Member Associations

Member Associations
Member Associations' People

The 12 present Member Associations are national non-governmental associations who serve in a multitude of ways the interets of nationals living in another country than their own.

These national associations are:

• Union Francophone des Belges à l’Etranger (B)
• Vlamingen in de Wereld (B)
• Dansk Samvirke/Danes Worldwide (DK)
• Españoles en el Mundo (ES)
• Association Démocratique des Français à l’Etranger (F)
• Mission Laïque Française (F)
• Association for the Rights of Britons Abroad (UK)
• Föreningen för Svenskar i Världen/Swedes Worldwide (S)
• Suomi-Seura R.Y. – Finns Abroad (SF)
• Cercle des Luxembourgeois d’Anvers (L)
• SAE – The World Council of Hellenes Abroad (GR)
• Confederazione degli Italiani nel Mondo - Belgio (I)

Union Francophone des Belges à l'Etranger (B)

Seat: 24, rue des Dominicains, B-7000 MONS
E-mail: ufbe-mons@yucom.be
Web site: www.ufbe.be

Since 1967, the U.F.B.E provides Belgian expatriates with a service, a support and a link beyond borders. In Belgium, it defends their interests and it helps its members solve their problems before, during and after their stay abroad. It provides its members with personal advice and has at their disposal some 180 information notices on very selective problems. It publishes "Le Journal des Belges à l'Etranger" every two months. It has a network of about 60 delegates in 40 countries. Its information service for working abroad is available in Mons, Charleroi, Namur, Liège and Brussels.

Vlamingen in de Wereld (B)
Flemings in the World

Mail address: Tervuursesteenweg 115, B-1800 Mechelen
E-mail: info@viw.be
Web site: www.viw.be

This foundation with an international office in Mechelen, Belgium is a worldwide network of Fleming's. They link over 100.000 Fleming's in Europe and the other continents, expatriates and emigrants on whom an extensive database in maintained. The foundation stimulates intensive contact and collaboration between Flanders and these Fleming's abroad and also amongst these Fleming's abroad.
They provide useful contacts of economic, cultural and human nature and contribute to the awareness and positive image of Flanders abroad. They provide youngsters an opportunity and encouragement for international life and thinking. To enhance these contacts, the foundation arranges cultural and other events and publishes a magazine "Vlamingen in de Wereld", an electronic newsletter and guides on specific topics of interest for Fleming's abroad.

Danes Worldwide (DK)
Dansk Samvirke

Mail address: Købmagergade 67, DK-1150 Copenhagen K
E-mail: danes-worldwide@danes.dk
Web site: www.danes.dk

A private association under the protection of H.M. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Founded in 1919 and have members all over the world with a network of 100 representatives. Publish a monthly magazine "DanmarksPosten" and provide extensive services for the members while caring for interests at home of Danes abroad. It disposes of a worldwide network of around 100 representatives. For the benefit of Danish families abroad it operate supplementary educational activities in Danish language and culture for children and young people of expatriate Danes through distance learning, summer schools and teaching stations in collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Education. The association have arranged housing associations for Danes returning after life abroad and organise every summer a gathering for some 400 Danes abroad at the Kronborg Castle, Ellsinore.

Españoles en el Mondo (E)

Mail address: Ferraz 55 - 4° izda, E-28 008 Madrid
E-mail: fundacion@espamundo.com
Web site www.espamundo.com

Is a private foundation founded in 1989, with the main objective of developing co-operations and projects for assistance to the Spaniards and their descendants abroad. As an example of these is the care for Spaniards arrested or sent to prison abroad and securing if convicted that they may serve their term in a penitentiary institution in Spain for humanitarian reasons and to facilitate re-socialisation.
The foundation with offices in Madrid publishes a quarterly magazine and a series of publications related to Spanish exiles and emigration. For the benefit of its members the "Fundaciòn Espanoles en el Mondo" works in close collaboration with associations in many countries around the world.

Association Democratique des Français à l'Etranger (F)

Mail address: 62 Boulevard Garibaldi, F-75 015 Paris
E-mail: adfe@wanadoo.fr
Web site: www.francais-du-monde.net

Founded in 1980 the "Association Démocratique des Français à l'Etranger" has as objective to defend and advance the interests and views of Frenchmen living throughout the world. The association participate in all bodies dealing with questions related to Frenchmen in foreign countries. It notably is involved in the "Conseil Supérieur des Français à 'Etranger" which is a consultative body elected directly by Frenchmen abroad registered in a French consulate. Its 150 members constitute the election college for the 12 members of "Le Sénat", the upper chamber of the French parliament who is representing the French abroad. The association is present in more than 100 countries all over the world with almost 150 representatives.
The association publishes the magazine "Français du Monde" for its members and other readers.

