Speakers Civil Society Week 2026

Séamus Boland was elected President of the European Economic and Social Committee in October 2025.

He has been an EESC Member since 2011. He has held different roles at the Committee, including President of the Civil Society Organizations' Group (2020-2025) and Vice President of the Civil Society Organisations' Group (2018-2020).

His policy and political interests include the eradication of poverty, social exclusion, rural development and inequality.

Séamus has been CEO of Irish Rural Link since 2001, Chair of the Peatlands Council since 2012 and a Board Member of Inland Fisheries Ireland (2018-2022).

In October 2024 he was appointed to the Just Transition Commission as an independent expert by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in Ireland.

President Boland is a farmer and has worked in civil society for over 40 years, including with young people, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and people living in rural isolation.

He is a trained Speech and Drama Educator.

President Boland is married to Geraldine Boland and has three children and three grandchildren.

Maroš Šefčovič (born in 1966) is a Slovak diplomat who since 1 December 2024 has served as European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency. In this capacity, he leads the Commission’s work on designing and implementing a free and fair trade policy that enables Europe to reach its competitiveness, security and sustainability goals. He is also tasked with working on an effective and modern customs system that can help to protect citizens and support a level playing field for businesses.

European affairs have been at the centre of Mr Šefčovič's career for more than two decades. In 2019, he was appointed Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, before also taking on responsibility for overseeing the European Green Deal as Executive Vice-President in 2023.

Prior to that, he was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2014, while serving from 2010 to 2019 as Vice-President of the European Commission in charge first of Interinstitutional Relations and Administration, and then the Energy Union.

He first served as a European Commissioner from 2009 to 2010, when he was responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth. Before that, from 2004 to 2009, he was the Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to the European Union, contributing to the country's major integration projects, such as its entry to the Eurozone and the Schengen area. A diplomat by profession, he served between 1992 and 2004 in Zimbabwe and Canada and as Ambassador to Israel.

He graduated from the University of Economy in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the Moscow State Institute for Foreign Relations. He holds a degree as Doctor of Law and a PhD of European Law from Faculty of Law at the Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. He also undertook training in diplomacy at Stanford University, USA.

He wrote a book entitled ‘Driving the EU forward – talks with Maroš Šefčovič’, focused on his first mandate as the Commission Vice-President. In 2018, he was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa at the Pan-European University in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Younous Omarjee has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2012 and was elected Vice-President of the European Parliament in July 2024. As Vice-President, he is responsible for relations with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the Committee of the Regions (CoR), European regions and cities, the Outermost Regions and OCTs, as well as for relations with African countries and the world’s islands.

During the previous legislature, he served as Chair of the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) from July 2019 to July 2024. At the height of the COVID-19 crisis, he led and successfully concluded the negotiations and trilogues on all major cohesion policy regulations (CPR, ERDF, Interreg, CRII, JTF, REACT-EU, BAR,...).

Born in La Réunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean, Younous Omarjee has consistently defended cohesion policy and the reduction of economic, social and territorial disparities as fundamental pillars of the European project.

Responsibilities as Vice-President:

• Relations with the European Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee
• Relations with French authorities concerning Parliament’s seat
• Conciliations
• Bureau Working Group on Sustainable Infrastructure and Services
• Bureau Working Group on Citizens’ language and linguistic services
• High-Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity
• Replacing the President for contacts with local and regional authorities
• Replacing the President for Africa and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)
• Replacing the President for the EU Islands, Outermost regions, Overseas Countries and Territories and the Small Island Developing States

Membership in European Parliament Committees:

• Committee on Regional Development (REGI) - member
• Committee on Budgets (BUDG) - member
• Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) - substitute member
• Delegation for relations with India - member
• Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China - substitute member

Nicolae Ștefănuță MEP (Greens) serves his second term as MEP. He is full member of the Committee on Budgets, and the Committee on the Industry, Research and Energy, and Substitute member of the Committee on Public Health, and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

At the beginning of the 10^th legislature he was elected the Vice-President of the European Parliament.

Among his areas of interest as a MEP are: climate change, youth policy, foreign policy and security, public health, European budget and European rights.

He is a graduate of the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, where he obtained a Master of policy management degree. He has a bachelor's degree in economics, obtained in Timișoara, Romania and a master's in advanced international studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Austria and in European studies from the University of Vienna.

He began his professional career working for the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Once Romania joined the European Union in 2007, Nicolae started his European career working for the European Parliament in various public policy areas, including budget and agriculture policy, as well as in the area of Transatlantic relations for the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the United States.

Michael McGrath assumed the role of EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection on 1 December 2024, as a member of the European Commission under the leadership of President Ursula von der Leyen.

As a member of the College of Commissioners, Commissioner McGrath contributes to delivering on the Commission’s overall political priorities, set out in the Political Guidelines underpinning the European Commission 2024 – 2029.

Commissioner McGrath has specific responsibility for upholding the rule of law, protecting democracy and fundamental rights, tackling disinformation, improving criminal justice cooperation and strengthening the rights of victims of crime, and improving EU competitiveness through the reform of company law and civil law. Commissioner McGrath has lead responsibility for consumer protection policy for almost 450 million consumers in the EU, and works to ensure full enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation, and promoting trusted data flows with international partners.

Commissioner McGrath has been appointed by President von der Leyen as Chairperson of the Commission Project Group on Democracy, and is a member of the Project Groups on Artificial Intelligence; Startups and Scaleups; European Savings and Investment Union; and European internal Security.

Prior to this, Commissioner McGrath served as Ireland’s Minister for Finance from 2022 to 2024, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2020 to 2022, and was an elected member of the Irish Parliament between 2007 to 2024. As Minister for Finance, he had a key role in decisions made across government, and was Ireland’s representative at the Eurogroup and Ecofin meetings of European Finance Ministers, and was Governor of a number of international bodies that Ireland is a member of, including the European Investment Bank, the IMF, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Commissioner McGrath holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University College Cork, is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has undertaken studies with the London School of Economics and Political Science. He held senior roles in both the private and public sectors before entering politics full-time.

