In the morning of the last day of the conference, Pascal Smet, Flemish Minister of Youth has addressed the European Scout Conference with a great appreciation for the Scout Movement. This was followed by small ceremony where the outgoing members of the WOSM Committee symbolically presented the purple WOSM scarfs to the new members of the Committee.
The resolutions committee presented their report after the coffee break. After some intervention and discussion the voting process took part. Please read more about the accepted resolutions on http://www.scout.org/europe in conference report (to be published in following days)

The 20th European Scout Conference was officially closed by the old and new Chairman Craig Turpie saying thank you to all WOSM Committee members individually.

The lunch break was really needed after this session.
After some discussions about the joint recommendations, the two new Chairs of European WAGGGS and WOSM Committees Laura Tonna (WAGGGS) and Craig Turpie (WOSM) officially closed the 13th European Guide and Scout Conference with
an inspiring speech: "Life is not measured by the number of breath we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

They expressed their sincere appreciation to all MO's and NSO's for their contribution to a very successful conference and a special thanks to the hosts; the Guides and Scouts of Belgium for their fantastic hospitality and support.

See you in Germany on the 14th European Guide and Scout Conference!

Speech of the Chairs of European WAGGGS and WOSM Committees Laura Tonna (WAGGGS) and Craig Turpie (WOSM):

Life is a Journey

• Life is a Journey.
• Where will you be tomorrow?
• Where will your mind be?
• Where will your heart be?
• Will you still be inspired to live a life with no limits?
• Life is a journey. Let’s take the next step.

Over the last 5 days, over 400 of us from all over Europe have been fortunate enough to have travelled a most extraordinary journey together.

• We have lived and worked together.
• In talking and sharing with one another this experience has taken us into each other hearts and minds.
• All of life is a journey; which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us.
• We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there.

Are you ready for the next stage of your journey through life?

• Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
• The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.

As Guides and Scouts the journey is one that we can share. Guiding and Scouting is our way of life. It is a special way of life.

• It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.
• As Guides and Scouts you should be prepared to seize the moments that can help make a difference.
• Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us as Guides and Scouts to appreciate each moment, because it will never come again.
• What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived. Look back at how you have lived during these last 5 days, and look forward to your life ahead.
• The future starts today.
• The next stage of our journey is clear. We have looked at the map and know the direction to travel in.
• Right or wrong, we live in an interdependent world. We can't escape each other. Our paths will cross, that is for sure.
• Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.

Our conferences have ended and you’ve started packing your bags and checking in online! You’ve started to think about home. You don’t want to depart, but you know you have to. New friendships have been made; friendships that are sincere and honest; friendships that will last a lifetime.

• You will never know how special someone is until they have left, but it is important to leave, so you are given a chance to see how special that someone really is.
• To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.
• Remember, the most worth-while thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others because the real test of success is whether a life has been a happy one and a happy giving one.

On behalf of all of us gathered here, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Guides and Scouts of Belgium and all the volunteers for making this 13th European Guide and Scout event possible.

See you in Germany.

Thank you.

Some highlights of the 20th of July 2010 at 20th European Scout Conference

In honour of the 13th European Guide and Scout Conference, the famous Manneken Pis statue was dressed in his Scout Uniform.

The first session of the day started with the announcement from the first meeting of the newly Elected European Scout Committee that it elected, as its Chairman; Craig Turpie and as its Vice Chairman - Henrik Söderman.

Shortly afterwards the draft of the Regional Plan 2010-2013 was presented to the Conference following which delegates were invited to work on the draft Plan in five small groups.

The Conference continued after the break with an address by the new Chairwoman of the Europe Committee WAGGGS, Lara Tonna. Afterwards 6 NSO's (JUNAK- Czech Republic, ONCR - Romania, CNE - Portugal, IBGSA - Israel, ASDE - Spain, CNGEI - Italy) presented examples of best practices of the projects supported by the Partnership for Development and Growth Fund.

After the lunch break, delegates continued work on the Regional Scout Plan in small thematic groups. The plan was approved in principle, pending the results of the resolutions sessions tomorrow. Reports from the Workshops on Regional Plan are available in English - Embracing change, Growth through quality, Partnership with other regions, Volunteering 1, Volunteering 2, Youth Empowerment.

