EU staff dig deep for communities across Europe
Just a month after a group of like-minded colleagues – all members of the cross-institutional EUStaff4Climate group – came up with the idea, the EU Staff COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund has raised over €150,000 and made its first grants, to charities offering medical and food aid in pandemic-ravaged Spain and northern Italy.
The focus for now is to show European solidarity in action and distribute help quickly where it is needed. David O’Sullivan, a former senior EU official, will chair the Steering Committee. It oversees the selection of projects together with the King Baudouin Foundation, the leading Belgian philanthropy institution, which is a pioneer in cross-border giving.
The EU staff group sees a longer-term role in helping to ‘build back better’ after the crisis, fostering a more sustainable economy and society in Europe. It also wants to demonstrate in a practical, hands-on manner, that ‘Brussels’ is present on the ground and cares about the people of Europe – countering nationalist critics of the EU project.
“COVID-19 is causing death and a profound social and economic crisis across the world. In addition to the tremendous efforts of our institutions, many EU civil servants feel an obligation to make a personal contribution and help countries and people in need,” the Fund’s organisers said. “Making the solidarity of EU staff visible will strengthen the reputation of the EU institutions.”
“After the pandemic, the Fund will support social and economic recovery, inspired by the principles of sustainability, social justice and planetary health.”
In a mark of the Fund’s ambitions, it is calling on all staff across the EU institutions to pledge 2% of their salary every month
Just a month after a group of like-minded colleagues – all members of the cross-institutional EUStaff4Climate group – came up with the idea, the EU Staff COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund has raised over €150,000 and made its first grants, to charities offering medical and food aid in pandemic-ravaged Spain and northern Italy.
The focus for now is to show European solidarity in action and distribute help quickly where it is needed. David O’Sullivan, a former senior EU official, will chair the Steering Committee. It oversees the selection of projects together with the King Baudouin Foundation, the leading Belgian philanthropy institution, which is a pioneer in cross-border giving.
The EU staff group sees a longer-term role in helping to ‘build back better’ after the crisis, fostering a more sustainable economy and society in Europe. It also wants to demonstrate in a practical, hands-on manner, that ‘Brussels’ is present on the ground and cares about the people of Europe – countering nationalist critics of the EU project.
“COVID-19 is causing death and a profound social and economic crisis across the world. In addition to the tremendous efforts of our institutions, many EU civil servants feel an obligation to make a personal contribution and help countries and people in need,” the Fund’s organisers said. “Making the solidarity of EU staff visible will strengthen the reputation of the EU institutions.”
“After the pandemic, the Fund will support social and economic recovery, inspired by the principles of sustainability, social justice and planetary health.”
In a mark of the Fund’s ambitions, it is calling on all staff across the EU institutions to pledge 2% of their salary every month