Mission Laïque Française (F)

Mail address: 9 Rue Humblot, F-75 015 Paris
E-mail: mlf@mission-laique.fr
Web site: www.mission-laique.com

The "Mission Laïque Française was founded in 1902 to promote, worldwide, the French language and culture and upon the values of the French Republic "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". The fundamental work is quality education. Along with the French Ministry of Education and the Office of Foreign Affairs the association establishes schools on foreign soil. It has developed a close partnership with major French exportation companies to create a network of field-schools to educate the children of French expatriates who often relocate.
The "Mission Laïque Française" is operating 72 schools, employing 2000 teachers and educating 25.000 pupils in 30 countries, while operating the Institut Français in Thessaloniki. It publishes the magazine "Dialogue".

Association for the Rights of Britons Abroad (UK)

Mail address: c/o Mr. Nicholas Newman, 18 Rue du Cheval Bois, B-1380 Lasne
E-mail: nicholas.newman@skynet.be

This is a network of Britons abroad created in several European countries at a time when there was a particular accrued need to defend their rights towards the home country. While continuing the original concern and objective the network in some countries such as Belgium and Denmark has developed into established non-governmental associations uniting the Britons for activities of cultural and societal nature while providing extensive information on matters of interest for expatriate Britons on the host country and the country of origin and offer defence of their rights and obligations.

Swedes World Wide (S)
Föreningen för Svenskar i Världen

Mail address: Box 5501, S-11 485 Stockholm
E-mail: svenskar.i.varlden@sviv.se
Web site: www.sviv.se

This non-profit association was founded in 1938 and is under the protection of H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. The Secretariat is located in Stockholm with a network of representatives abroad.
Swedes World Wide has members all around the world and publishes the magazine "Svenskar i Världen" four times a year. The association operates extensive services for the members while caring for the interests in Sweden of Swedes abroad. In recent years the association with success has influenced new national legislation allowing dual citizenship for Swedish citizens and voting rights to national elections for Swedes abroad including the possibility of voting by mail. A current issue under close attention is the concern for spouses accompanying their partner during assignment abroad.

Finland Society (SF)
Suomi-Seura
Finland-Samfundet

Mail address: Mariankatu 8, FIN-00170 Helsinki
E-mail: suomis@suomi-seura.fi
Web site: www.suomi-seura.fi

The Finland Society was founded in 1927 as a non-governmental society providing expert service to Finns living or moving abroad or returning to Finland and operating in contact with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education and Labour. It conveys an up-to-date image of Finland to the outside and raises awareness in Finland about expatriate Finns.
The Finland Society keeps contact with Finnish clubs and organisations abroad and provides each year significant financial support to expatriate societies and media. It publishes the magazine "Suomen Silta-Finland Bridge" six times a year and acts as permanent secretariat of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament. This is a co-operation forum and interest promoter, which ensures that the views of the expatriates are given adequate attention in public policy decisions in Finland (see www.usp.fi).

Cercle des Luxembourgeois d'Anvers (L)

Mail address: c/o Nico Baesch, Anna Bijnstraat 28, B-2600 Berchem

A society created in the 19th century for solidarity amongst the Luxembourg people settled in or around Antwerp and for consolidating the relations with other groupings of Luxembourgers and with the home country.

World Council of Hellenes Abroad - SAE (GR)

Mail address: Komotinis 2, GR-54 655 Thessaloniki
E-mail: saeinfor@sae.gr
Web site: www.saeworld.org

SAE is an international movement uniting Hellenes and Phil Hellenes worldwide under one, non-profit, non-governmental organisation of Hellenic societies and clubs with permanent headquarters in Thessaloniki, Greece. SAE was created in 1995 by a presidential decree of the Hellenic Republic to serve as an advisory body on all matters of interest to Hellenes in the Diaspora. It collaborates with the Secretariat General of Greeks Abroad of the Greek Foreign Ministry. It supports the ties between the Hellenes abroad and with Greece, defend the Hellenic identity and heritage and contribute to the effectiveness of Hellenic organisations worldwide.
There are four regional SAEs, each covering one or more continents with a Board elected by delegates from Hellenic organisations throughout the Diaspora at the biannual general assemblies held in Thessaloniki.

Confederazione degli Italiani nel Mondo - C.I.M-Belgio
Italiani of the World

E-mail (Section in Belgium): mario.greco@cec.eu.int
Web site: www.italiasquare.com

C.I.M is the largest structure organising the Italians abroad. It is represented in 29 countries on 5 continents and unites more than 1900 associations with a total membership of 4 million. Its central offices are in Rome.
C.I.A. is an autonomic and apolitical structure not-for-profit aiming at the safeguard and the interests of the Italians abroad to all authorities and bodies in Italy and in the host countries.
C.I.M. is promoting initiatives for the promotion of the Italian culture, language and traditions alongside with the integration of emigrants abroad, notably in the third or fourth generation. It favours the collaboration on cultural, recreational, sports and tourist activities while the C.I.M. also foster the promotion of "Made in Italy" products such like food products, textiles, or industrial products. It holds an annual world congress for its delegates throughout the world (Rome 2000, Buenos Aires 2001, etc.).