Italy proposes EU civil service for young people

(ANSA) - Brussels, March 17 - Italy has proposed an EU civil service for young people between the ages of 18 and 25 in the education, health, environment, culture and migrant reception sectors.
    The initiative, entitled "Odysseus" was presented by Premier Matteo Renzi at the launch of the "Volta" think tank.
    It would involve a competition for 250 positions for young people to take part in voluntary civil service activities over a period of 6-12 months, with a particular focus on the migration crisis.
    Odysseus would aim to go beyond the current system of transnational cooperation towards a system run directly by EU institutions. "It's about creating a common conscience, because investing in education and in volunteering means investing in the future," Renzi said at the inauguration of Volta.
    "Voluntary European service is the first step towards a longer term approach," he said.