In May 2019, Gabriele Bischoff was elected as Member of the European Parliament and in December 2021 as Vice-President of the Socialist and Democrats Group (S&D). She serves as Vice-Chair of the Committee for Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and as full member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL). She commits her parliamentary work to core social-democratic topics including a fair and functioning European labor market, decent minimum wages and more democracy at the workplace. In her role as AFCO Vice-Chair she is dedicated to improve the capacity of the European Union to act and to ensure a broad participation of citizens. Gabriele Bischoff started her career as a researcher at the Berlin Institute for Social Research and the FHW Berlin School of Economics. In 1990, she started to work for the German Metal Workers Union (IGM) as a Senior Advisor and subsequently as head of the department for equality. In 2000, she worked at the Permanent Representation of Germany to the EU as Social Attaché in Brussels. After that, she took up the position as a Senior Advisor for the EU Presidency in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Germany. Between 2008 and 2014, she was Head of the European Policy Department at the Federal Executive of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). She served as President of the Workers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee from 2015 until 2019. She is Vice-President of the German federalist organization “Europa-Union” in Germany, a member of the European Academy Berlin e.V., a member of the assembly of curators of the Institute for European Politics (IEP), a board member of the SPDqueer Berlin and a member of the SPD, IG Metall and ADFC. Gabriele Bischoff studied Political Science at the Universities of Marburg and Berlin and holds a diploma in political science from the Free University of Berlin.

Mr. Gimenez was was elected member of the European Parliament in 2024. Prior to that, he served as legal advisor to the People's Party's MEPs from 2014 to 2019, and as advisor to MEP Javier Zarzalejos from 2019 to 2024.

Isabelle Le Galo Flores took office as Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee on 16 January 2024, for a period of five years.

Ms Le Galo Flores is an expert in communication, corporate social responsibility and sustainability, with a strong focus on empowerment strategies both within and outside the organisations she has led.

Her background in mathematical engineering and political sciences, gained at Science Po Paris, led her into fields such as medicine, sustainable food systems, diversity, intergenerational justice, and youth development, allowing to integrate models of democratic regeneration in her work.

From 2014 to 2023, Ms Le Galo spearheaded Spain's Carasso Foundation, established by Danone heirs, focusing on sustainable food systems, civic arts, and advancing philanthropy. Under her guidance, the foundation pioneered grants promoting cultural democracy, sustainable arts and sciences, local food policies, and cooperative transitions.

Ms Le Galo is one of the Top 100 Women Leaders in Spain, an Aspen Institute Fellow, an Acumen Fellow, and a BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Fellow. She is French and Spanish by nationality.

Katherine Zappone served as a Senator (2011-2016), TD for the Dáil (lower house) and as a member of the Irish Cabinet (2016-2020). As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Zappone spearheaded the national development of early years care and learning, including specialised wrap-around services to reduce child poverty and its impact. She brought her vision for equity and diversity to Europe and to high-level gatherings in the United Nations including the Security Council and General Assembly. Prior to entering politics, Dr. Zappone was a human rights advocate and co-founder of the largest community education organisation in Ireland. Her groundbreaking legal case against Ireland to recognize her marriage to Dr. Ann Louise Gilligan was the catalyst for a constitutional win in 2015. Her memoir, Love in a Time of Politics was published by Hachette in 2025. Currently, she is a Visiting Research Fellow at Trinity College Dublin.

Teresa Anjinho was sworn in as European Ombudswoman on 27 February 2025, following her election by the European Parliament in December 2024. As Ombudswoman, she is responsible for investigating maladministration within the institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies of the European Union.

From 2022 to 2025, Ms Anjinho served as a Member of the Supervisory Committee of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). She previously held the positions of Deputy Ombudsperson of Portugal (2017-2022), Secretary of State for Justice in the Portuguese Government (2015), and Member of Parliament in Portugal (2011-2015).

Ms Anjinho is a lawyer, an independent human rights expert, and an academic specialising in public international law, gender, and equality. She has lectured at the NOVA School of Law and at the Ius Gentium Conimbrigae Institute of the University of Coimbra. She has also published several scientific papers.

Antoni Abat i Ninet is a Distinguished Researcher at the Institut d'Estudis Europeus (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) and a Talent "Banco de Santander" Fellow. He is from 03/24 - 03/27 Scientific Coordinator and P.I. of the Horizon Europe: "Express 2 Specify and Protect the EU Social Contract" grant agreement No 101132426.

From 2020 to 2024, he was a Maria Zambrano researcher at the UAB, and a Faculty Affiliate at the Edwin Jaeckle Centre of Law, Democracy and Governance (SUNY at Buffalo). Prof. Abat is also a researcher at the Arial University Center for the Research and Study of Genocide.

Antoni graduated in Law from the University of Girona in 2001 and was awarded a PhD by the University of Barcelona in 2007. He joined the ESADE faculty of law in 2011 when he was granted the Juan de la Cierva competitive research scholarship by Spain’s Ministry for Science and Innovation. Antoni has taught Comparative Constitutional Law and Ancient Political Thought at the State University of New York and the Lincoln Law School of San José and was a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University Law School. He has taught several courses on the History of Philosophy, the History of Political Systems, and Political Philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy at the Universitat of Barcelona and the EGLS.

Tamam Abusalama is a Palestinian-Belgian communications and campaigns professional, born and raised in Jabalia Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. She is also a writer whose analysis and personal reflections have been featured in various international media outlets, and a public speaker recognised for her advocacy work on human rights. Tamam has been named among the most influential voices on LinkedIn. In addition to being a member of multiple anti-racist and anti-colonial movements, she is currently the Communications and Campaign Strategist at the European Left Alliance where she is leading the European Citizens’ Initiative calling on the European Commission to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Ina Agafonova is the founder and chairperson of the board of “Via Pontica” Foundation, which is active in environmental protection with a focus on wetlands. The Foundation is the national NGO coordinator for the RAMSAR Convention.

She holds two Master's degrees on International economic relations and Ecology. Ina Agafonova has many years of experience in business and project management. In the last years, she focused her work on the twin - digital and green- transition. Fluent in English, French and Russian.

Ms Agafonova is a member of the Economic and Social Council of Bulgaria since 2021, chairing of the Committee on Sustainable Development, Agriculture, Environment and Regional Policies, and a member of the European Economic and Social Committee since 2025.

Colette Bennett joined the NESC as a Policy Analyst in 2025. Prior to this role, she was Director of Advocacy and Research with The Wheel, Ireland’s national association of community, voluntary, charity, and social enterprise organisations, and Economic and Social Analyst with Social Justice Ireland. She has extensive experience in evidence-based analysis across policy areas such as poverty, consumer debt, social exclusion, housing, migration, public participation, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Colette has an MA in Social Justice and Public Policy from All Hallows College (DCU), and a Professional Practice Certificate from the Law Society of Ireland.

