At the Closing Plenary of Foundation Week, Francis Charhon, Chief Executive Officer of Fondation de France, addressed the importance of a European Foundation Statute in advancing the work of public-benefit foundations across Europe and explains foundations' crucial role in facing an economic crisis, namely due to their resilient character.

Watch some of the highlights of the 2010 EFC Interactive Fair, which showcased the work of numerous public-benefit foundations and how it is improving citizens' lives across Europe, via a myriad of stands, exhibitions, debates, games, films and much more. Throughout a whole week participants were welcome to interact with representatives from foundations, NDOs, EU Institutions and many others to find out more about their work. The Interactive Fair was part of the first-ever Foundation Week in Europe, which was organised by the EFC in 2010 in Brussels.

During Foundation Week the Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV) provided an insight into the world of Turkish foundations through its stand at the 2010 EFC Interactive Fair. Derya Kaya, Communications Coordinator at TUSEV, explains that Turkish foundations and NGOs play an important role in the country's development, democratisation and EU accession process. At the stand the visitors accessed a rich selection of books, brochures, visuals and other materials, showcasing the richness and diversity of Turkish foundations.

Filip Berte describes The Dialogue Audition, which is part of a broader project also run by the artist, Eutopia. With The Dialogue Audition Berte aims at understanding the communication gap between European citizens and the EU institutions. Throughout Foundation Week, Berte interviewed an array of people, including policy-makers, NGOs' representatives, donors and several other conference participants, while at the same time portraying them. This project will result in an interactive film, and it is taking place in partnership with the European Cultural Foundation, in the framework of its New European Narratives discourse.

Marzia Sica, Project Manager at Fondazioni4Africa, explains the photography exhibition displayed at their stand in the 2010 EFC Interactive Fair. The photographs document the lives of a group of young people from Kalongo, a small village in Northern Uganda which during the war was transformed into a refugee camp. The photographs exhibited were taken by young people from the camp, who spent one month learning about photography journalism as a key means to describing the stories and the hopes of their people.

Fondazioni4Africa is an initiative that brings together four of Italy's leading banking foundations: Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione Cariparma, Fondazione Cariplo and Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which work in close cooperation with Italian NGOs, associations of African migrants and the Fondazione Umano Progresso.

Antonella Ricci, from Compagnia di San Paolo, explains their stand at the 2010 EFC Interactive Fair. The stand showcased the work carried out by Compagnia di San Paolo on the Italian prison system. In cooperation with public bodies and NGOs, the foundation supports training schemes and job-related workshops inside and outside the prison, with a view to helping inmates with their social and occupational rehabilitation. Beer production and coffee roasting were two projects highlighted at the stand.

During the 2010 EFC Interactive Fair, Microsoft EMEA showcased its work in partnership with two networks, Telecentre Europe and TechSoup Global, and several NGOs across Europe, which aims at enabling inclusive, appropriate use of technology in a scaled and sustainable way. Isabel Dimitrov, Microsoft EMEA, explains how software and other technology donations are growing the capacity of NGOs all over Europe to more effectively serve the needs of communities at-risk.

Mo Ibrahim, founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, was awarded the European Mercator Fund's Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy, at the closing plenary of 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference on 4 Junw 2010. Ibrahim speaks about the vision of his foundation, and what it means to receive this prize.

Ludwig Forrest, Philanthropy Advisor of the King Baudouin Foundation, explains the context of the winner of this year's EFC Photo Competition.

The Cloud historical tour was presented at Foundation Week in Brussels on 3 June. We are in the year 2060, fifty years after the great change, which saved us from our downfall. To mark this anniversary, the world looks back at the year 2010, and the preceding period in which humanity seemed to be heading towards an inevitable catastrophe. Over time we gradually have forgotten our history and become so accustomed to the good and harmonious life in the year 2060, that it is hardly appreciated anymore. Are we heading for a new catastrophe? The Cloud was supported by the European Culural Foundation.

Hans Martens, Chief Executive of The European Policy Centre, shares his thoughts on the main challenges Europe will face, and how he believes foundations can help to address these issues.

Maria Orejas, European Consortium of Foundations on Human Rights and Disability and Fundación ONCE, explains why the foundation chose to bring CD Fundosa, a wheelchair basketball team ranked fourth in Europe, to the 2010 Foundation Week.

John Macdonald of the European Commission's taskforce for the 2011 European Year of Volunteering, explains the main objectives of the year and how foundations might contribute.

Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, highlights the valuable role of foundations in European society and gives his backing to the European Foundation Statute in a speech at the 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference on 3 June.

Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, outlines the role foundations should play in the EU and underlines the particular importance of supporting the "brightest minds" in the sciences. Mr Walport was speaking a special plenary entitled, "The European Game Plan", at the 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference on 3 June.

Eleanor Boddington of the Wellcome Trust explains the current state of play with regard the development of a European Foundation Statute. Ms Boddington was speaking at a session on the Statute during the 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference on 2 June.

