On Thursday 29 September, Board Members of the European Movement gathered in Brussels to discuss a whole host of issues the Movement is working on.

One of them was EU enlargement, with a draft policy position, outlining the organisation’s support for enlargement, presented and debated. The European Movement International will work with its members on the enlargement debate.

The Board also discussed proposals currently in the European Parliament about the future of Europe (the Verhofstadt report). The Board showed support for many of the innovative elements in the report, but questioned if creating a ‘two-speed Europe’ – where certain states in favour of closer cooperation advance European integration while other states desiring a lesser degree of integration can become associate members – would be the right way to go. The European Movement will be active on this debate in the European Parliament.

Meetings and pre-meetings at today's @EMInternational Board meeting: pic.twitter.com/8SzYIBzpZz

— European Movement (@EMInternational) September 29, 2016

When it comes to Europe’s post-Brexit future, the Board stressed the need to address eurosceptic sentiments across Europe and to focus on improving citizens’ trust in politics and policy-making, on the national as well as on the European level. With regard to current challenges against the rule of law in certain parts of Europe, the Board agreed that the EU should improve its available tools for guaranteeing compliance with the Copenhagen criteria, not only in applicant states but also, and even more so, in the existing Member States. The European Movement International will feed into the debate in the European Parliament on the issue and organise events and advocacy actions to defend the rule of law in Europe.

The Board also discussed a proposal tabled by several national councils of the European Movement International to organise a 2018 “Hague Convention”. The initiative was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the Board. The details of the project will be outlined during subsequent gatherings, but this meeting already made clear that one essential element will be to engage citizens in the project. Besides this, the Board discussed the progress on the upcoming Women of Europe awards and looked ahead to the Members’ Council which will take place in Lugano at the end of November.

The Board additionally cleared the way for a new member organisation, European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB), and approved the European Movement’s draft Work Plan for the coming year.