Passionate about education and community engagement, she has developed and delivered training for policymakers, community groups, and third-level students. She has also contributed to academic programs, authored numerous policy briefings, and launched initiatives such as the Social Justice Matters podcast, reaching audiences in 77 countries and is a regular contributor to national and local media.

Colette Bennett is a member of the Royal Irish Academy Social Sciences Committee.

@NESCireland

Dr. Carsten Berg is Executive Director of the Association for the ECI e.V. and The ECI Campaign. In 2002–03 he successfully campaigned for the introduction of the ECI into EU primary law during the Convention on the Future of Europe. Today he advises ongoing and future ECIs through the independent ECI Help Desk, coordinates advocacy on ECI reform, and regularly publishes on transnational democracy.

He held positions within the European Parliament on ECI matters and worked for the European Commission on Citizens’ Assemblies and has been involved as a campaigner in successful ECIs. He was also part of the expert teams that designed the world’s first permanent randomly selected citizens’ assembly in East Belgium and contributed to the development of the first permanent citizens’ assembly at EU level.

His doctoral research examined the impact of the ECI on EU democratisation. Between 2021 and 2024 he worked at the European University Institute in Florence on deliberative and direct transnational citizens’ participation, alongside his continuing work on the constitutional role of the ECI in Europe.

Davide Biasco is the co-organiser of the STAR-PASS European Citizens' Initiative, advocating for a stronger visual European identity through tangible symbols. By profession, he is an IT Compliance Manager specialising in Information Security.

Beyond his technical career, Davide has a rich history of civic engagement. He previously served as President of the BEST Alumni Network and led the Best Before Project, an initiative tackling food waste caused by labelling misunderstandings. A "life enthusiast" and advocate for Effective Altruism, he combines his professional expertise with a passion for building a more cohesive and visible European Union.

Web: http://davide.biasco.net

Dimitris G. Bimpas is a Scientific Advisor at the Economic and Social Council of Greece, where he has served for six years, providing expert input on economic and social policy. He also works as a researcher and academic assistant in the Department of Economics at the University of Athens, contributing to research in international economics.

His previous roles include seven years as a Research Associate and Economist at the Small Enterprise’s Institute of GSEVEE, as well as advisory positions within the General secretariat of the hellenic Government, specialising in SME policy, maritime economics, strategic investments, sustainable development and healthrelated sectors.

He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Macedonia, an MSc in Economic and Social Policy Analysis with a focus on Defence Economics from the University of York, and an MPhil in Economic Sciences from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Over the course of his career, he has also served as a project evaluator for governmental bodies, a tutor in public administration and adult education, and a technical representative in national and international committees. His work extends to collaborations with international organisations, including assignments with the ILO, as well as contributions to European projects and specialised research initiatives. As an expert advisor on opinions of the European Economic and Social Committee, he has contributed to work on maritime space, the drone industry and the revision of the late payment directive. His main areas of expertise include economic and social policy appraisal, SMEs policy, Sustainable Development Goals, defence economics and maritime transport.

Finally, Dimitris G. Bimpas is Member of Hellenic Economic Chamber.

Lauren Bond currently serves as a Board Member of the Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU), representing student rights at an international level. In addition, she is a first year International Politics student at the University of London Institute in Paris. Previously, Lauren spent three years with the Secondary Students’ Union of Northern Ireland, first as International Officer and later as President. Lauren is a passionate advocate for youth voices, serving as a member of the UK Youth Parliament, the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly and being part of the iWill movement. As acknowledgment and recognition to her activism, she received a Coronation Champion Award (2023). That was followed by her win of the 2024 Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition.

Nina-Raluca Bucătaru is an EU legal and policy professional and a co-lead of the European Citizens’ Initiative “Save your right, Save your flight!”, which opposes the downgrading of air passenger rights and works to ensure citizens are effectively represented in the ongoing revision of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. With experience at the European Commission and in private legal practice in Belgium and the UK, Nina approaches the initiative as a citizen mandate. Alongside legal analysis and policy strategy, she crafts clear, accessible narratives to engage decision-makers, partners, and the public.

Matteo Cadeddu is one of the Italian co-coordinators of My Voice My Choice, the ECI for safe access to abortion in the EU. He has been leading the Italian team at Change.org, and works with More in Common to help leaders and orgs find common ground and tackle collective challenges. Matteo is an Obama Leaders Europe fellow, and he focuses on democratizing access to change, promoting the integrated use of technology, education, and organizing to activate and connect communities. Through his leadership, the civil society network RENA has developed initiatives such as “Heroes, not just for one day,” a peer-based capacity-building program to equip activists and leaders of marginalized communities with the skills and network necessary to build a more equitable and representative Italy.

Elena Calistru is the president of the ECO section of the EESC, which shapes civil society input on EU economic governance, cohesion policy, public finances, taxation, and financial markets. She is a civil society representative from Romania in the EESC, having worked as rapporteur for opinions on issues such as the MFF, cohesion policy or RRF. She is the founder and president of Funky Citizens, a NGO that promotes democratic accountability, citizen participation, and evidence-based policymaking.

Suzana Carp is the co-founder of the Foundation for European Citizens Rights, Involvement and Trust (ECIT Foundation). In this capacity, she has supported the Voters without Borders ECI which has won the Charlemagne Award for Youth in 2022 (for Belgium). Previously, in her role as Chair of New Europeans, she received together with the members of the organisation the Schwarzkopf Award for Ideas that change Europe (2019). Outside of her roles in the democracy space, Suzana has been actively championing European climate policies, having held multiple roles over the past decade in pan-European organisations, leaving a lasting impact on the European Climate Law, the European carbon market and the European Green Industrial Plan.

Gabriella Civico is from the UK, but lived in Spain and Portugal for many years before moving to Belgium and becoming a Belgian citizen.  She has a degree in Social Policy and Education from the University of Surrey (UK), and a Masters in Education in E-learning from the University of Hull (UK).  She worked with CEV in her role as Project Manager for the EYV2011 Alliance from July 2010 until the project’s completion in March 2012, when she became CEV Director. There, she takes a leading role in advocating for better volunteering policies, contributing her expertise at the European level in various European Union expert & advisory groups, such as EQF, Europass, Mobility of Young Volunteers, as well as in the European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre Advisory Group. She also represents CEV in the EESC Liaison Group for European Civil Society Networks and has been further involved in establishing Civil Society Europe in 2014 where she is currently the President.

