qcea 2014 annual report

AnnualReport

Your Quaker Voice in Europe

2014

George Thurley, Sevasti Christoforou, Alexandra Bosbeer, Gordon Matthews and Andrew Lane

The Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) was founded in 1979 to promote the values of the

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in the European context. Our purpose is to express a Quaker

vision in matters of peace, human rights, economic justice, and sustainability. QCEA is based in

Brussels and is an international, not‐for‐profit organisation under Belgian Law.

Table of Contents

Message from the QCEA Representative

QCEA on Peace

QCEA on Economic Justice and Sustainability

QCEA on Democratic Governance and Human Rights

QCEA Communications

Reflections

Treasurer's Report

Financial Statements

Balance Sheet

QCEA people in 2014

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10

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14

Eventful Service

2 QCEA Annual Report 2014

2014 was an eventful year in Brussels. We had theEuropean Parliament elections in May, and then a newCollege of Commissioners whose organisationaldiagram changed from a flat one to a structure withtwo levels of Vice Presidents.

Here in Quaker House, QCEA had a small staff team inthe office. Our work is directed both towards theinstitutions through advocacy, and towards Quakersaround Europe through providing information andfacilitating engagement in democracy at the Europeanlevel. QCEA’s important contribution as ‘the Quakervoice in Europe’ is founded on a base of hundreds ofsupporters who write letters, raise funds, and offertheir time and simple Friendship to our staff team.

The office here in Brussels is often a place ofmovement and growth. In January, we were joined byAndrew Lane, who brought his cheerful outreach skillsto the role of Deputy Representative, and Gordon

Matthews, who as Office Manager acts as the ‘Quakerface’ of QCEA to many who contact us.

This was a very productive year, as you will see in theprogramme reports.

QCEA is able to increase its impact in relation to itssmall size through our collaboration with otherorganisations in networks. We are valued for having analternative view and for being able to work at thejunction between issues. Many of the issues of concernto Quakers are rather technical at the EU policy level.We have the expertise to contribute and are valued forour collaborative style. QCEA is also valued for thename ‘Quaker’ which carries with it connotations ofintegrity and clear thinking. The service of the staffcontinues to build this reputation.

Alexandra Bosbeer, Representative

“…it is the work of going out of ourselves which we accomplish amid light; lost in another than ourselves we inclineand move towards our own beatitude." ‐John Ruysbroeck, 14th Century

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/member-states-positions-2030-climate-and-energy-targets-revealed-309279

A Europe active in peacebuildingand resistant to militarism

Peace is an essential element of a just world. Quakersare one of the historic peace churches, and that iswhy QCEA works with the institutions of the EU toencourage progress towards a world free of war andof the threat of war. The role of the European Unionhas become increasingly important in world affairs:the EU currently has 18 overseas operations includingboth civilian peacebuilding and military deployments.In recent years the EU has increased militarycooperation, including on the development of dronesand supporting the arms trade. During 2014, QCEA hascriticised these approaches and called on theEuropean Union to reject militarism in favour ofdiplomacy and the 'soft power' that attracts andfosters cooperation.

A timely Quaker voice for peace

Being located in Brussels allows QCEA to respond tochanges at the institutions and new policy discussions.Many QCEA supporters have taken part in 'ActionAlerts' on peace, contacting their representatives tohelp ensure that a resolution supporting Palestinianstatehood was passed in the European Parliament,and to call for the new European Commission VicePresident responsible for foreign policy to be someonewho would work for peace.

During 2014, QCEA produced publications outliningmore peaceful alternatives to draft EU strategies on

internal security and cyber security. We aim for theEU to build fewer walls and more bridges.

Promoting structures of peace

We do not just criticise war. QCEA has promoted ideasthat help build peaceful societies, such as the globalpeace index, gender equality, and institutions forpeaceful dialogue. A particular highlight was ourDecember report giving a cautious welcome to thenew European Institute of Peace while warning thatthis new institution should not divert funding fromexisting peace initiatives.