Following the work on the Regional Plan, the Conference continued with a number of presentations including presentations from; KISC (Kandersteg International Scout Centre), the 22nd World Scout Jamboree 2011 in Sweden, the 39th World Scout Conference and the 11th World Scout Youth Forum in Brazil and finally the 23rd World Scout Jamboree 2015 in Japan.

The extremely interesting and stable exchange rate allowed exceptionally interesting transactions, both for WAGGGS and WOSM.

All stakeholder can be proud of the result.

On the afternoon of the 19th July 2010 the 20th European Scout Conference elected the following volunteers as members of the European Scout Committee for the term 2010-2013;

Andrea Dermarmels (Switzerland), Christos Hatzidiamandis (Greece), Christian Loste-Ramos (Spain), Henrik Söderman (Finland), Craig Turpie (United Kingdom),
Petr “Permi” Vanek (Czech Republic)

The new team will begin their work following the Conference; however their first meeting will take place this evening during which they will elect their Chairman.

Congratulations to all the successful candidates and we look forward to announcing the new Chairman of the European Scout Committee soon!!

First morning of the 20th European Scout Conference started with administrative session and roll call, many honoured guests were presented to the Conference. Shortly after, there was approval of tellers, resolutions committee Chairs of the Conference...There are 40 NSO's with the right to vote, therefore 244 votes’ bases of 6 votes per NSO.

Just before the break, one of Chairman's Siegfried Riediger, International Commissioner of the Ring in Germany take over the chair of the conference so that Craig Turpie and Marios Christou, Chair and Vice Chair can present Triennial Report with other Committee members. Triennial report was presented in interactive way with participation from the delegates who have experienced some of the actions in the report.

After the break, Claudio Burkhard Honorary Treasurer presents the report to the Conference, Jorgen Rasmunsen have presented the European Scout Foundation and Friends of Scouting in Europe and Paolo Fiora have presented the Partnership Fund for Growth and Development.

On the end of the morning session Vice Chairman of the World Scout Committee, Mario Diaz Martinez and Secretary General, Luc Panissod, addressed the Conference.

During the lunch break Friends of Scouting in Europe had organised cocktail for members of Friends of Europe present of the Conference and on that occasion have introduced new members of Friends of Scouting in Europe

Looking forward for afternoon when we have smaller sessions on world topics.

After the busy afternoon, panel of Experts and great topics raised about volunteering abuse of volunteering, youth unemployment…conference have moved in to small groups and workshops on Joint Actions. By the end of the workshop it was already the deadline for circulation of recommendations.

Prior the International eve delegates had chance to participate at WOSM Accounts Workshop or faith services.

At 19:30 at Place d’Espagne became a small fair of different colours, tastes, smells...International evening started!

Afternoon session photos:

International evening photos:

15 Candidates had chance to present their candidature in short presentations. Shortly after, two International Commissioners from Guides and Scouts in Germany was presenting the candidature to host the next European Guide and Scout Conference.

Candidatures Resume can be find in Conference Documents.

Following an inspiring mediation led by Tine Radinja, the EGSC13 started its work with an administrative session, during which the roll call was held, tellers appointed and the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the two regional committees elected by acclamation as chairs of the 13th European Guide and Scout Conference.

The Conference then received the joint report of the chairmen of the two Regional Committees. All twelve members of the Committees shared the achievements as well as remaining challenges in relation to the joint work areas of the outgoing triennium as well as more generally. The chairmen concluded this session by highlighting the fact that the two regions had excelled in doing a lot of joint and successful things together, but that it was now time to also start thinking things together.

One of the main highlights of the outgoing triennium had been Roverway 2009 in Iceland, and Jon, form BIS / IS, recalled this memorable event of last summer which had seen more than 3000 Rovers, Ranger and young adults discover Iceland in its many different facets. Altogether, more than 80’000 hours of work had been invested by volunteers to contribute to this event. Thanking BIS for the excellent delivery of Roverway 2009, BIS was presented with a gift of appreciation, which the Scouts and Guides of Iceland distributed small boxes of volcanic ash to everybody as a token of souvenir. On behalf of the organising team of Roverway 2009, Jon then symbolically handed over their acquired knowledge to Juha and Jukka, director and deputy director, respectively, of Roverway 2012, which will take place in Finland.

A video presentation gave an overview of what participants might expect at that major event in three years’ time.