AMARC Europe

National Network
Belgium
Address

legal office: Vlasfabriekstraat 11 B-1060 Brussels
operational office: Via Umberto Partini 21, 00159 Roma

Bruxelles, Rome
Belgium

Telephone
+39.06.8632 8312
Fax
+39.06.8638 3967
E-Mail
fdiasio@europe.amarc.org
Mobile Phone
+39.393.9674 999
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2009
Fields of Activity
  1. Media
General Information
AMARC Europe is the regional branch of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters. In Europe the network exists since mid '90s, but in 2009 the organization has set up a new official registration act as International Non profit Organization according to the Belgian law. The regional Conference, held in December 2008 in Romania, gathered members (community radios and national federations of community and independent radios) from 23 different European countries. At present, the Board of Directors is composed by 8 directors (from Spain, France, UK, Czech Republic, Romania, Finland, Georgia) and a Secretary General (based in Italy). Among the sources of funding, AMARC Europe is involved in the global network of AMARC and in the harmonization process which allows trans-regional approaches to fund raising and donor's international agencies. Despite all, the structure is still little sized, having just one staff employed person (the Sec, General as regional coordinator).
Mission and Objectives

The main global objective of AMARC since its creation (in 1983, as a global movement) is to accompany and support the establishment of a worldwide community radio sector for a more pluralistic and democratized media sector. Nowadays, AMARC advocates for the right to communicate at the international, national, local and neighborhood levels, defend and promote the interests of the community radio movement through solidarity, networking and Cooperation.
In Europe, AMARC, local radio groups and other transnational fora (such as the Community Media Forum Europe) are organizing lobbying efforts towards government and international institutions (i.e. - European Union and Council of Europe) aimed at gaining approval so that community media can more easily network, being able -at the same time - to collectively work on national and region-wide on social and developmental issues.The main challenge will be planning to meet the potential for the expansion of community radio across Europe.

Main Projects / Activities

AMARC Europe is involved in the following activities (identified in the current Plan of Action):
Advocacy and policy research: To achieve improvement in the policy, legal and regulatory environment for community media and for the right to communicate
Knowledge sharing and capacity building. To strengthen the sustainability, effectiveness and relevance of community media and to increase the appropriation of community media by excluded and marginalized communities to better identify, discuss, articulate and voice their development concerns.
Content exchange and social action campaigns. To amplify the voices of the excluded and marginalized on key issues in sustainable democratic development and to strengthen south-centered perspectives.
Gender equality and women’s rights. To promote women’s voices and rights, to combat gender-based discrimination and to strengthen women’s participation in community media at all levels.

Contact (1) Full Name
Francesco Diasio, Secretary General
Head of the organisation
Mariano Sanchez, President