QCEA cooperates with our partners to advocate onissues which are drivers of conflict, especially withregard to funding and trade. For example, during2014, QCEA met with the European Investment Bankdirectors to discuss incorporation of learning fromtheir own complaints procedure and to offer advice onthe Bank's revised transparency policy.

Peace

3

Headlines: Our work on peace• The European Institute of Peace: a new initiativefor mediation and dialogue

• Britain may sell its shares in peace

• New plans to increase EU military research funding

• EU militarism: It’s time to scrutinise old ideasabout security

• A culture of peace: The Council of Europe has apart to play

QCEA Annual Report 2014

“There is no security except in creating situations in which people do not want to harm you.” — James G. Vail 1953

With concerns about the wealth of Europe, and asense of competition perhaps with other areas of theworld, the current European Commission is focussingvery much on ‘jobs and growth’. QCEA continues topromote human well‐being instead of growth focussedon Gross Domestic Product per capita. When promisesare made of more jobs, we ask what kind of jobs and

how secure they might be, for example. We reviewedthe similarities of solutions to youth unemployment tothose proposed ‐ and found to be too weak to bringsolutions ‐ in the 1980s. We promote consideration ofother important aspects of human well‐being whichinclude the natural environment and economicequality. We envisage a shift toward a whollydifferent economic system.

Economic growth is often assumed to require cheapenergy, so we also commented on the Europe 2020energy goals, holding out that increasing employmentand reducing our load on the natural world can bothbe achieved through increasing energy efficiency. Theneed for a robust directive on waste reduction andrecycling (circular economy) was another area ofQCEA’s work.

One major issue in 2014 was the potential threat todemocratic governance from certain elements of freetrade agreements which were (and still are, in thecase of the US) being negotiated between the EU andwith both the US and Canada. The investor statedispute settlement tribunals have been revised in thefree trade deal with Canada, but we still fear achilling effect on the freedom of governments tolegislate in the public interest. Examples abound in ajoint publication on how the investor state disputesettlement mechanism is likely to play out in thefinalised and yet‐to‐be‐ratified free trade dealbetween the EU and Canada. Citizen engagement iscrucial: we provided a short description of the freetrade agreements, and a briefing paper advocating anexit clause for the agreement with the US. Theimportance of this work can be seen in the fact thatover 150,000 citizens and organisations responded to aEuropean Commission consultation on the investorstate dispute settlement mechanism.

Economic Justice and Sustainability


“Love your neighbour in the next generation, care for the environment." Charles B. Lamb, Ireland YM 1993

Headlines: Our blogs onenvironment and economics

• Maintaining a Quaker voice in a “growth and jobs”narrative

• Energy and (in)security

• Trading for injustice

• Liberating people instead of trade

• An uncessary tradition: The originas of the InvestorState Dispute Settlement mechanism

Headlines: Our publications oneconomic justice

• A sunset clause for TTIP

• Transatlantic Trade and investment partnership ‐what is it?

QCEA envisages an EU in which citizens feel engaged,and in which civil society is given the space to expressa variety of views and challenge those in power. In2014, we hosted a dozen Friends in our biennial studytour, during which they visited the EU institutions,the European Court of Human Rights, and theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europeduring a debate on Ukraine. “This study tour has beena very good experience and I am learning a lot,” saidone of the participants.

Our six action alerts in 2014 stimulated Friends toengage with their Members of the EuropeanParliament and to make submissions to relevant EUofficials on issues that Quakers care about, includingeconomic justice and energy goals. QCEA staff madesubmissions regarding how citizens might best beengaged: in 2014, we wrote formal submissions to the

European Commission and the European InvestmentBank on transparency, best practice in stakeholderconsultation, impact assessment, and corporate socialresponsibility. A guide for citizens to getting involvedwith the EU is on our webpage.

