Overview
- Role
- Structure
- Executive Body
- Guiding Documents
- Committees, working groups and forums
- Financial Resources
Role
The European Blind Union is a non-governmental, non profit-making European organisation founded in 1984. One of the six regional bodies of the World Blind Union, it is the only organisation representing the interests of blind and partially-sighted people in Europe.
EBU aims to protect and promote the interests of all blind and partially-sighted people in Europe. Its objects and powers are set out in Article II of its Constitution. EBU currently has 42 member countries, each represented by a national delegation. Its work is directed by an Executive Board of 13 elected members who are accountable to a General Assembly held every four years.
The Central Office of EBU is based in Paris. It is responsible for communication within EBU and for information to the general public. It produces a monthly Members Newsletter in English, and a thematic Focus Newsletter.
EBU provides a European platform for its membership to share views, expertise and information and to act together on matters of common interest.
The Annual Report looks in detail at the work carried out in the previous year.
Structure
General Assembly
Each EBU member organisation is represented by a national delegation that participates in the EBU General Assembly held every four years.
The General Assembly of Members is EBU's supreme governing body. Some functions carried out at the General Assembly meetings include election of the board of officers, approval of constitutional amendments, (financial) reports on work carried out in the past mandate, strategic plans for the next four years.
The founding Assemblies of EBU and WBU were held in Norway, in August of 1984. Since then, another ten General Assemblies have taken place every three, and later every four years.
The last general assembly was hosted by the Portuguese Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted (ACAPO) in Lisbon, Portugal, from 11-14 February 2024.
Resolutions passed at all EBU General Assemblies (pdf file)
Executive body
The EBU is led by a board consisting of 5 officers (President, first and second vice presidents, treasurer and secretary general) and up to 8 ordinary members. They are elected by the EBU membership at the General Assembly for the period of four years. Board members are accountable to the General Assembly. All board members are blind or partially sighted.
The Board usually holds 3 to 4 meetings a year, face-to-face or online. Detailed information about its composition, voting procedure, powers and functions can be found in the EBU Constitution.
EBU Central Office
The EBU Central Office is based in Paris, France. It supports the Board and project groups in their work and is a central contact point for information to the EBU membership, partners, external parties and the general public.
EBU is a registered charity in France W751105073
Guiding Documents
EBU Constitution
The EBU Constitution is the governing instrument of EBU.
Strategic plan
The key priorities and initiatives are articulated in the EBU Strategic Plan for the four year working period.
Action Plan
Discussed and approved by the EBU Board at its meeting held in Paris in February 2025 , the Action Plan 2025 sets out actions to be conducted in 2025 to implement the Strategic Orientation Plan.
Anti-harassment and Gender Equality
- EBU Gender Equality Committee / Working Group Action Plan.
- The EBU Anti-harassment Policy was presented and unanimously approved by the EBU Board during its online meeting on June 20, 2020
UNCRPD
The United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities is an important instrument in EBU work, take a look at our database on the application of the convention in different countries.
Committees, working groups and forums
The European Blind Union’s work is structured in committees, thematic working groups and forums. These structures were established in 2024 to reflect EBU’s strategic orientation plan 2024-2027 and to ensure efficiency and inclusivity.
Committees
EBU has three permanent committees that report to the Board.
Advocacy Committee (AC)
For the rights and full inclusion of blind and partially sighted people. The membership is open to EBU member organisations’ representatives who are responsible for advocacy in their organisation. The AC currently has 73 members (representatives and substitutes) from 29 member organisations in both EU countries and countries outside the EU. The AC is chaired by Francesca Sbianchi (Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti).
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC)
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee develops EBU’s processes and practices to ensure inclusivity in EBU’s work. The DEIC consists of member organisations’ experts on diversity, equity and inclusion as well as the coordinators of the EBU Forums. The DEIC currently has three members and it is chaired by Polona Car Djuric (Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Slovenia).
Leadership Exchange Committee (LEC)
The Leadership Exchange Committee supports organisational development and leadership growth in EBU. The LEC is open for the directors of member organisations and it currently has 39 members (representatives and substitutes). The LEC is chaired by Lars Bosselman (EBU Executive Director).
Working Groups
The Working Groups are member-led and focus on bringing together and developing expertise on EBU’s strategic priorities. All EBU member organisations can nominate up to five representatives to each working group. The working groups can form temporary Task Forces for specific tasks. The Working Groups operate together with the Advocacy Committee.
Training
The Training working group covers vocational training, education, rehabilitation and employment. The working group currently has 36 participants from 16 member organisations.
Mobility
The Mobility working group focuses on public and individual transportation, driverless vehicles, shared spaces, and guide dogs. The working group currently has 42 participants from 17 member organisations.
Accessibility
The Accessibility working group discusses access to goods, services, social services, leisure, and employment, including assistive technologies. There are currently a task force on accessible peyment terminals and on a task force on sports linked to the Accessibility working group. The working group currently has 50 participants from 20 member organisations.
Digitalisation
The Digitalisation working group addresses technology, ethical AI, and consumer protection. There are currently 41 participants from 19 member organisations. in the working group. The working group is chaired by Robin Spinks (RNIB).
Braille
The Braille working group promotes braille literacy through campaigns and webinars. The working group currently has 38 participants from 20 member organisations. The working group is chaired by Reiner Delgado (DBSV).
External Communication
The External Communication working group supports the implementation of EBU’s communication strategy and coordinates campaign communication across member organisations. The working group currently has 20 participants from 10 member organisations and it is chaired by Barbara Martin (ONCE).
Forums
EBU has five target group Forums, open to blind and partially sighted individuals in Europe:
- Women and Gender Issues Forum
- Low Vision Forum
- Youth Forum (for individuals below 35 years old)
- Older Persons Forum (for individuals over 60 years old)
- Members Exchange Forum (open to all)
To join a forum, please send a request to membership(at)euroblind.org.
Financial Resources
Our Finances in 2023
Summary of developments and key figures in 2023:
As in previous years, the CERV programme by the European Commission (606568,05 Euro) as well as the membership fees paid by our national members (243945 Euro), constituted the main sources of income for EBU. In addition, three EC-funded projects that are now finished (PASCAL, UPOWERWAD and PARVIS) contributed 132000 Euro to our income in 2023. The total amount of income equals 920777 Euro.
As for the expenditures, they amounted to 770960 Euro in 2023. Main positions making up this total sum remain the salaries and related social charges for our staff (432966 Euro). Other running costs such as the office rental, various maintenance services, fees to buy external support services for accounting and HR support, just to give few examples, also contributed to our expenditures in 2023. Worth mentioning that a contribution of 30000 Euro was given to the host of our 12th General Assembly. Moreover, we continued our support to the National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities in Ukraine with an amount of 40000 Euro.
Conclusions:
As this quick overview of key figures shows, EBU had a very good financial year in 2023. Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our national members for paying their membership fee with a great deal of discipline. This remains, next to the European Commission funding, a key source of income for EBU, allowing us to have a very healthy financial situation.
The EBU Solidarity Fund.
The statutes of the new European Blind Union Solidarity Fund were approved by the EBU Board at its meeting in Paris on 08 February 2025.
This fund is intended to provide a mechanism for organisations of blind and partially sighted people to seek support/relief if they experience financial difficulties in, among others, developing projects, organising or participating in meetings.
For full details on the EBU Solidarity Fund and how to apply for assistance contact the EBU office