A programme called the 'European Solidarity Corps' has been launched, a government statement read.

The programme  was launched by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Clifton Grima, European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA) CEO and Coordinator of Erasmus + Joe Schembri.

The European Solidarity Corps will create opportunities for youths to volunteer and work in Malta or out of the country on projects that will benefit people around Europe, the government statement read. "The European Commission had proposed that more than €340 million be given to member states to allow for 100,000 slots in 2020, and the budget for Malta in 2018 stands at €900,000."

Minister Bartolo appealed for more youths to take part in such programmes, and the hope that NGOs inform themselves about this programme.

Parliamentary Secretary Clifton Grima said that this initiative will give youths the opportunity to participate in solidarity projects as volunteers or for work experience. "This programme will provide an element of finance for volunteers to help this sector continue growing."