EU Citizens' Gathering and EmpowerEU Awards: a day of community, celebration, and vision
The day ahead combined the annual Citizens Gathering, with its packed agenda of dynamic panel discussions, capacity-building workshops, and networking opportunities on the position of EU communities in the UK and the enduring importance of EU-UK cooperation, but also the launch and presentation of the inaugural EmpowerEU awards. 
EUD The day began with opening remarks by EU Ambassador Pedro Serrano, alongside his colleague Ambassadors from the Polish, Italian, and German Embassies to the UK - Ambassador Piotr Wilczek, Ambassador Inigo Lambertini and Ambassador Miguel Berger. Each Ambassador reinforced their support of EU communities in the UK and the enduring importance of EU-UK cooperation. Following the Ambassadorial messages of support, the message of the Gathering was further expanded on in the first panel of the day – asking “How EU citizens in the UK can positively shape the EU-UK relationship? “ 
EUD The panel brought together Lord Ricketts, Chair of the European Affairs Committee, Baroness Ludford, Member of the European Affairs Committee, Irena Moozová, Deputy Director-General, DG Justice and Consumers, European Commission, Robert Marin Consul General of Romania in London and Liberal Democrat Richard Foord MP. All speakers agreed that EU citizens bring added-value to the social fabric of the UK society. They called for the EU and UK to work together to address remaining issues under the EU Settlement Scheme. 
EUD The debate then continued with a discussion led by Mihnea Cuibus from the Oxford Migration Observatory presenting insights on the challenges faced by EU communities in the UK and a deep dive into the issues affecting their integration and future. His research showed that securing a status under the EUSS is a first step in securing a variety of rights during their lives, such as social rights. 
EUD Following the panels discussions, the over 200 participants broke up into three separate capacity building workshops; Improving online communication (led by Fabio Mauri, DG MEME); Navigating online misinformation in the advice sector (led by Luke Piper, Work Rights Centre) and Practical responses to issues affecting ethnic minority EU citizens (led by Aké Achi, Black Europeans). EU policy-makers provided a summary of the discussions held in each workshop as well as take-aways for their future work. 
EUD The morning session closed with a fireside conversation between European Parliament Vice President Victor Negrescu, MEP, Liberal Democrat MP Manuela Perteghella and Labour’s Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP who discussed what Parliamentarians can do to safeguard the rights of EU citizens in the UK. Manuela Perteghella, spoke about the impact of Brexit on her life and indicated that she would call on pre-settled status holders to move to settled status and underlined the importance of "voting rights for Europeans in the UK". All parliamentarians indicated that they were keen to be informed about issues faces by citizens so that they can raise them in Parliaments and hold the UK government and European Commission to account. EU Communities in focus: 
EUD Following a networking lunch and media reception that showcased the EmpowerEU shortlisted nominees, the Gathering dived back into Citizens Rights affairs with a panel dealing with the challenges and the horizon ahead for community organisations in the UK. The panel featured Veronica Bortolato, EU Settlement Scheme adviser, Settled, Lydia Martin, Deputy Head of Projects, New Europeans UK, Fizza Qureshi, CEO Migrants’ Rights Network, member of EUROMEC, Ilana Jackman, Fundraising coach and Jack O’Connor, Vice-Chair of the European Economic and Social Committee EU-UK Follow-up Committee. 
EUD The packed agenda of the day was brought to a close with a fireside chat between Dominic Grieve, President of the Franco-British Society and Cyprus High Commissioner to the UK Kyriacos Kouros. The closing address was provided the Hungarian Ambassador to the UK Ferenc Kumin as the current holders of the rotating European Presidency. 
EUD
With the Gathering concluded, the evening section of the day’s events began - guests began to arrive for the first ever EmpowerEU Awards ceremony. With a change from business attire to some in evening dress, the atmosphere was celebratory and proceedings were opened by Ambassador Serrano and Labour MP Mike Tapp. At the heart of the EmpowerEU Awards is the recognition of organisations who have made outstanding contributions to EU citizens’ lives in the UK. The EmpowerEU Awards aim is to celebrate the achievements in supporting EU citizens and strengthening EU-UK relations, EU-UK youth cooperation and community champions who have made a lasting impact at the local level. This celebration of this work acknowledges the resilience, commitment, and creativity of those who represent EU citizens in the UK and support the development of a strong and stable relationship between the EU and the UK….And the winners are……… 
EUD Spotlight on the Award winners:
The EU Citizens' Gathering and EmpowerEU Awards together captured the spirit of unity, ambition, and shared purpose that drives the EU community in the UK. As we look forward, the EU Delegation is committed to supporting initiatives that empower and connect EU citizens, celebrating their achievements and nurturing a vibrant EU-UK relationship. 
EUD |
