Volunteering cures social problems by promoting the individual's spiritual health, Pál Schmitt President of the Republic of Hungary said at the opening ceremony of the European Year of Volunteering. The event held in Budapest was attended by Viviane Reding, Vice President of the Commission, Stavros Lambrinidis, Vice President of the European Parliament, and Stefan Nilsson, Head of the European Social and Economic Committee.

Merely 30 percent of EU citizens engage in volunteering, therefore everybody has to heed the call of the European Year of Volunteering, Pál Schmitt, President of the Republic of Hungary began his address at the ceremony held in Budapest's Millenary Park on 8 January. Thematic years of a variety of topics have been a tradition in the EU since 1983. 2011 has been devoted to volunteering. The first six months coincide with the Hungarian Presidency, which is why volunteering receives special attention from both the public and government in Hungary.

It is about people not politicians

"We were here yesterday to mark the launch of the next consecutive term of the rotating Presidency, and now we are here to talk about people and not about politicians", Viviane Reding, Vice President of the Commission said in her introductory note. The Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship claimed it was high time we recognised "everyday heroes" and added that we need to work hard to prevent bureaucracy from "putting straight jackets" on people and blocking them from acting for the benefit of society. Reding expressed hope that the numbers of volunteers in Europe, currently 100 million, will double this year under the impact of the campaign.

Stavros Lambrinidis, Vice President of the European Parliament recalled the international concerns before the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as to the sufficient number of Greek volunteers to help run the event. Later on, the Greek proved to have a "spirit of volunteering". The Vice President of the European Parliament said the Hungarians can now prove the same. Mr Staffan Nilsson, Head of the European Social and Economic Committee pointed out that volunteering is not only important for a single year, as combating poverty and social exclusion did not end with the European year in 2010, volunteering will not terminate this year, the goals will remain and the campaign will continue after 2011. The Government was represented by László Szászfalvi, Minister of State for Church, Minority and Non-governmental Relations.