Carnival Volunteers Should Get Extra Leave Days, Says PL MEP

Following the conclusion of Carnival 2026, Daniel Attard has proposed the introduction of additional leave for individuals engaged in cultural volunteering across the European Union.

Speaking in his capacity as the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the forthcoming European Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, Attard said many volunteers currently use their annual vacation leave to contribute to activities such as building carnival floats, organising village feasts, preparing fireworks and coordinating other traditional events.

He is calling on the European Commission and member states to consider establishing a baseline framework that would allow for recognised cultural volunteering leave within an agreed structure.

Attard stated that any such measure would need to respect labour market realities and remain balanced, noting that leave entitlements fall under shared EU competence, where minimum standards are set at European level and specific conditions are determined by individual member states.

The proposal forms part of a wider report on sustainable tourism, which also includes recommendations for a European Fund for Intangible Cultural Heritage and initiatives aimed at strengthening skills within the tourism sector.

The report is expected to be discussed and amended at committee level before proceeding to a vote in Parliament.

#MaltaDaily