Conference programme - The European Foundation Centre

Sala XII & XIIILSala IIITDine at the legal and fiscal buffet!A smorgasbord of legal and fiscal issues affecting foundations awaits you at this new format session. Join us and hopfrom discussion table to discussion table sampling various legal and fiscal issues, while having your say in the debate.Resource persons will provide key information and will be guiding the discussion at each table. Menu items include:• Get your money back! Find out how your foundation can get a refund on some of the foreign withholding taxpaid on cross-border activities• The European Court of Justice and cross-border philanthropy – How the Court’s recent decisions affect yourfoundation• What’s going on with VAT? Find out about the European Commission’s review of the current VAT system, aswell as the outcomes of a recent study and how the situation could be improved• Transparency and accountability – Have your say! A joint one year study of the EFC and DAFNE has analysedwhether existing transparency and accountability mechanisms in the European foundation sector are welldesigned and are being used to their full effect. The debate will also include a look at the transparency andaccountability measures taken at EU levelModerator: Ludwig Forrest, King Baudouin FoundationFacilitators: Göran Blomqvist, Stiftelsen Riksbankens JubileumsfondIsabelle Combes, Fondation de FranceBoudewijn de Blij, Stichting Fonds 1818Helen Donoghue, European Charities’ Committee on VATBeate Eckhardt, SwissFoundationsLudwig Forrest, King Baudouin FoundationSabien Khan, Wellcome TrustIsabel Peñalosa, Asociación Española de FundacionesDiversity in Europe: A crisis of tolerance?The debate about migration and integration policies in Europe is complex and at times controversial. Theperceived failures of multiculturalism are being debated throughout Europe, most recently in Germany, the UKand the Netherlands. This session will address the challenges and opportunities facing Europe as its populationcontinues to grow more diverse. How can Europe move beyond the ‘us vs. them’ mindset? How should politiciansand civil society tackle the rise of radical right-wing parties? How to enhance the voice of migrants themselvesas active participants in the public debate? What should be the role of media as a key instrument to portraydiversity in our societies?Welcome remarks: Olaf Hahn, Robert Bosch StiftungModerator: Sara Llewellin, Barrow Cadbury TrustSpeakers: Rob Berkeley, The Runnymede TrustAntonio Vitorino, Former European Commissioner for Justice and Home AffairsSala VIIKeeping afloat: New strategies for changing timesCBDuring times of reduced public spending, what are foundations doing to support the needs of their grantees?Better yet, what could they be doing better? This session will take a look at approaches that foundations aretaking to support their grantees during these challenging times, moving away from traditional philanthropicexchange models (i.e. giving money) to those that involve greater engagement and assistance. Foundationprofessionals will share their experiences in supporting grantees, to include assistance in strengtheningpartnerships, mobilising resources, using influence to effect change, and building non-profit capacity.Research done in 'high engagement funding' (or FunderPlus) will also be presented, providing participantswith ideas on how it can be applied within the current financial context.Moderator: Ben Cairns, Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)Speakers: Bas Arends, Oranje FondsMatthew Smerdon, Baring Foundation15:00 - 18:00 SITE VISITSVisit to the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (see page 24 for more information)Maritime sites of Cascais (see page 24 for more information)RESOURCES AND SUSTAINABILITY - THE OCEANS15:45 - 16:15 Networking break17