa, ENGAGE, Johanniter International, the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation and others – together representing thousands of organisations involving millions of volunteers – have all called upon the institutions of the European Union to announce 2011 as the European Year of Volunteering,

D. whereas the European Volunteer Centre, the European Youth Forum, the Association of Voluntary Service Organisations, the World Organisation of the Scout Movement, the Red Cross/European Union Office, volonteurope, the European Older People's Platform (AGE), Solidar, Caritas Europa, ENGAGE, Johanniter International, the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation and others – together representing thousands of organisations involving millions of volunteers – have all called upon the institutions of the European Union to announce 2011 as the European Year of Volunteering,

In fact I helped establish a volunteer bureau in the Yukon, so I was delighted to see support for the voluntary sector.

Following that meeting, the Commissioner, Ian Paisley, John Hume and Jim Nicholson will hold a press conference in the EU Office at 2.30 p.m. During the remainder of her two day stay, the Commissioner will meet the Minister for the Economy, Baroness Denton, high level Government officials, representatives of the Committee of the Regions, voluntary groups, trade union officials, employers representatives, womens groups and other working groups on cross-community and cross-border issues.