The Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) works to bring a vision based on the Quaker commitment to peace, justice and equality to Europe and its institutions. We seek to build support for humane, non-military policies at the EU level, both inside and outside its borders. We do so in the spirit of peaceful cooperation which forms the foundation of European politics. We have been based in Brussels’ European Quarter since our foundation in 1979.
We currently work on three programme strands that aim to combine our expertise and experience in working at the intersections between issues. Learn more:
Creating policy conditions to support safe, equitable and responsive migration systems that contribute to long-term, sustainable peace.
Fostering a transition to a sustainable, fossil-free Europe. Advocating for a just, peaceful global order with robust, nonviolent conflict resolution approaches.
Enabling dialogue across differences, supporting people to listen deeply and gain new perspective on issues that are stuck or highly polarised.
QCEA focuses on transformative change through promoting positive alternatives and detailed policy improvement.
Small changes in policy and law can make a big difference to outcomes for people and ability to hold institutions to account.
Revealing policy failures and proposing viable alternatives helps policymakers create more effective policies, resulting in improved outcomes. Engaging affected communities is essential for developing just and peaceful policies.
Existing systems can't achieve the necessary changes for a just and peaceful world resilient to the climate crisis. Only through diverse collaboration, active listening, and reflection questions can people recognize the need for change.
Explore opportunities to make a meaningful impact and be an integral part of our organisation
Quaker House in Brussels, an art nouveau building of architectural distinction, is home to the office of QCEA. The house is a beautiful “maison de maître” built in 1899, at Square Ambiorix 50, 1000 Brussels and has been owned by Quakers since 1985.
Recently refurbished with the generous support of the City of Brussels, it is occasionally opened to the public as part of Brussels Patrimony Day. It has meeting rooms for conferences and informal gatherings which are available to organisations for public and private meetings.
The Religious Society of Friends (commonly referred to as the Quakers) is an historic peace church founded in 17th century England. We believe in non-violent approaches to conflict resolution, the intrinsic equality of all people everywhere, and a sustainable way of life for everyone that the one Earth we share can support. Quakers have been at the forefront of progressive causes for centuries, and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947.
We are part of diverse international and informal networks in Brussels, uniting for peace, migration, and climate justice initiatives. We are members of:
