SAM.I. presidium meeting at the European Parliament

Posted on 10. April 2013 | by Paul Wardenga SAM.I. presidium meeting at the European Parliament

On 10th April 2013, representatives of the European Samaritan organizations met at the European Parliament in Brussels. A special focus was the SAMARITAN Forum 2013 and the recently established award for ‘best practices‘ of the Samaritan organizations. Highlight of the meeting was the signing of the new cooperation agreement between SAMARITAN INTERNATIONAL (SAM.I.) and SOLIDAR.

The directors and managers of the Samaritan organizations ANPAS Italy, ASB Germany, ASB Austria, LSA Latvia, SFOP Poland and WK South Tyrol were informed by members of the European Parliament on the EU Financial Framework from 2014 to 2020, and discussed, under the direction of SAM.I. President Knut Fleckenstein and SAM.I. Secretary General Christian Reuter, the implementation of the forthcoming SAMARITAN Forum on 22nd August 2013 in Berlin.

EU financial framework 2014 – 2020

(l.t.r.): Josef Weidenholzer, President of SOLIDAR and President of Volkshilfe Österreich and ASB Managing Director und SAM.I. General Secretary Christian Reuter after the signing of the Cooperation Agreement.

The scientific staff reported on the current status of negotiations of the EU budget and informed about the new so-called EU fund for the poorest, a financial instrument which aims to facilitate access to food for those in need. An extension of the fund is currently being discussed in the Council. Particularly Southern and Eastern European Member States are advocating for also providing financial aid for clothing.

A new regulation was presented which is due for voting in the committee for regional policy at the end of 2013. With the Structural Fund NGOs have the opportunity to access funds for their statutory tasks. The aim of the new regulation is to optimize this procedure by January 2014.

Information on the budget debates of the European Union is of special importance for the SAM.I. members as international project co-operations are often tied to EU funding programmes. This is also the case with the planned conference series AVEC, Active Volunteering for a European Civil Society, the motto of this year’s SAMARITAN Forum.

SAMARITAN Forum 2013

In addition to the thematic concept the presidium members discussed the first presentation of the recently established award in depth. The new award, called „SAMARITAN‘S BEST“, will be presented on the evening of 22nd August 2013 for both an international project cooperation and an innovative national project of the member associations. In future, the award will be presented annually with a new thematic focus every year. In the European Year of Citizens 2013, the focus is on volunteering.

„SAMARITAN’S BEST is not only an expression of appreciation for exceptional volunteering within the member associations but also of great value as a stimulus for new project co-operations”, said SAM.I. Secretary General Christian Reuter.

Cooperation agreement SAM.I.-SOLIDAR

(l.t.r.): Conny Reuter, General Secretary of SOLIDAR, Christian Reuter, ASB Managing Director und SAM.I. General Secretary, (seated) Josef Weidenholzer, President of SOLIDAR and President of Volkshilfe Österreich.

Both at the launch event and in the scheduled conference series the cooperation with SOLIDAR will be strengthened. The collaboration between SAM.I. and SOLIDAR in Brussels will be extended in the future. The foundation for this was laid by a new cooperation agreement between both international networks signed by their presidents Knut Fleckenstein (SAM.I.) and Josef Weidenholzer (SOLIDAR) on 10th April in SOLIDAR’s offices. Special emphasis will be put on the joint advocacy on issues of social economy.