13th EBU General Assembly 2027
Zurich, Switzerland | 22-24 October 2027
On behalf of the EBU Board and the host organisations, the Swiss Federation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (sbv sfb) and the Swiss National Association of and For the Blind (SNABLIND), we are delighted to announce that the 13th European Blind Union (EBU) General Assembly will take place in Zurich, Switzerland, from 22 to 24 October 2027.
We warmly invite all EBU member organisations to save these important dates and join us for what promises to be a productive, inclusive, and forward-looking gathering.
Venue
Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle
The Circle 1
8058 Kloten
Switzerland
The hotel and meeting facilities are conveniently located at Zurich Airport, providing excellent accessibility and transport connections for delegates from across Europe and beyond. The hotel welcomes dogs.
Planning Your Participation
Your organisation's participation will be central to the success of the General Assembly.
We encourage all member organisations to start identifying their delegates at an early stage:
- Up to six delegates for member organisations.
- Up to two delegates for supported member countries.
Registration will open on 15 February 2027, with a registration deadline of 30 June 2027.
EBU Board Elections
A major item on the agenda will be the election of a new EBU Board.
As the 2027 General Assembly will be shorter than previous editions and focused primarily on constitutional and governance matters, we encourage member organisations to begin identifying and considering potential candidates for leadership positions within EBU.
The Nominations Committee, chaired by Luana Schena, will provide further information in the coming months concerning:
- Positions open for election
- Eligibility criteria
- Nomination procedures
- Election timelines
We strongly encourage all members to engage actively in this important process.
Constitutional Review
The General Assembly will also consider proposals to update and modernise the EBU Constitution.
Under the leadership of Tytti Mätsinen, the Constitutional Affairs Committee is consulting members throughout the preparation period. Member organisations wishing to submit constitutional amendments are encouraged to begin discussions now and, where possible, submit proposals before 30 June 2027.
Please remember that constitutional amendments must be co-sponsored by another EBU national member organisation.
Member contact details can be found here: https://www.euroblind.org/about-us/members#pays
The amendment submission template will be downloaded through the following link : Template for constitutional amendments request
Setting EBU's Strategic Direction
The 2027 General Assembly will also define EBU's strategic and thematic priorities for the next four-year period. The EBU Board is currently developing a consultation process designed to ensure meaningful participation by member organisations and to arrive at the Assembly with a shared understanding of priorities, challenges, and opportunities.
Further information will be communicated over the coming months.
Key Timeline
November 2026
- First call for nominations
- Draft General Assembly programme and agenda circulated
- Test of the electronic voting system during the Advisory Commission meeting in Rome
15 February 2027
- Registration opens
30 June 2027
- Registration deadline
- Deadline for constitutional amendments
- Deadline for resolutions
June 2027
- Preparation of Board, Treasurer and Nominations Committee reports
July 2027
- Constitutional and logistical documents shared with registered delegates
22 August 2027
Distribution to registered delegates of:
- Board Quadrennial Report
- Treasurer's Report
- Nominations Committee Report and candidate biographies
- Constitutional amendment proposals
- Resolution proposals
- Draft EBU Priorities and Objectives
- Election Guidelines
September 2027
- Final resolutions and amendment documents circulated
- Call for obituaries
- Venue guidance and practical information distributed
We kindly ask all member organisations to anticipate these deadlines to ensure the smooth preparation of what will be a dense and important General Assembly.
Draft Programme
Friday 22 October 2027
- Arrival of delegates
- Meeting of the outgoing Board
- Opening of registration
Saturday 23 October 2027
- Registration
- Credentials Committee meeting
- Official opening
- Credentials Committee report
- Roll call
- Obituaries
- Approval of programme
- Appointment of scrutineers
- Confirmation of Resolutions Committee
- First report of the Nominations Committee
- Treasurer's report
- Questions and answers on reports
- Discussion and adoption of strategic orientations
- Constitutional matters
- EBU Office presentation
- Honorary Life Membership
- Keynote speech
- Resolutions Committee meeting
- Gala Dinner
Sunday 24 October 2027
- Final report of the Nominations Committee
- Candidate presentations
- Voting
- Announcement of election results
- Resolutions Committee report and adoption of resolutions
- Closing remarks by the outgoing President
- Address by the newly elected President
- Thanks and closing by the host organisations
- Departure of delegates
- First meeting of the incoming Board
Please note that there will be no technology exhibition or tech fair at this edition of the General Assembly.
Supported Members
The host organisations will support the participation of up to two delegates and one personal assistant from the following member countries:
Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine.
Accommodation and meals will be provided. Travel costs remain the responsibility of the participating national organisations.
Membership Fees and Voting Rights
Please note that only organisations in good financial standing may participate fully in the General Assembly and exercise voting rights.
If your organisation has not yet paid its 2026 membership fee, please contact the EBU Office. Organisations experiencing financial difficulties may discuss the possibility of a fee reduction arrangement.
Stay Informed
Further information regarding registration, accommodation, programme developments, elections, constitutional matters and practical arrangements will be published regularly on this page, please come back regularly for updates!
For any questions or comments, please contact: membership@euroblind.org.