EuroCharity opens new office in Brussels, presents Yearbook on Leadership for Sustainability in European Parliament

Athens, Greece and Brussels, Belgium — The “EuroCharity Yearbook 2011/12 – Leadership for Sustainability” and EuroCharity’s newly-opened office in Brussels were officially presented at a special event held in the European Parliament on October 29. The international presentation was attended by Members of the European Parliament, European Commission officials, corporate leaders and other stakeholders who had the opportunity to exchange views related to sustainability and leadership.

EuroCharity’s event was hosted by Mr. Spyros Danellis, member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D Group). In his welcoming address, Mr. Danellis highlighted the need to incorporate sustainability into political strategies, as it is considered to be one of the principal key words in today’s world crisis management.

Mr. Michael Spanos, Managing Partner, EuroCharity, presented EuroCharity’s role and highlighted some of the research and content of the 164-page “EuroCharity Yearbook 2011/12 – Leadership for Sustainability”.

A diversified mix of EuroCharity Yearbook guest authors were given the opportunity to present their own contributions and input related to the 5th EuroCharity Yearbook, including:

Ms. Iris Van der Veken, Chair, United Nations Global Compact Network Belgium; Manager Corporate Affairs Global, Rosy Blue;
Mr. Lars Seynaeve, Managing Director, Cluster Head for Public Affairs in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Citibank;
Mr. Stefano Gardi, Director for Sustainable Development, Italcementi Group, Italy.

In addition, an interactive panel discussion on sustainable leadership followed, which was moderated by another EuroCharity Yearbook guest author, Dr. Alessia D’Amato, Ex-Fellow in the Employment Relations and Organisational Behaviour Group, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), United Kingdom. This panel discussion was made up of:

Mr. Yury E. Blagov, Director, PwC Center for Corporate Social Responsibility, Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg University, Russia;
Ms. Damaris Matthijsen, Founder, Economy Transformers, The Netherlands;
Mr. Kris Amiralis, President, Future Leaders, Greece;
Ms. Yulia Savitskaya, Programme Manager for Global Training, Great Place to Work® Institute, U.S.A.

The event came to a close with the official launch of EuroCharity’s new office in Brussels, presented by Mrs. Vanya Veras, Secretary-General, Municipal Waste Europe (MWE) and Director, Brussels Representation Office, EuroCharity, and Mr. Spanos. Moreover, participants were taken on a guided tour and had the opportunity to discover the essentials about the European Parliament.

Commenting on the opening of the Brussels office and the EuroCharity Yearbook presentation at the European Parliament, Mr. Peter Michel Heilmann, President, EuroCharity, said: “The opening of our new Brussels office in the heart of the European Union is an important milestone for EuroCharity. Kindly hosted by Mr. Danellis, EuroCharity’s special presentation at the European Parliament represented for us a unique opportunity to showcase EuroCharity’s work, activities, achievements and latest EuroCharity Yearbook. It was the second time that we presented our global, multi-stakeholder publication to a distinguished audience, following our successful inaugural launch at the historic National Library of Greece in central Athens on July 5, 2012.”

Mr. Heilmann added: “We are honoured to have been invited to host this timely event in the first building of the European Parliament in Brussels, which was named after Mr. Paul-Henri Spaak — one of the founding fathers of the EU, three times Prime Minister of Belgium and a visionary European statesman — in honour of his work for Europe. “To present our fifth successful album in such an important setting — and with a number of top experts and visionary leaders from Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Russia and other countries attending — gives us new hope for the future and the next generations. Responsible and sustainable leadership is required today to help resolve the world’s most pressing problems, to provide new hope for humanity, to resolve our differences in a peaceful manner, and to lead the way to a more humane, healthy, respectful, responsible and dignified future.

“We would like to thank Mr. Danellis MEP and the European Parliament for hosting our event in the Belgian capital, and very much look forward to collaborating with the European Commission, the European Parliament, Mr. Danellis and other MEPs towards the implementation and effective communication of common goals.”

Note to the Editor: A total of 27 acclaimed guest authors as well as 14 CEOs from 16 countries on three continents have written their viewpoints, ideas and proposals in the “EuroCharity Yearbook 2011/12 – Leadership for Sustainability”. Among them are Mr. Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship; His All-Holiness, BARTHOLOMEW, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch; Mr. Georg Kell, Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact; Dr. Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director, Transparency International; and Mr. Mark Drewell, CEO, Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI). The full line-up of guest authors and contributors can be viewed at www.eurocharity.eu/en/story/8718.

Welcome note by Mr. Spyros Danellis, MEP, October 29, 2012 Λήψη

Presentation delivered by Mr. Stefano Gardi, Director for Sustainable Development, Italcementi Group, Brussels, October 29, 2012 Λήψη

The official launch of EuroCharity’s new office in Brussels, presented by Mrs. Vanya Veras, Secretary-General, Municipal Waste Europe (MWE) and Director, Brussels Representation Office, EuroCharity, and Mr. Spanos, Managing Director of EuroCharity Λήψη

Presentation delivered by Ms. Iris Van der Veken, Chair, United Nations Global Compact Network Belgium; Manager Corporate Affairs Global, Rosy Blue Λήψη

Presentation delivered by Ms. Vanya Veras, Secretary-General, Municipal Waste Europe (MWE) and Director, Brussels Representation Office, EuroCharity,Λήψη

‘EuroCharity Yearbook 2011/12 – Leadership for Sustainability’ presentation Λήψη