Today we are seeing history being made. The European Union will expand from 15 to 25 members. Some of the new members are countries where 15 years ago democracy was being suppressed and Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting was banned. Today, Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting is thriving all across Europe, including in ALL the new member states of the European Union.

Europe is changing, and with change and development comes the need to ensure that no one is left behind. Now, more than ever, we must ensure that young people, particularly girls and young women, are able to face change and development in the local, national and global communities and be equipped to participate in the new European Union and further afield.

WAGGGS remains committed to its mission of enabling girls and young women to fulfil their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world both within and outwith the European Union. Europe is more than the 25 member states of the European Union and WAGGGS continues to support the development of Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting in all the countries of Europe.

As we celebrate the expansion of the Union let us keep our focus on the development of civil society, on the empowerment and equality of girls and young women and on the continually developing interculturallity of our continent.

Diane Dixon, Chairman, Europe Committee, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

Nordic Conference may 29th – June 1st 2003, Norway
Every 3rd year the Nordic Guide and Scout Associations meet for discussing and deciding matters of common interest.  This year there were 100 participants from 17 Nordic Associations of which 2 WAGGGS only, 2 WOSM only and 13 Associations belonging to both WAGGGS and WOSM.
10 guests also joined the event. Mette Grønvold, Det Danske Spejderkorps, WAGGGS World Board member and Solbritt Christiansen,  De grønne pigespejdere, Europe Committee WAGGGS member, were amongst those present.

Thursday was dedicated to a seminar on ”Guiding and Scouting for Peace and International Understanding.” Lesley Bulman, Director of WAGGGS and Jacques Moreillon, Secretary General of WOSM each gave their input on the contribution of the Guide and Scout movements and the possibilities to further develop Guiding and Scouting on this issue in the years to come.  Also political advisor David Hansen, from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the issue.  He focused on the eradication of poverty as a fundamental necessity and access to education as a fundamental right for the creation of a more peaceful world.

Several workshops were held during the course of the conference with the main purpose of sharing good (and bad) experiences.  One of the crucial topics was recruitment and retention of members, where Associations shared all their best and creative ideas.
It was decided to have a Nordic Seminar year 2004 on membership, recruitment and retention.

The social programme was also very pleasurable and included a reception and tour at the Municipality with a speech from the very committed Minister of Development, sailing on the Oslo Fjord, picnic on one of the small islands and the most lovely spring weather.

The next Conference will take place in June 2006 in the Faeroe Islands.

Photo:
Sailing in old sailing ships on Oslo Fjord in the light spring evening.

The Malta Girl Guides Association is celebrating their 80th anniversary this year with a varied programme of events. The theme for the year is "Reaching Out" I had the opportunity to join MGGA from 9 - 11th May for a weekend of celebrations which included the launch of a exhibition on Guiding in one of the big shopping malls, an anniversay dinner and the annual mass which was followed by the Guide and Scout parade. The salute was taken by the President of Malta and his wife, the patrons of Scouting and Guiding and was watched by numerous tourists as it passed through the streets of Valetta.

The exhibition on Guiding was seen by many people and all the groups of Dolphins, Brownies, Guides and Rangers who visited the exhibition took part in a variety of Guide activities along with attending a special film screening in the local IMAX cinema. The association has a strong Ranger section who have been very active this year and had recently been camping in the gounds of the presidential palace. The association has already "Walked for the World" and is busy on a number of other projects.MGGA has been working hard over the years. They have an active association with a good future and some good young leaders on the national board with plenty of ideas and plans.

The Europe Committee WAGGGS meeting was hosted by the Council of Irish Guiding Associations and the Federation of Irish Scouting Associations.

During the weekend the Committee, together with the European Scout Committee attended a reception given by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, himself a former Scout leader and still an active supporter of Guiding and Scouting in Ireland.