Democratic Governance

Human Rights

5

We work in partnership with several networks,formal and informal, on projects in which we sharegoals with other NGOs. For example, the HumanRights and Democracy Network (HRDN) is acollaboration of more than forty human rightsorganisations working at the EU level. QCEA recentlyplayed a significant part in an HRDN campaign inwhich candidates for the European Parliamentpledged to promote humanrights in their political work(see stand4humanrights.org).Nearly 200 candidates signedthe pledge, and 36 from 12Member States were elected.Our on‐going relationshipswith those who were electedas MEPs means we can discuss opportunities for theParliament to stand for human rights both inside andoutside the EU. One issue is human rights inbusiness: QCEA advocates for corporations to workfor human well‐being rather than only seeking tomaximise profit and dividends for shareholders.

We work for peaceful societieswithin EU Member States as

well as between them, and theneed for protection of humanrights is highlighted with therise of far‐right ideologies insome parts of Europe. QCEA iscontributing to the preventionof hate‐motivated crime with

comparative case studyresearch in hate crime policy indifferent parts of the EU whichaims at identifying preventative

and restorative methods ofreducing hate crime.


“Truth spoken without love is devoid of the essential element which transforms human action." ‐Geneva Monthly Meeting 1962

6

We work in partnership with several networks,formal and informal, on projects in which we sharegoals with other NGOs. For example, the HumanRights and Democracy Network (HRDN) is acollaboration of more than forty human rightsorganisations working at the EU level. QCEA recentlyplayed a significant part in an HRDN campaign inwhich candidates for the European Parliamentpledged to promote humanrights in their political work(see stand4humanrights.org).Nearly 200 candidates signedthe pledge, and 36 from 12Member States were elected.Our on‐going relationshipswith those who were electedas MEPs means we can discuss opportunities for theParliament to stand for human rights both inside andoutside the EU. One issue is human rights inbusiness: QCEA advocates for corporations to workfor human well‐being rather than only seeking tomaximise profit and dividends for shareholders.

QCEA’s work relies on our ability to communicatewith Quakers all around Europe, as well as with ourpartners and the people we speak with in theinstitutions of the European Union and the Council ofEurope. 2014 was the year in which we launched anew logo and a redesigned website.

Our newsletter Around Europe was also redesigned,including the addition of summaries of articles soreaders can garner the gist of our work within a fewmoments. The 'in brief' sections also lend themselvesespecially to translation: they are translated byGerman and Dutch supporters and published on theQCEA website.

Over ten thousand people viewed the QCEA blog in2014 – at an average of 29 per day ‐ where 28 newblog posts were published. 'Britain may sell its sharesin peace' was read by 307 people in a single day.

In 2014, QCEA doubled our Facebook followers andearned more than 1000 followers on Twitter. ManyMEPs and Commission officials have Twitter accounts:some follow QCEA and a few have responded to QCEAtweets.

Face‐to‐face communication remains a key method ofoutreach, however: there is nothing quite like beingable to ask questions and hear more about the issueswhich are the subject of our advocacy. QCEA staffspoke to Friends all over Europe in 2014. And therehave been a number of opportunities for QCEA staffto show the 'ministry of hospitality' and to speakabout our work. One such occasion was an autumnreception for staff of the European External ActionService hosted also by our colleagues in the EuropeanPeacebuilding Liaison Office. In December, humanrights organisations from all over Brussels gathered atQuaker House for end‐of‐the‐year networking.

Communications


“…wars and persecution, unemployment and poverty, are the results of the failure of society as a whole to bear itsresponsibilities…" –Roger Cowen Wilson 1949

QCEA's previous and new logo

Around Europe has a new look

Sevi Christoforou and Claus Siebeneicherworking on the new website photos

In one way or another I have been associated withQCEA since the mid‐nineteen‐eighties, first as amember of the bureau, then as treasurer and finallyas clerk from 2008 until the spring Council meeting of2014. For me, as a Friend living in Brussels there wasnever any doubt that there must be a Quakerorganization prepared to put forward our testimoniesto the decision‐makers, power‐brokers and influence‐

wielders of the European institutions, not only inBrussels but also in Strasbourg and Luxembourg. Andit was clear to me, as an official of a Europeaninstitution, that I was led to play my part in Quakeradvocacy at European level.

