Social Platform Hosts Extraordinary General Assembly and 25th Anniversary Panel Debate

On 10 November, Social Platform had the pleasure of hosting its virtual Extraordinary General Assembly.

Since March, Social Platform’s network of 48 organisations have responded collaboratively to the COVID-19 crisis and continued to champion the important work that all Member organisations undertake to advocate for and safeguard the rights of groups in vulnerable situations across the European Union.

Social Platform’s President, Piotr Sadowski, opened the EGA with a tribute to this invaluable work, thanking Members and the Secretariat for their commitment to our collective mission and vision.

Social Platform’s Members voted on key areas of business; unanimously passing without amendments the draft budget and draft Work Programme for 2021.

The EGA also voted to elect two new Members to Social Platform’s Management Committee: Mila Shamku from CECOP and Mikael Leyi from SOLIDAR. Mila is an exceptional social justice activist who works hard to advocate for a European Union that champions social inclusion and equality whilst Mikael has a wealth of experience working for European and international organisations.

Social Platform also said a huge thank you and farewell to Leo Williams, EAPN, who stood down from the Management Committee.

After the EGA, Members and wider civil society were invited to a panel debate to mark Social Platform’s 25th anniversary.   The panel debate, chaired by President Sadowski, was led by four of Social Platform’s former Presidents – Anne-Sophie Parent, Conny Reuter, Fintan Farrell and Jana Hainsworth.

With each former President invited to share stories of their time with Social Platform and remark about the road ahead, attendees were reminded of the wealth of knowledge, achievements and unique opportunity Social Platform has had to actively shape the social landscape of the EU over the past 25 years.

The onward path is not easy. However, the EGA and panel debate ended with an overwhelming optimism and continued commitment towards our collaborative mission of achieving a truly social Europe for all and with all.