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European Union of the Deaf

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Areas of expertise & Fields of activity:	Economic and Social: Disabled Persons
Geographic scope:	International
Country of activity:	Slovenia Belgium Czechia Finland Austria Poland Portugal Slovakia Sweden Hungary Romania Bulgaria Lithuania Germany Ireland Croatia Norway Denmark Iceland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland France Latvia Italy Cyprus Spain Netherlands Estonia Greece Luxembourg Switzerland
Millennium Development Goals:	Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower women
Mission statement:	The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) is based in Brussels, Belgium. It is a not-for-profit European non-governmental organisation (ENGO) comprising National Associations of the Deaf (NADs). It is the only supranational organisation representing deaf people at European level and is one of the few ENGOs representing associations in all 28 EU Member States, including Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. Aiming to establish and maintain EU level dialogue with the EU institutions and officials in consultation and co-operation with its member NADs. It also has participatory status with the Council of Europe (CoE). EUD is a full member of the European Disability Forum (EDF) and is a Regional Co-operating Member of the World Federation of the Deaf to tackle issues of global importance. EUD is legally registered in Belgium as iVZW (Internationale Vereniging zonder Winstoogmerk), registeration number 0462.071.871. It is EUD’s aim to achieve equality in public and private life for deaf people all over Europe to ensure they can become full citizens. Its main long-term objectives are: • Recognition of the right to use an indigenous sign language; • Empowerment through communication and information; and • Equality in education and employment. EUD’s core values are deeply embedded in its democratic and participatory structure and strives to empower deaf sign language users. Among others, EUD’s guiding principles include commitment to the following: • Promotion of a rights-based approach to disability; • Non-discrimination and equal opportunities in all areas of work including, disability, gender, race, age, religion or belief, and/or sexual orientation; • Accessibility to information; • Implementation of UN human rights EU legislative instruments, most notably the implementation of the UNCRPD. All objectives are carried out in consultation and co-operation with our member associations and are in accordance with existing and subsequent international human rights instruments.
Year established:	1985
Year of registration:	1985
Organizational structure:	Annual General Assembly Representatives of the National Association of the Deaf from the following countries: Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Ireland; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; The Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Sweden; United Kingdom Board Elected by the General Assembly for the term 2014 to 2017 and meet four times per year to govern EUD and report back to the GA Dr Markku Jokinen (Finland - President); Dr Humberto Insolera (Italy – Vice President); Alfredo Gómez Fernández (Spain); Dr Gergely Tapolczai MP (Hungary); Lolo Danielsson (Sweden) Staff at Brussels office Executive Director- Mark Wheatley (United Kingdom); Policy Officer – Katja Reuter (Germany); Communication and Media Officer – David Hay (United Kingdom); Administrative Assistant – Heather Daley (USA/Belgium); Interns/Volunteers The full list of members is attached to the application form in ANNEX 1.5 According to the EUD statutes, EUD has 5 membership categories: a) Full Members - National associations of deaf people active in the EU member states with a clear majority of deaf voting members among its membership and with a governing board with a majority of deaf persons and whose goals are similar to EUD’s aims can be accepted as Full Member. b) Affiliated Members - Affiliated membership is open to non-EU national associations of deaf people that meet the above mentioned criteria and that are active in Central and Eastern European countries which have signed an association treaty with the EU and may be joining the EU in the future; and to similar organisations active in countries geographically situated in Europe and that have signed or may sign a co-operation treaty or a free trade association treaty with the EU. c) Associate Members; d) Individual Members; e) Honorary Members . EUD currently has 31 full members (National Deaf Associations) and 5 affiliated members. Its membership includes the National Deaf Associations of all 28 EU Member States. Affiliate members include the national Deaf associations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and Israel. Full members pay an annual contribution. New members and small countries such as Luxembourg and Malta pay a reduced contribution. Full members have one vote each. Voting is by majority rule.
Number and type of members:	31 Full Members - 28 EU Member States Norway, Iceland and Switzerland
Funding structure:	Membership fees or dues Grants from Governments Foreign and international grants

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