On 17 September, the General Curia hosted the 2019 meeting of the Brussels Hospitality Europe office with the 15 reference persons of the European Provinces of the Order and the Sisters Hospitallers appointed by the Provincial Curias, and was called to order by Brother Joaquim Erra, as President of Hospitality Europe and of the Order’s Europe Commission. 

Dr Carlo Galasso reported on the work of the European office during the year and the main changes that had affected the EU institutions in the wake of last spring’s European parliamentary elections. He illustrated the European projects being promoted by the Office and funded by the European Commission, and the new projects submitted in response of the latest European calls for funding applications. 

He was followed by Dr Francesco Vallebona – Co-worker at the Brussels office – who illustrated the existing calls for funding applications and the future health care, social inclusion, research and innovation, and continuing education framework programmes.    

In the afternoon, the meeting was addressed by two representatives of the German Ecclesia insurance group which has been supporting the Brussels office for several years, to report on ongoing cooperation with the Provinces, and new opportunities for the future.

The meeting took place in a very positive, constructive climate of increasing interaction between the participants.