Martina Corti is Social Affairs Policy Officer at SOLIDAR which she joined in 2020. Her work focuses on topics such as housing, fair working conditions and fight against poverty. She has an academic background in public policies and international studies and previous work experience in the NGO sector in the realm of social justice.  

Gillian Coughlan is an Irish member of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and a Fianna Fáil Party councillor on Cork County Council, where she has served since 2009. In 2021, she made history by becoming the council’s first female mayor.

As an alternate member of the CoR from 2020 to 2025, she worked on the European Broadband Platform, focusing on expanding high-speed broadband access in rural and underserved areas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she drew attention to the severe educational impact of digital inequality. As rapporteur, she authored the CoR opinion on the Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027, which underscored the importance of digital cohesion and inclusion in education.

Under the 2025–2030 mandate, she will continue as a full CoR member and serve as Chair of the CoR Working Group on Kosovo, bringing her interest in peace and reconciliation along with a distinctly Irish perspective.

In Cork County, Ms Coughlan also acts as a strong supporter of deliberative democracy and has supported forms of engagement such as “Public Participation Networks”, which aim to help bring the concerns and ideas of civil society organisations to public authorities and the more traditional institutions of representative democracy.

Adelina Dabu is Head of Public Affairs at the Employers' Confederation Concordia, where she coordinates the organisation's activities in national, European, and international affairs. She is Concordia’s Permanent Delegate to BusinessEurope and liaison with International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and Business at OECD. She is member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), member of the Management Board of Eurofound, and the Romanian Economic and Social Council (CES) on behalf of Romanian employers.

With more than fourteen years’ experience in the field, she previously worked in large private companies dealing with stakeholders’ engagement, political risk and sustainability across various topics including fiscal policies and social affairs, energy and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods.

Adelina Dabu studied business administration, political science, European affairs and anthropology in Bucharest and Bologna

Maarten de Groot is a member of The ECI Campaign and supports various activities of the organisation as a freelance contributor. He has worked with a range of organisations in the field of citizen participation, particularly in relation to EU democracy. His work is shaped by an ongoing process of political and professional reorientation, grounded in critical engagement with the EU’s colonial past and present — including its complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people, as addressed by the Justice for Palestine European Citizens’ Initiative.

Sarah de Heusch is director of Social Economy Europe and member of GECES, observer of the UN Task Force on SSE, EESC CCMI delegate and part of the EESC civil society liaison group. She is also Board Member of la Coop de Communs and has worked for Smart cooperative for nearly 15 years. For 20 years she has worked internationally at the crossroads of research and advocacy on topics such as the social economy, impact of digital on labour and democracy, access to social protection, participatory governance at work and the commons.    

Before becoming President of the SOC section, Cinzia Del Rio has been the Director of the international department of UIL (Italian Labour Union) until March 2023. She has also been an active member of the SOC section, having been rapporteur of important opinions addressing among others issues linked to the European Pilar of Social Rights. She became a member of the EESC in 2015 and has also been active in the INT and ECO sections.

Daniela Dimitrova is Chief Expert at the Economic and Social Council of Bulgaria.

She holds a Master’s degree in Management of Social Work Institutions from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Bulgarian University. Currently. she is a PhD student in Public Administration in Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.

Daniela Dimitrova has extensive experience in project and programme management, social inclusion and stakeholder coordination.

Her work interests include educational and social policies, human rights, advocacy, strengthening partnerships between public institutions, civil society and international organisations. She is fluent in English and German.

Claudio Dondi holds a Master’s in Political Science from Bologna University and has dedicated over 40 years to research and innovation in education. After founding the non-profit research organization SCIENTER, he served as Professor of Human Resources Development at the College of Europe and Vice-President of the EDEN Network. He has acted as a policy advisor on educational quality and inclusiveness for numerous governments across the EU, Latin America, and Central Asia. Since 2016, his focus has shifted to participatory democracy and peace education. He is currently the Coordinator of the Executive Council for the Education Inspiring Peace Lab and previously served as the scientific coordinator for the CITIZED project. Today, he leads the DECITEL (Democratic Citizenship Teaching and Learning) Teacher Academy, an Erasmus+ initiative exploring how to integrate citizenship competences across all educational fields.

Amaia Echevarría is a journalist and communications specialist currently working at Euronews, where she produced and anchored the Spanish edition of “Brussels, my love?”,and “The Ring”, bringing European political debates closer to Spanish-speaking audiences. Her professional experience includes reporting for Agencia EFE, covering national and international current affairs and delivering multimedia content on European issues. She combines newsroom expertise with a strong background in institutional and civic engagement, having served as President of ESN Spain, fostering dialogue between youth organisations and EU stakeholders. With solid experience in political communication, moderation, and public debate, she is committed to making complex European topics accessible, dynamic, and engaging for diverse audiences.

Petros Fassoulas has been the Secretary General of the European Movement International since July 2015. Before that Petros headed the European Movement UK for 3 years. Previously Petros worked as ACCA’s Head of Public Affairs, Europe. He has also worked as EU Affairs Adviser at the UK’s Financial Services Authority and before that he was EU Affairs Adviser at the UK Parliament.

Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux is the Head of Unit for Inclusive and Social Entrepreneurship, promoting the social economy and social and inclusive entrepreneurship and designing policies and financial instruments to steer non-public sector investments for social objectives, within the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion in the European Commission. She joined DG EMPL in 2015, as Head of Unit for programming and the coordination of the EaSI programme, after several years as Head of Unit in the Directorate-General for Budget. She previously worked in the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. Before joining the European Commission in 1999, she was Head of Unit responsible for local budgets in the Home Office in France.

Malcolm Fleming is the President of the Association of Charity Lotteries in Europe, the trade body for the charity lottery sector which raises over 1.5 billion euros a year for civil society in Europe. Malcolm is also the Director of Public Affairs for the Postcode Lottery Group, which is active in five European countries. The Group is owned by a non-for-profit Foundation and raises funds for a wider range of civil society organisations, from small community groups to larger national and international charities. Malcolm has been with the Postcode Lottery Group for almost 10 years. Prior to this Malcolm worked as a Special Adviser to two First Ministers of Scotland, specialising in energy, rural affairs, international development and environment policy. He has also worked in media relations for the international NGO Oxfam, working in the UK as well as in several Asian and African countries. He is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen.

