„Advocacy ante portas”: European Fulbright Directors convene in Rome

From April 5 to 7, Executive Directors from 22 European Fulbright Commissions met for their annual conference in Rome to learn from each other. The meetings took place in the American Academy and covered crucial topics such as current policy changes, advocacy and fundraising. The meeting offered Fulbright leaders an opportunity to share their experiences and compare good practices regarding a number of strategic and operational issues from accounting to streamlining.

Mary Kirk and Debbie O´Grady reported current priorities at the U.S. Department of State and joined the exchange between the European transatlantic experts. The Executive Directors drafted a resolution asking the U.S. Administration to sustain the current funding of 236 mio U.S. dollars. They also agreed to support the Fulbright Association's current advocacy efforts, and engage in a new “Stand-in-for-Fulbright” campaign - should it be necessary. The next annual meeting will take place in Budapest, in the spring of 2018.