Manuel Medina Ortega, former Member of the European Parliament, describes the role that foundations can play in linking citizens with the EU institutions. Mr Medina Ortega was responding to the results of on MEPs' perception and understanding of foundations, which found a concensus among respondents that foundations fill an important gap that no other actor can fill. Mr Medina Ortega was speaking at the opening plenary of the 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference, which kicked off on 2 June 2010.

Gerry Salole, Chief Executive of the EFC, responds to the results of the Gallup poll on MEPs' perception and understanding of foundations. The results show that there is broad consensus among participating MEPs that European foundations should play a role in the EU 2020. Over 8 in 10 (83%) MEPs who participated declared that they would be interested in meeting foundations active in their field(s) of expertise/competence. Mr Salole was speaking at the opening plenary of the 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference, which kicked off on 2 June 2010.

Nadja Hirsch, Member of the European Parliament, gives her thoughts on the results of the Gallup poll on MEPs' perception and understanding of foundations. Ms Hirsch also describes what she believes is the strongest argument for a European Foundation Statute and makes suggestion on how to increase engagement between foundations and MEPs in the future. Ms Hirsch was speaking at the opening plenary of the 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference, which kicked off on 2 June 2010.

Caroline Bergaud, Gallup Europe, gives an overview of the main findings of the Gallup poll on MEPs' perception and understanding of foundations. Ms Bergaud was speaking at the opening plenary of the 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference, which kicked off on 2 June 2010.

Luc Tayart de Borms, Managing Director of the King Baudouin Foundation, explains why foundations need to be outward looking and make the link between the local, national and European. Mr Tayart de Borms was speaking at the opening plenary of the 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference, which kicked off on 2 June 2010.

Emílio Rui Vilar, EFC Chair and President of the Board of Trustees of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, explains the theme of the 21st EFC Annual General Assembly and Conference, which kicked off on 2 June 2010.

The European Economic and Social Committee (ESSC) recently gave a clear and strong backing to the European Foundation Statute by adopting with a large majority of votes an own initiative opinion in favour of the Statute. Mall Hellam, Open Estonia Foundation and member of the EESC, explains the significance of this development.

Participants of the EFC Next Generation Initiative describe their expectations for Foundation Week. The initiative aims to promote the professionalisation of the next generation of foundation leaders. The 15 participants are guided through various activities Foundation Week with a view to gaining insight into issues relative to their work and philanthropy in general.

Emílio Rui Vilar, EFC Chair and President of the Board of Trustees of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, and Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of the Republic of Latvia addressed the EFC Governing and DAFNE reception during Foundation Week on 1 June.

Juanes explains the motivation for creating Fundación Mi Sangre and its main goals. Juanes performed three of his famous hits at the peace and security policy briefing reception, which took place on 1 June 2010, during Foundation Week.

Karen Chouhan, founder and director of Equanomics UK and one of the Joseph Rowntree Visionaries for a Just and Peaceful World initiative, explains her vision on how race equality should be led by black communities themselves, and how the support received from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust has brought her closer to this vision. Ms Chouhan presented her vision during Foundation Week on 1 June 2010.

The Darwin's Evolution exhibition commemorates 200 years since Darwin's birth, and 150 years since the publication "On the Origin of Species". Hosted by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, the exhibition takes you through key scientific and cultural milestones that were to shape Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection. Using a selection of interactive media and original artefacts, the exhibition provides a condensed version of a long story, which is expected to help visitors understand the main motivation behind Darwin's intellectual endeavours, and the consequences for modern culture.

Emílio Rui Vilar, EFC Chair and President of the Board of Trustees of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, gives his thoughts on Foundation Week (1 June 2010).

Avila Kilmurray, Director of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, describes what she feels is the added-value that foundations can bring with a view to peace and security issues. Ms Kilmurray was participating at a briefing on peace and security at Foundation Week on 1 June.

See some highlights of the Giacomo Puccini operatic concert: " From Lucca to Brussels, a journey without end", which took place at Foundation Week on 31 May 2010. Alberto Del Carlo, Chair of Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca, explains why his organisation decided to host the concert at the Week.

Gerry Salole, Chief Executive of the EFC, talks about the exhibitions, debates and sessions going on throughout Foundation Week which runs from 31 May till 4 June at the Square in Brussels.

Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, gives his views on how foundations can respond to climate change at Foundation Week on 31 May 2010.

Jos Delbeke, Director General, Environment Directorate-General, European Commission, gives his view of how foundations can contribute to addressing climate change at Foundation Week on 31 May 2010.

Rien van Gendt explains the raison d'être of the NEF Religion and Democracy initiative, which was presented at Foundation Week on the 31 May 2010.

Gerry Salole, Chief Executive of the EFC, explains the impetus for the 2010 Foundation Week and its target audience.