Elisa Gambardella is President of the Lifelong Learning Platform since 2023, and she is the Director of SOLIDAR+, the Learning Hub of the SOLIDAR network focusing on Education and Lifelong Learning, and Democratic Participation. She joined SOLIDAR in 2018 and since then, she had the opportunity to represent the organisation in the Board of Civil Society Europe (2022-2023), and the Conference on the Future of Europe (2021-2022), along with participation in the LLLP. Before moving to Brussels, she worked for the Cabinet of the Italian Minister of Labour, where she specialised in active labour market policies for youth employment (2013-2016). Overall, she has 10+ years’ experience in public authorities, think tanks and EU CSOs, alongside participation in political and civic activism initiatives and movements. She holds a master’s degree in European studies from Roma Tre University.

Mattéo Garguilo is a 22 year-old Human Rights and LGBTI+ activist. Since 2023, he has been appointed co-president of the French organization ACT (Against Conversion Therapy) in order to set up a European campaign against these practices. Indeed, he is now the representative of the European Citizens’ Initiative for a “Ban on conversion practices in the EU” launched on May 17^th, 2024. Coordinating this campaign with the support of over 200 LGBTI+ and Human Rights organizations based in 17 EU Member states. This campaigns gathered the support of over 1.2 million of European citizens and is now being negotiated within the European Institutions. Outside of his advocacy work, Mattéo is also a full-time Master student at Sciences Po Lyon.

Petko Georgiev is a communications and media management expert with over two decades of experience in journalism, management and civil society support. He is Director of ProInfo Foundation and ProMedia Productions, where he leads initiatives on media resilience, digital transformation, participatory democracy, and narrative change. Petko has coordinated communications for EU-level projects including the European Citizens’ Initiative Forum and crowdsourcing initiatives across the EU. His work focuses on helping people and organisations find language that resonates beyond bubbles—turning complex EU policies into stories that citizens can recognise as their own.

Elīna Grīnhofa is the Head of Advocacy at the Civic Alliance - Latvia (CAL), specializing in civil society communications and public engagement. She also serves as Board Member and Project Lead at the Ogre Civic Cooperation and Development Association, where she coordinates regional civic initiatives, public information campaigns, educational projects, and participatory activities that strengthen community involvement. Previously, she worked at the German Embassy in Riga, coordinating communication projects and collaborating with local NGOs, and at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, managing international cooperation and joint projects with NGOs across the Nordic countries.

Giuseppe Guerini is President of Cooperatives Europe the voice of cooperative enterprises in Europe representing 84 member organisations from 33 European countries across all business sectors and is Europe Region of the International Cooperative Alliance.

He has been a member and worker in Italian cooperatives since March 1988, when he started working as a grassroots operator in a social cooperative. He has been a manager and administrator in many social cooperatives and Consortia.

Since June 2016, until October 2025 he has been President of CECOP-CICOPA Europe the European Confederation of Industrial Cooperatives and Social Cooperatives.

Since September 2010, he has represented Confcooperative in the EESC (European Economic and Social Committee).

Member of the Board of Confcooperative, charged on relations with European institutions and international representative organizations of the cooperative movement in partnership with Alleanza Cooperative Italiane.

Vice-President of Social Economy Europe the ombrella organization between association, cooperatives, mutuals, foundation and social enterprises in Europe.

Vice-president of the Fondazione Comunità Bergamasca. A philanthropic foundation that provides funding for the social and cultural sectors in Bergamo.

He has collaborated with research and training institutes in the field of social economy (AICCON and EURICSE) and with various Italian universities (Bergamo University, Catholic University of Milan, University of Bologna) in the creation of study and teaching courses aimed at social economy entities.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Social Impact Agenda for Italy.

Member Orientation Council of the IPSE (Institute pour la protection sociale europeene ) Paris.

Member of the Impact Assessment Committee of the Fondazione Progetto Arca in Milan.

Since 2010 until June 2018, he has been a national president of Confcooperative-Federsoli

Dr. Davyth Hicks is a specialist on territorial, minoritised and endangered languages, the regeneration and recovery of these languages, and on linguistic rights. As Secretary-General and one of the founders of Europe’s largest NGO representing minoritised and endangered European languages, the European Language Equality Network (ELEN), he plays a key role in developing language policy and planning, protecting minoritised languages, and campaigning for language rights, at the international, European, State and local level.

Prior to this he enjoyed success as a professional songwriter and rock musician, touring extensively with different bands worldwide, as well as working with language activist organisations in Cornwall, Brittany, Scotland and Wales.

Réka Heszterényi is a practitioner and researcher in European democracy and youth empowerment. She has worked at the Council of Europe Youth Centre and the European Parliament’s Youth Outreach Unit, and co-founded JEF Hungary from the ground up. She wrote her capstone project for the Master in Transnational Governance (EUI/STG) in cooperation with The ECI Campaign. Since November 2024, she has been Social Media Manager at The ECI Campaign.

Faryda Hussein is a devoted policy expert with experience in European and Dutch social affairs, inclusion, international law and cooperation. As a civil servant, Faryda is passionate about making policies work for all, in line with international law and dedicated to promoting ethics within the civil service. Faryda is co-founder of Diversité Europe, an ambassador for diversity and inclusion within the civil service and a leading voice in the civil servant movement for peace and justice.

Anna Iafisco is a Policy Advisor for Housing at Eurocities, where she has worked since 2020, focusing primarily on housing policy, as well as economic development and just transition. She previously served as an Expert for the Committee of the Regions, including drafting an opinion on the European Affordable Housing Plan to address housing challenges and improve local and regional authorities’ access to EU funding. Holding a Master’s in International Economic Policy and Analysis, Anna combines her expertise in economic policy with a strong commitment to sustainable urban development and EU advocacy.

Michaela Karamperi co-leads Generation Climate Europe (GCE), the EU’s largest youth-climate coalition. She has been involved in youth climate movements for more than 5 years and also works as a policy advisor on EU environmental and sustainability policy. She has a diverse background, including experience in institutions, NGOs, academia, and the private sector. Her interests include sustainable and just transitions, systemic change and new economy topics.

Lena Karnalova is Founder and Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bulgaria, a public-benefit NGO established in 2006 and official affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters International. She has nearly 20 years of experience in developing structured one-to-one mentoring programmes for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, promoting volunteering as a tool for social inclusion and active citizenship.

Lena is a Board Member of the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) and a member of the Advocacy Committee of Mentoring Europe. She actively contributes to European policy discussions on volunteering, mentoring and youth participation, and leads numerous Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps initiatives strengthening civil society capacity across Europe.