There is an established custom among Friends ofpromoting our values by urging governments andother political authorities to do what is right ratherthan what is convenient, expedient or advantageousand when new supranational layers of governancecome into being we must adapt to this situation. Thiswas the reasoning behind the creation of the QuakerUnited Nations Offices in New York and Geneva and in1979 the same logic applied in Brussels. For Friends ithas never seemed enough to rely solely on prayer tomake the world a better place and the commitmentof the Quakers who established QCEA reflected anenduring tradition.

Over the 35 years of its existence QCEA has grownboth in the range of concerns that it pursues and inthe ambition with which it campaigns, even thoughits resources have not significantly increased. Moreand more European parliamentarians, members ofthe Council of Europe's parliamentary assemblyand officials of the European institutions havebecome aware of our presence and havelistened to our arguments. If they have notalways gone on to pursue the actions that wefavour, we nonetheless know that our concernshave been recognised. QCEA has become anestablished presence – but never part of theestablishment.

Contemplating the wide range of subjects that QCEAmanages to work on with minimal resources, itastonishes me that so few Quakers in Europe seem torealize what a precious resource they have at theirdisposal if they wish to understand, from a Quakerlyperspective, what is being done at European level,often in all our names. Nor do many Friends acrossEurope appear to understand that QCEA gives them avoice so that their concerns may be brought to theattention of the decision‐makers. All of the principalissues facing our societies have a European, and ofteneven a global dimension and Quakers have no choicebut to work at every level where power over people'swellbeing, their safety and their environment isexercised. Issues of peace, of justice, of humanrights, of equality, of respect for our planet and itsavailability to future generations have become morecomplicated in a globalized world and Quakerconcerns must be pursued at an appropriate level.

I am gratified to have had an opportunity to play asmall part in QCEA's essential work and as I moveaway from my close involvement in its affairs I praythat Friends and friends in all parts of Europe'smainland and islands may see more clearly what aQuaker voice in Europe can do for them, and then askthemselves what they can do for QCEA.

Richard Condon, Clerk through April 2014

Reflections

7QCEA Annual Report 2014

“Forget every idea of right and wrong any class room ever taught youBecause an empty heart, a tormented mind, unkindness, jealousy and fear are always testimony you have been completely

fooled!" ‐Hafiz

2014 was a year of change for Europe, with a new andmore radical European Parliament elected and a newEuropean Commission beginning its work. Theprioritisation of economic growth above all elseproduced some worrying trends, such as the push topromote EU arms sales and the reduced emphasis onenvironmental concerns. And peace in Europe, thegreat hope and highly successful aim of the EuropeanProject, came under strain with violence in Ukraine.2014 was a year when the need for a Quaker voice inEurope, calling for peace and sustainability, was moreimportant than ever.

Changes were also happening within QCEA. The newlycreated position of Deputy Representative providedmuch‐needed support for our advocacy work,enabling staff to share programme areas and betterfocus on our various topics of concern. We welcomedas our new Office Manager Gordon Matthews, an oldfriend of QCEA who has already worked for us on twooccasions. These roles were accompanied, later in theyear, by our regular changeover of one‐yearProgramme Assistants. Additionally, there was achange of clerk (chair of the governing committee),when I took over from Richard Condon.

Alongside this change was continuity, with ourRepresentative Alexandra Bosbeer continuing herwork as our head of office and chief advocate of

Quaker concerns in Europe. Under her leadership, ourstaff have built their expertise in our variousprogramme areas, drawn on their existing knowledgeand skills, and carefully crafted publications andsubmissions that are designed to be readily useableand accessible by European officials and local Quakersalike. QCEA has also continued to make use of newand old media to reach out to our supporters, and toothers around the world who may otherwise not knowof our work.

