The European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) held a productive 70th Delegates Meeting in Norwich, UK, on 11-12 October 2024, with representatives from across Europe coming together to advance EBCU’s mission of supporting beer consumers and promoting beer culture across the continent.
Strategic Plan for Growth
Delegates endorsed a forward-looking plan to boost EBCU’s financial stability, aiming to significantly increase the annual budget over five years. This will help expand EBCU’s advocacy and member services to deliver even greater value to beer consumers.
New Initiatives
Exciting new projects were approved, including:
- Consumer Advocacy: A newly formed Consumer Policy Committee will represent beer consumers’ interests in Brussels on key EU issues, like transparent labeling.
- Engagement Programs: A working group on homebrewing was established, with plans to support beer judge training and other resources to foster a deeper beer culture among enthusiasts across member organizations.
Expanding Membership and Endorsements
EBCU welcomed two new members, Norbrygg from Norway and BeerGeeks from the Netherlands, and endorsed the Polish Kraft Roku beer competition, reinforcing EBCU’s commitment to inclusivity and collaboration across Europe.
Leadership and Vision
In leadership updates, André Brunnsberg was re-elected as chairman for another two years. Hans Peter Jepsen and Chris Welsh were re-elected to the Executive team, joined by new Executive member Magdalena Bergmann. Their expertise and commitment will be crucial as EBCU implements its ambitious new goals.
With broad support for these initiatives, EBCU is poised to amplify its impact and further its mission of representing European beer consumers. The next Delegates Meeting in Brussels in April 2025 promises more exciting developments.