Ms. Assya Kavrakova has been the Executive Director of the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) since 2014. ECAS is an international non-profit association, based in Brussels, with a pan-European membership and 35 years of experience in empowering citizens in order to create a more inclusive and stronger European Union.

With twenty-five years of experience in senior management positions leading national and international teams of experts and NGOs, Assya has thorough knowledge of the European Citizenship, EU law, EU structural and Cohesion Policy, Schengen regulatory framework, EU external policy decision-making, EU enlargement policy and leverage, European Rights framework, EU civic participation formal and informal mechanisms. She has an extensive knowledge of CEE civil society and regional development issues and in-depth knowledge of the post-accession state of affairs in the ten Member States from CEE.

Keen promoter of digital empowerment of citizens, with a forward-looking attitude towards digital democracy and digital management, Assya has a Certificate of the Solvay Brussels school of Economics and Management for a QiLeader (Leading authentically in digital times).

She is a member of the European Commission’s Just Transition Platform (JTP) Working Group on Stakeholder Engagement.

Assya Kavrakova is an European Citizens’ Initiative Ambassador and the project supervisor of the European citizens’ initiative online collaborative platform, which ECAS operates on behalf of and under contract to the European Commission.

Natacha Kazatchkine has been the secretary general of the European Civic Forum since January 2025. She brings a wealth of experience in championing fundamental rights and civil society empowerment. Most recently, she held senior leadership and advocacy positions at the Open Society Foundations and Amnesty International, where she oversaw policy development and advocacy strategies centred on the rule of law and EU human rights policy. Her diverse background also includes a period at the European Parliament, where she drafted a report on CIA rendition and secret detention programmes in Europe. She has also worked as a legal adviser for asylum seekers in the UK and has led projects on prison reform in several African countries. She holds an MA in European law and criminal policy from Paris Sorbonne University and has held academic posts as a lecturer and researcher.

Olga Kikou is the Founder and Director of the non-profit organization ‘Animal Advocacy & Food Transition’. With decades of experience in civil society advocacy, she has a wide range of interests and expertise, ranging from advancing animal-related causes to building support for social justice and green issues, strengthening citizen participation and reinforcing social reform. She has a proven track record of effective engagement with EU policymakers and has built a strong network across EU institutions and civil society. Olga serves as the representative of the Citizens’ Committee for the ECI Food is a Human Right for All: Guaranteeing healthy, just and sustainable food systems and as the substitute representative for the End The Cage Age ECI, where she played a key role in its success as the lead lobbyist engaging with various stakeholders.

A mother of three, Arja lived abroad for almost twenty years and was actively involved in parents’ representation in the schools attended by her children in different countries. Upon return to her native Austria she started to engage in the regional parents’ association and was later elected member of the board of the European Parents’ Association (EPA) where she served as President 2018-19 and is currently engaged as Project Coordinator. In 2020 she also joined the executive committee of OIDEL (an INGO that promotes the right to education). A lifelong learner herself, she was a member of the Steering Committee of Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP) 2019-2024. In May 2021 she also became a member of the executive board of EUFIC (European Food and Information Council).

Ewa Kulik-Bielińska was born in November 1957. She is the initiator and co-founder of the Polish Donors’ Forum and its second chairperson. She represented the Stefan Batory Foundation in the Forum, which was among its founding members. She cooperates with the Forum as an expert in the Legal Committee. For 25 years she has been involved in activities to improve conditions for the functioning of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the development of philanthropy and civic activity in Poland and Europe. Ms Kulik-Bielńska is active at the European level, working with a number of European organisations and networks to involve CSOs from the Member States in the development of EU policies and legislation, and to enhance the role of civil society. She is a members of the EESC since October 2025.

Sylvain Le Bon is a co-founder of Startin’blox, a cooperative dedicated to making technology work for people—not the other way around. With a passion for digital democracy and collaboration, he has spent years building tools that help communities, organizations, and governments work together more effectively, without being locked into big tech platforms. His work is all about breaking down silos: creating spaces where data can flow freely and securely, so that local groups can connect, share, and make decisions together—whether they’re next-door neighbors or spread across continents.

One of his recent work is his contribution to the emerging “democracy data space,” a bold idea that aims to bring fragmented democratic efforts into a single, connected ecosystem. Imagine a world where local town halls, activists, and policymakers can easily share information, coordinate actions, and amplify their voices—without losing control of their data. In partnerships with organizations such as Open Source Politics and the metropolis of Bordeaux, he is helping design the rules and tools that make this possible. The goal is simple but transformative: to turn digital democracy from a patchwork of isolated experiments into a powerful, inclusive network where everyone has a seat at the table. Technology isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about empowerment, ensuring that communities, not corporations, shape their own futures.

Nicolas Levrat is a Professor of European and International Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Geneva since 2001 and he is the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues since 1 November 2023. Following his appointment as Special Rapporteur, he has dedicated most of his time to this mandate. His latest report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/61/41) is entitled “Addressing minority issues through their root causes.”

Formerly, he served as Director of the European Institute, founder and director of the Global Studies Institute (GSI), and Director of the International Law Department, all at the University of Geneva. He is also Director of the Geneva Transformative Governance Lab. He serves as General Co-Editor of the academic journal EU-topias and is the author of more than 130 scientific articles and 20 books.

Francesca Ligi serves as an Institutional Partnership Advisor at the Red Cross EU Office in Brussels. In this capacity, she strengthens the collaboration between the Red Cross National Societies in the EU, Norway and Iceland and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) with European Union institutions and key stakeholders. Her current focus lies in advancing health resilience and fostering community engagement across all sectors.

Francesca’s journey in volunteering and social impact began at the age of 17, when she first joined the Red Cross as young volunteer. Since then, she has been actively involved in advocacy and international cooperation, bringing her passion and experience to the forefront of humanitarian action.

Cillian Lohan graduated from University College Cork and the University of Ulster with Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees.

He has worked extensively in the corporate sector (strategic planning and business development) and in the environmental sector (conservation and habitat management).

He is a leader in the field of the Circular Economy. He was the inaugural Chair of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform which he helped to establish. He is an experienced delegate at United Nations initiatives such as the Climate COP negotiations, and the High Level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals.

As CEO of Green Economy Foundation, Cillian has overseen ambitious projects including the planting of over 4 million trees in Ireland, and the establishment of a Wildlife Reserve in Tobago.

Appointed through the Irish Environmental Pillar, he has been an active member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) since 2015, and has been rapporteur for 17 opinions. He was EESC vice-president in charge of communication from 2020 to 2023. In October 2025, he was elected to the office of president of the EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group.