Having spent several years working at the QuakerUnited Nations Office in Geneva, I have seen up closethe effectiveness of Quaker advocacy and the changethat can be wrought through persistent and informedlobbying over many years. A great strength of theQuaker approach is that because our core fundingcomes reliably from the various Quaker Meetingsacross Europe and beyond, we have the time andspace to consider what we are being called to do andto work on ‘hidden’ issues that are not popular orwell‐known. This flexibility is a great privilege andgift from our supporters and something I am keen forus to make best use of; I hope that Quaker Meetingsand trusts will continue to grant us this freedom.

Oliver Robertson, Clerk from April 2014

Bedding down ina time of change

“We must learn to deal creatively with conflict, both within the Society of Friends and between rival communities and nations.”— Sydney D. Bailey 1993


I am very impressed by the QCEA input to theconsultation, and I am filled with admirationand gratitude for all the obviously painstakingwork on the set of answers that were includedwith your e‐mail. Please accept and/or passon my sincere gratitude to those in QCEA

responsible for assembling and formulating it(together with all those references) on behalfof Friends...

I frequently re‐read when I was formulatingmy own response.

David Corry


Some time after finishing my term as QCEARepresentative, I joined the QCEA BritishCommittee, ending up as Assistant Clerk. This triesto provide a platform for making QCEA better knownand better supported in Britain. Some Committeemembers have been able to do more than me inspeaking to Quaker gatherings – when one does soand explains the EU, the reaction is, why has no onetold us all this before. However, I have been able toset up an email network of QCEA Correspondents inLocal Meetings, and I ran a short Brussels study tourin a year when QCEA was unable to do it. Weattracted some Faith in Europe members as well asFriends.

QCEA was and is unique. We could not 'die on everycross'. What we could do was marshal ourtestimonies and take a view of what mattered andwhere we could make a difference. Sometimes it wasbest to join an existing 'platform'. There, we mightbe asked, what do the Quakers think?

I am now drawn into QCEA’s workings even moreclosely, as I am currently the Council AlternateMember both to the British Committee Clerk and tothe representative of Britain Yearly Meeting itself.However, my project of looking for support to thefoundations that finance European Studies inAmerican universities is still on the drawing board.

Richard Seebohm

Different ways to serve

We can lay claim to the creative possibilities that are still ours, burlesque the injustice of unfair laws, and force evil out of hidingbehind the façade of legitimacy… ‐ Walter Wink

Martin Touwen

It's about 30 years now that I know QCEA. It startedwhen I was in EMEYF and we were allowed to useQuaker House Brussels as a base to organise the firstEuropean young Friends gatherings. What I still findspecial is QCEA's ability to combine 'Quaker' themes:peace and human justice and sharing of resources and ‐

for the last years ‐ sustainability. QCEA works onprojects which always have more than one angle. Inthis way, QCEA expresses our spiritual experience aslife being whole/holy.

I have long found it interesting that QCEA is regularlythe first to pick up a theme and provide a comparisonof how things are handled within the Europeancountries ‐ and what could be learned from each other.

As being European and Quaker are both two keyattributes of my personal identity, I always feltconnected to QCEA's idea of putting faith in action. Ihave been an associate member for years and havebeen happy to serve QCEA, on the Council, on theDutch support group, and now on the financecommittee.

Martin Touwen

Richard Seebohm


Treasurer's Report

“Any great change must expect opposition because it shakes the very foundation of privilege." ‐Lucretia Mott, 1853.

It's about 30 years now that I know QCEA. It startedwhen I was in EMEYF and we were allowed to useQuaker House Brussels as a base to organise the firstEuropean young Friends gatherings. What I still findspecial is QCEA's ability to combine 'Quaker' themes:peace and human justice and sharing of resources and ‐

for the last years ‐ sustainability. QCEA works onprojects which always have more than one angle. Inthis way, QCEA expresses our spiritual experience aslife being whole/holy.

