2011 European Year on Voluntary Activities: How to get involved at European and national level
Room: 211
Volunteering is a key element of the foundation sector – some 2.5 million volunteers are active with European foundations, be it on their boards or in projects and programmes. Foundations have also developed a wide range of activities to promote and support voluntary activities. The 2011 European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship aims to create a momentum in this field by raising awareness and promoting the value and importance of voluntary activities and volunteers, working towards an enabling environment for volunteering and empowering those involved in voluntary activities. Interested in knowing more? Come to this interactive session and discover how you can take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the 2011 European Year at national and European level. What are the objectives and priorities of the Year and how it will be implemented at national and European level? How can foundations contribute to this initiative and to the EU agenda in the fields of volunteering and active citizenship? In which areas could foundations and the EU benefit from greater cooperation? These and other questions will be addressed during the discussion.
Moderator: Nina Leseberg, Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen e.V
Speakers: John Macdonald, Task Force for the 2011 European Year of Volunteering, Communications Directorate-General, European Commission
Sophie Beernaerts, Head of Unit, "Citizens' Policy", European Commission
Understanding the EU decision-making process: Focus on the European Foundation Statute
Room: 213
How are decisions taken in the EU? How long does the process take? Who is involved, who can make proposals, who has the last word? This session is aimed at shedding some light on the EU legislative process based on the concrete example of the European Foundation Statute.
Moderator: Wolfgang Heusel, Director, Academy of European Law Foundation
Speaker: João Rodrigues, Legal Service of the European Paliament
Working with EU Funds: How to get involved successfully in a complex exercise
Room: 211
Civil society organisations, including foundations, are a natural target group eligible for a vast part of EU funding programmes both under nationally or locally-run programmes - financed through structural funds - and under Commission-run programmes. EU funds offer a wide range of opportunities for foundations to have a higher impact in their areas of work and to tackle new areas/groups not covered up to then. However, applying for EU funding and running EU projects is often seen as a complex and challenging process and foundations are hesitant to embark on this new adventure. What are the pros and cons of getting involved in the management of EU funds? What are the funding programmes most adapted/available for foundations? What are the key elements and requirements to be taken into account? What are the key challenges encountered when working with EU funds and how they can be addressed? What are the lessons learnt? If you are already working with EU funds or planning to do so, join us for this interactive discussion to exchange your views and experiences on these and other questions related to the key aspects of the EU funding process and the issues to consider for a successful experience.
Moderator: Michal Pietras, Foreign Affairs Officer, Foundation for Polish Science.
Speaker: José Manuel Fresno, Independent advisor in Social Policies and Third Sector.