Federico Mallone is an international project officer at Fondazione CRT, where he drives the development of EU‑related partnerships, initiatives, and knowledge resources, including the European project platform EUknow.it. With over twenty years of experience across foundations, public institutions, academia, and international consulting, he has contributed to EU project design, project management, capacity‑building, content development, knowledge dissemination, and strategic advisory work at local, national, and European levels. He collaborates with Philea - Philanthropy Europe Association - to strengthen connections between European philanthropic organisations and EU institutions, with a focus on enhancing opportunities for cooperation around EU funding and programmes.

György Miklós  co-founded Szülői Hang - Parents' Voice Hungary - in 2016 because the problems experienced in Hungarian public education stem from systemic errors and shortcomings that can only be addressed at a national level, and this requires collaboration and the creation of parental advocacy. Parents' Voice has since grown into the largest parent advocacy group in the field of public education in Hungary. While the advocacy activities focus on education, Parents' Voice Hungary also makes it clear that the problems in education cannot be solved unless democracy in Hungary is restored. 

Iraya Milara is International Relations Officer at the Economic and Social Council of Spain, where she fosters cooperation with Economic and Social Councils across Europe, Latin America, and the Mediterranean. She specialises in policy analysis and consensus-building, promoting active cooperation on shared socio-economic challenges. Her profile integrates legal expertise with hands-on experience in public affairs, international cooperation, and stakeholder engagement.

Prior to joining the Council, she contributed to international business promotion and economic cooperation initiatives, supporting projects across sectors such as innovation, education, and social engagement.

Iraya Milara holds a double Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Political Science from Universidad Carlos III of Madrid.

Berta Mizsei is a researcher at the Centre for European Policy studies (CEPS). Her work focusses on digital and participatory democracy and EU policymaking processes. She also researches ethical, legal and socio-economic aspects of new technologies and civil dialogue in EU institutions. She applies qualitative and quantitative methods via workshop facilitation, interviews, foresight, and survey analysis.

Vasiliki Mustakis is the Participatory Democracy Manager of the European Democracy team at the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), where she works on the European Citizens’ Initiative Forum on behalf of and under contract with the European Commission. Her work focuses on stakeholder engagement, development of guidance materials, and the delivery of outreach and capacity-building activities. Vasiliki has designed and led workshops and webinars involving initiative organisers, civil society representatives and EU institutions, fostering dialogue across diverse stakeholders. She holds a Master of Science in European Politics and Policy from University College London and a B.A. in Government and Economics from Smith College, USA.

Eszter Nagy is an economist teacher holding a master’s degree in Global Economic Relations Program (International Relations Department at the Central European University in Budapest)

Since 2022 local councilor in the 2nd district council in Budapest, reelected in 2024, since beginning of 2025 without party affiliation. As a civil activist, she is a member of the UEF Executive Bureau since 2021 and since June 2022, the president of the Union of European Federalists (UEF) Hungary. Between 1997-2009, she worked for the Hungarian Foreign Ministry. As a diplomat she served in Ottawa (Canada), in Tallinn (Estonia) and in Paris (France). She also teaches diplomatic communication in English and French.

Luís Pais Antunes - President of the Economic and Social Council of Portugal

Attorney since 1982, Luís Pais Antunes was a member of the Legal Service of the European Commission, Legal Secretary (référendaire) at the European Court of Justice, Director-general of Competition and Prices (Portugal), member of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council – as Presiding Arbitrator in the Arbitral College in compulsory and necessary arbitration as provided for in the Labour Code.

He was also Secretary of State in the 15th and 16th Portuguese Governments, Member of the Portuguese Parliament, President of the Sport Arbitration Court (Portugal), and a member of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Red Cross and of the Forum for Competitiveness.

Luís Pais Antunes took office as President of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council on the 4th of July of 2024.

Bogomil Nikolov is the Vice President of the Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Executive Director of the Bulgarian Active Consumers Association.

He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) and a Master’s degree in Political Science and Business Administration from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Bulgaria and Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Mr. Nikolov is a member of the European Economic and Social Committee, and the National Council for Consumer Protection.

Bogomil Nikolov has been a member of Council of the economic and Social Council of Bulgaria since its establishment in 2003, he has served as its Vice President since 2021.

Salvatore Ricci is a 31-year-old political scientist with a deep commitment to European democracy. He is an expert on EU policies and politics, shaped by years of experience inside the Brussels “bubble.” For over five years, he has worked across EU climate, environmental, and trade policies from multiple perspectives. A strong believer in the European Union, he stands firmly for its core values: equality, freedom, and the rule of law. He enjoys connecting legal and procedural details to broader political and societal goals. At present, he works with ArcelorMittal Europe to support a strong, sustainable, and resilient European steel sector. Outside of work, he enjoys writing on political and societal issues.

Emiliano Rocchetti is a policy officer at the International Union of Tenants (IUT) in Brussels, where he works on EU housing and social policies, including housing affordability, security of tenure, tenant protection, just transition and energy poverty. He actively represents tenant interests and civil society perspectives within EU institutions, participating in advocacy, advisory groups and public discussions on sustainable and inclusive housing solutions.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliano-rocchetti-4964142a5?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B1F73BDlDTaqaaDKEqV99PA%3D%3D

Ariane Rodert is a Group III Swedish member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC since 2010 where she holds several positions. The is currently Vice President of Group III, Member of the EESC Bureau, Vice President of the SOC Section and Member in the Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group.

In the EESC she represents the largest Swedish civil society organisation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden with over 5.5 million members, where she is responsible for and Senior Advisor on European policy and Head of the Policy Unit at the Central Church office. She is also active in several umbrellas in the social civil society sector and board member of the Stockholm City Mission.

Ariane’s key areas of expertise in the EESC and at European level are social policy, democracy and civil society policies, civil preparedness and social economy. She has drafted several numerous opinions on these subjects, and most recently was Rapporteur on SC/054 - Subcommittee on Preparedness Union and SOC/812 - Crises and crisis phenomena in modern Europe and civil society.

Ariane holds a Master of Science degree in Business and Economics from the University of Stockholm.

A committed humanist, societal strategist and international coordinator, Jean Pierre Saulnier has developed for more than fifty years a singular career at the crossroads of healthcare, human management, training, strategic communication and collective engagement.

Trained as a nurse within the French Navy, he served on warships, aircraft carriers and in military hospitals, forging at an early stage a solid field experience in crisis management and human responsibility in high-stakes contexts.