I have long found it interesting that QCEA is regularlythe first to pick up a theme and provide a comparisonof how things are handled within the Europeancountries ‐ and what could be learned from each other.

As being European and Quaker are both two keyattributes of my personal identity, I always feltconnected to QCEA's idea of putting faith in action. Ihave been an associate member for years and havebeen happy to serve QCEA, on the Council, on theDutch support group, and now on the financecommittee.

Martin Touwen

It is a pleasure for me to review QCEA’s financialoutcome for 2014. That it was, operationally, a busyyear is evidenced elsewhere in this annual report, butin establishment terms it was without instability.Financially, we have much for which to be grateful.Amongst my duties in this report will be someexplanation of how it is that a forecast deficit of€40,000 has turned into an actual surplus of over€26,000. There are two sides to this: higher incomeof almost €34,000 and expenditure reduced by morethan €32,000.

On the income side, one of the importantimprovements was in all classes of subscriptions. Thisgoes beyond simply the financial increase of 42% over2013 as it signifies greater numbers of supporters ofQCEA amongst European Friends. British Committee islargely responsible for this and we are duly grateful.The second heading under which budgeted incomewas surpassed is contributions from Friends in mostyearly meetings. Up by 18% on 2013 and the highestsince 2006, they are a testimony to the understandingof Friends that QCEA deserves the means to continueto work for them. We note particularly that not onlyyearly meetings as a whole but also local and monthlymeetings and other groupings within them havedonated generously: thank you all very much.

Trusts, too, are to be thanked: the Joseph RowntreeCharitable Trust for its grant continuing at € 50,000and also the CB & HH Taylor Trust (£3,000=€3,781),the WF Southall Trust (£6,000=€7,563) and(£4,000=€4,970) from another trust. In addition, wehad project funding (£4,005=€4,976) for work on hatecrime from the Yew Tree Fund. Overall this was far

better support than we had dared to hope for whenthe budget was produced in October 2013.

The expenditure has been below budget far morethan above. The reduction in fuel use is satisfactoryenvironmentally as well as financially. The muchlower cost of office equipment is thanks to kind andexpert help from volunteers.

Our landlord, Britain Yearly Meeting, is supportivenow and into the future, with a renewed lease ofQuaker House, still at a very reasonable rent – for thepayment of which we thank British Committee. Wealso thank Xavier Verhaeghe for his expert supportwhen Quaker House needs it.

It is very good that our Representative, AlexandraBosbeer, now has the support of her deputy, AndrewLane. They, our office manager Gordon Matthews andour programme assistants are an effective team anddeserve our thanks for their hard work anddedication.

On behalf of the staff and the Council, I thankFriends everywhere for their support, both moral andfinancial. I particularly thank the Yearly Meetings andtheir members, our support groups and theircommittees and the several independent donors forfunding QCEA year after year. Although 2015 lookslike being a more expensive year, if the level offunding of 2014 can be at least maintained in thefuture then so, too, will the representation by QCEAof the Quaker Voice in Europe.

Tom Heydeman

Financial Statements

Income Description

Sales of publicationsStudy ToursProject‐related incomeBiennial conferenceHirings: meeting rooms and short‐term overnightsLettings: income from staff accomodationAround Europe subscriptionsAssociate membershipSupporting membershipsBritish Quaker donationsDutch Quaker donationsGerman Quaker donationsSwiss Quaker donationsDonations Belgium and Luxembourg QuakersFrench Quaker donationsSwedish Quaker donationsIrish Quaker donationsDanish Quaker donationsNorwegian Quaker DonationsOther Quaker DonationsFoundations and trustsJRCTOther DonationsSupport from Brussels Capital Region for QHReimbursement from insurance claimsReimbursement for office operating costs(Telephone,etc.)Reimbursement for transportation costsReimbursement for QHB expensesBank interest (net)

