Based in Quaker House in Brussels, Belgium, Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) nurtures the hope for a more peaceful and just Europe, cultivating change through focused initiatives and activities.
In 2023, QCEA worked with policymakers to promote humane and effective systems under the forthcoming European Union (EU) Pact on Migration and Asylum, which will face a final vote in April. The organization coordinated three events that explored the concept of borders; they were all based on Quaker “quiet diplomacy,” bringing stakeholders together in a neutral space for open discussions on ways forward.
Leveraging Belgium’s EU presidency focus on climate, QCEA joined the European Alliance for Just Transition. QCEA is also working on a forthcoming guide calling for a conflict-sensitive EU Green Deal that would include policies that recognize and minimize the potential for conflict in the current climate crisis.
In advance of the upcoming EU elections in June, QCEA is launching a project promoting compassion, integrity, and respect in politics. Handmade postcards will be sent to outgoing and incoming members of the European Parliament and Commissioners. The organization will also offer training to staff.
Lastly, in January, the inaugural edition of a new bimonthly digital newsletter went out to supporters; the “QCEA Digest” provides updates on QCEA’s work and on issues of peace, justice, and equality in the broader EU landscape.