He then continued his commitment as head of emergency services within major industrial groups, before holding executive positions in the medical, marketing and service sectors. These responsibilities provided him with a fine understanding of organizations, human dynamics and economic realities.

For more than fifteen years, he has worked as a trainer and speaker with NGOs, higher education institutions and public bodies. He has supported diverse audiences on the themes of communication, organization, leadership, professional integration and self-realization.

As a wealth management advisor for five years, he acquired a rigorous command of financial, ethical and governance issues, which he always approaches from a responsible and humanist perspective.

Since 2011, he has chaired an international movement for political and societal reflection, oriented toward peaceful, sustainable and evolutionary solutions for humanity. Since 2017, he has coordinated the international dissemination and structuring of the Genius Garden

Mila Shamku is the Coordinator of Social Services Europe (SSE), Europe’s leading organisation representing non-profit social service providers. She is also an independent researcher specialising in EU affairs, with expertise spanning employment, social affairs, industrial relations, entrepreneurship, equalities, anti-far-right strategies, regional policies, and youth rights.

With over a decade of senior experience in European and international labour movements, including trade unions and cooperatives, she is a member of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Social Economy and Social Enterprises (GECES).

Previously, Shamku has served on the Management Committee of the Social Platform and as an expert for various working groups in the European Commission and in the European Economic and Social Committee. A published author committed to Social Europe, she holds dual master’s degrees in political science from the University of Turin and Sciences Po Grenoble.

Furkan is a Project Coordinator at Volonteurope. He works on participatory democracy and inclusion of gender-sensitive, decolonial and intergenerational perspectives in public discourse at the European level. Furkan has a particular interest in foresight and in how civil society organisations can apply it across different contexts to envisage multiple futures, strengthen present thinking and preparedness, and overcome current challenges. His work also engages with environmental action to help secure a desirable future for seldom-heard groups and more-than-human actors. Furkan has a background in law and European studies.

ECI organiser of "Demand the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in view of Israel’s violations of human rights"

Stefano Spadaro is the Programme and Communications Lead at the European Left Alliance (ELA), overseeing the programming and communications work of ELA.

He is also working on the European Citizens’ Initiative “Justice for Palestine”, demanding that the EU fully suspend its Association Agreement with Israel.

Prior to joining ELA, he held communications and campaigning roles for different civil society organisations in Brussels.

Hanna Surmatz is Head of Policy at Philea in Brussels since 2022 and has been working towards a favourable operating environment for institutional philanthropy/foundations in Europe since 2004. Main responsibilities include leading and co-ordinating the policy and advocacy work of Philea, monitoring and mapping/analysis of relevant developments that affect foundations’/funders operating environment in Europe and beyond; co-ordination of benchmarking exercises; and facilitating information exchange on relevant legal and tax law matters through publications and events and engagement with policymakers and academia as well as other relevant stakeholders. Since 2021 she is a member of the European Commission Expert Group on Social Economy (GECES) and got re-appointed in June 2024. She  also represents Philea in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) CSO Liaison Group and in Social Economy Europe. In 2024 she became co-chair of the Worldwide Initiative for Grantmaker Support Organisations (WINGS) Enabling Environment Working Group. The Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea), is an international association according to Belgian law that promotes and underpins the work of foundations and philanthropy active in Europe and beyond. www.philea.eu

Nicolò Triacca is Project Manager on European Democracy at the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), specialising in citizen participation, digital democracy, digital transformation policies and civil society.

He currently works on ECAS’s digital democracy initiatives, leading large-scale crowdsourcing campaigns, research and events linked to Europe’s digital transformation and the Digital Decade 2030 agenda. He actively contributes to research and development on emerging digital trends for democracy, civic technology, and inclusive digital transformation, supporting innovative approaches to participatory governance across the EU.

Before joining ECAS, Nicolò worked for over ten years in the Italian civil society sector, with a strong focus on lifelong learning, youth participation and volunteering. He consulted for volunteer support centres, schools, and municipalities, and led the Brussels office of the Italian Network of Volunteer Support Centres for six years, strengthening European partnerships and advocacy activities. He has also served as a project evaluator for public institutions and private foundations.

He holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Torino.

Daniela Vancic is the European Policy and Advocacy Lead at Democracy International, promoting participatory and direct democracy in her role since 2017. With over a decade of experience in the democracy and participation field, she is an expert on the European Citizens’ Initiative and co-editor of Complementary Democracy: The Art of Deliberative Listening.

Gaetano Vivo is Deputy Head of Unit B.3 - Prevention and Preparedness Capacity Building at the European Commission's Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Operations (DG ECHO). Gaetano has 20 years of experience working on disaster and climate resilience, including in post-disaster and crisis situations. Previously he worked for the World Bank as a Team Leader for investment projects in Latin American and Caribbean countries and for the Civil Protection Department of the Italian Government.

Pavel Zálešák, a 26-year-old Software Test Engineer, is a dedicated advocate for fair gaming practices. In 2024, he joined Stop Killing Games and later became the official representative of the European Citizens’ Initiative Stop Destroying Videogames, launched on July 31, 2024. He now coordinates a team of over 70 members across 20 EU Member States to combat harmful industry practices.

Beyond advocacy, Pavel is a full-time student at Unicorn University, serving on the student board, balancing his academic, professional, and activism efforts.

Kristīne Zonberga is the Director of the Civic Alliance – Latvia (LPA), the largest platform of non-governmental organisations in Latvia, uniting more than 140 member organisations and representing approximately 70,000 individuals.

In her capacity as Director of the Civic Alliance – Latvia, she holds a permanent seat on the Council for the Implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation between Non-Governmental Organisations and the Cabinet of Ministers, serving as a key representative of civil society in structured dialogue with the government.

In addition, the Civic Alliance – Latvia fulfills the role of the Secretariat of the Memorandum Council, providing coordination and administrative support to its work. Through this function, Kristīne Zonberga plays a central role in facilitating cooperation between civil society organisations and public authorities.

Anita is a Youth Ambassador of the 4Voices project, an EU-funded initiative that explores the gender history of Europe through gender-sensitive, decolonial and intergenerational lenses. She has been active in advocacy and has taken part in feminist and queer projects and collectives in Italy, including initiatives addressing gender-based violence and promoting the safety of public spaces. She is currently a Master’s student in Social Studies of Gender at Lund University, and her research interests lie at the intersection of gender studies, decolonial theory and critical analyses of power.