Total income

2013

20900

14,76220,94712,900

8092,6582,28666,60538,2531,5622,7831,250

07,0881,523268296976

8,84450,0001,42925,4483,768

1,8360

1,2811,101

268,881

2014

1897,3224,976217

21,69112,490

8634,4132,89071,60637,8495,4223,2482,506350

8,5908,188134

4,178217

16,31450,000

3700

3,780543

9,39718

277,428

Expenditure Summary Description

Project Expenditure ‐ directQuaker events: study tour and conferenceAdvocacy projects

Printing and Mailing PublicationsQuaker House RenovationsQuaker House Costs

2013

9,089

4,73523,82725,163

2014

shown below8,4104,533

5,6825,73622,224


“We are called to do justice to all and walk humbly with our God, to cooperate lovingly with all who share our hopes for thefuture of the earth." ‐Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice 2012

Office CostsCouncil MeetingsStaff CostsStaff Salary and Social ChargesOther Staff and Contractor Costs, Training Costs andFeesTravel CostsCosts related to search for Deputy RepTaxes (excluding employment‐related taxes)Financial ChargesDepreciation

Total ExpenditureBalance of Income over Expenditure

2014

shown below8,4104,533

5,6825,73622,224

2013

23,4045,302

120,668‐3,868

6,2252,1083,9833,306177442

224,561

44,321

2014

22,0335,680

146,52716,619

6,4831,941277

4,210153217

250,723

26,705


“If the world is rotten, don't ask why the light is broken. Ask, where are the Christians?" John Salt

Assets (Actif)

Fixed Assets (ACTIF Immobilisis)Computers (Matériel Informatique)Office Equipment(Equipment de bureau)

Current Assets (ACTIF Circulants)Claims (Créances)

Balances in bank accounts and as cash(Placements de Trésorierie)

Fortis

Triodos savings account

BE58 2100 5598 1479 SEK

Triodos current account (Cpte terme)

Caisse (Petty Cash)

Total in banks (Total placements de trésorerie)

Prepayments and accrued income (Comptes derégularisation)

Total Assets (Total Actif)

Balance Sheet

2014

0217

2,089

31,102259,4491,0907,929327

299,897

1,158

303,361

2013

0434

3,170

20,484219,457

‐

8,571639

249,150

1,765

254,519

Not included in the figures above are funds held by support groups. As at 31.12.2014 the QCEA BritishCommittee held £21,103 (2013: £29,083) and VVQREA held €52,907,35 (2013 €535,340); both these sums arefor the benefit of QCEA but managed by independent charities in the UK and the Netherlands respectively.Funds held by QCEA on behalf of EMEYF as at 31.12.2014 were €11,568 (2013 €11,357).


“We need both a deeper spirituality and a more outspoken witness." Gordon Matthews 1989

2014

0217

2,089

31,102259,4491,0907,929327

299,897

1,158

303,361

2013

0434

3,170

20,484219,457

‐

8,571639

249,150

1,765

254,519

Liabilities (Passif)

Patrimoine de départ

Result of current period (Résultat periode en cours)Totel reserves as of 31.12 (Patrimoine total au 31.12)

Allocated to following reserves:

General Reserve

Designated reserves

House Reserve

Cash Flow Reserve

Total Designated Reserves

Total Reserves (Patrimoine Total)

Liabilities (Dettes)

Suppliers (Fournisseurs)

Income Tax on salaries (Précompte professionel)

Employer's Social Charges (ONSS)

Remuneration

Reserve for holiday bonus (Provision pécules de vacances)

Adjustments (Comptes de régulation, produits á reporter)

Total Liabilities (Total Passif)

2014

245,676

26,704272,380

207,380

‐

65,000

65,000

272,380

648

12,702

‐584

18,215

0

303,361

2013

201,355

44,321245,676

187,052

‐6,376

65,000

58,624

245,676

1,399

‐4,610

55

11,999

0

254,519

QCEA People in 2014

Council Members

Clerk until April 2014 · Richard CondonClerk from April 2014 · Oliver RobertsonAssistant Clerk · Jethro ZevenbergenTreasurer · Tom HeydemanMember of Bureau · Judith Kirton‐DarlingMember of Bureau · Sally SadlerBelgium and Luxembourg YM · Jeremy LesterBritain YM · Sarah CooteDenmark YM · Hans AaenFrance YM · Gretchen EllisGerman YM · Miriam KrämerIreland YM · Margrit E. GreyNetherlands YM · Joke AkkermanNorway YM · Turi‐Therese Seljen SchoderSweden YM · Neil Howe (until April 2014)Per Becker (from April 2014)Switzerland YM · Brigitte Seeger (until April 2014)Ed Dommen (from April 2014)FWCC/EMES · Marisa JohnsonEMEYF · Matt Loffman (until April 2014)Hannah Slater (from April 2014)QCEA British Committee · Peter ReidVVQREA · Peter van Leeuwen

CommitteesBureauRichard Condon (Clerk until April 2014)Tom Heydeman (Treasurer)Judith Kirton‐DarlingOliver Robertson (Clerk from April 2014)Sally SadlerHans WeeningJethro Zevenbergen (Assistant Clerk)

Finance CommitteeSimon Bond, Treasurer, QCEA‐BCMargrit GreyTom Heydeman, TreasurerHennie Jansen, Treasurer, VVQREAMartin Touwen, Clerk of Finance CommitteeDaphne Wassermann

Nominations CommitteeDavorka LovrekoviçFelicity McCartney (from October 2014)Judith RoadsPeter Spreij (Clerk)Myfanwy Thomas ( until April 2014)Joe Thwaites

VolunteersA number of Friends and supporters have helpedQCEA in and out of the office during the year invarious ways. Our work is greatly aided by the workof these volunteers, and we warmly acknowledgetheir contributions. The people who gave of theirtime to QCEA in 2014 included Jenny Bolliger, EveBruce, Greta Hopkins, Wolfgang Rassek, AndreasSchultze, and Joanna Sprackett.

Project Advisory GroupsSome of the projects and programme areas areassisted by Project Advisory Groups. Some of themembers of these groups are not Council orCommittee Members. QCEA wishes to thank themembers of our Palestine/Israel Project AdvisoryGroup for their contribution to our work during 2014:

Kathy BergenEugenie BoschKristin Eskeland (from April 2014)Christopher HattonPenny Heymans (until April 2014)Marisa JohnsonJohn Nicholls

Staff Team

Alexandra Bosbeer, Representative

Sevasti Christoforou, Communications Assistant;Programme Assistant (June ‐ November 2014)

Anissa DiraaTranslation Intern (February – April 2014)

Chris DiskinProgramme Assistant (until August 2014)

Tim HarmanPeace Programme Assistant (from October 2014)

Andrew LaneDeputy Representative (from January 2014)

Gordon MatthewsOffice Manager (from January 2014)

George ThurleySustainability Programme Assistant (from September2014)

Rebecca Viney‐WoodProgramme Assistant (until July 2014)


“True peace involves freedom from tyranny and a generous tolerance.... Now is the time to issue an open invitation to cooperate increative peacemaking, to declare our willingness to make sacrifices... for the common good of men." London Yearly Meeting 1943

The QCEA Annual Report 2014 was designed by Sevi Christoforou

‘I learnt that awareness of social

problems and the development of

spiritual powers go hand in hand.

The power must grow out of the

silence and be renewed there, but

its practical working out depends on

the rain and sunshine of human

contacts, which we can always learn

from special people.’ Annelies

Becker 1989.

Quaker Council for European AffairsSquare Ambiorix 50, B‐1000, Brussels, Belgium

Phone: +32 2 230 4935Fax: +32 2 230 6370aisbl – moniteur belge no. 11 732/80N° d’entreprise 0420.346.728Transparency register 3960234639‐24www.qcea.orgSupport us by donating to Fortis Bank, IBAN BE58 21005598 1479, SWIFT GEBA BEBB 36A

qcea 2014 annual report

Documents