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Decision-making

WOSM Candidates and Elections

European Scout Committee

As the European Scout Region board, the European Scout Committee plays a central role in the organisation’s governance. Each of its six voting members will be elected at the 25th European Scout Conference, exercising its functions outlined in the Regional Constitution, implements resolutions from the Regional Conference, and advises the World Committee and Member Organizations in the Region.

Nominate your candidates!

Nominate your candidates!
 
Nominations to the Committee are now open. Member Organizations can nominate candidates to stand for election, by the 23:59 CET on 19 March 2025.
 
To submit your nomination, fill out the nomination form and complete it with attachments using the Smartsheet Nomination Form.
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Key Dates

Upholding the highest standards

WOSM is dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards in its electoral processes. The WOSM Code of Conduct for Elections outlines expected behaviours for candidates and their supporters, focusing on embodying Scouting’s spirit, while promoting free and fair elections, and guaranteeing equal opportunities for all candidates. Member Organizations are required to acknowledge the Code of Conduct for Elections and related requirements when filling out the candidate nomination form.

Submit a report on campaign funds 24 hours before the elections

Candidate considerations

Before submitting a nomination, Member Organizations are encouraged to review the following considerations for candidates for the European Scout Committee. These considerations stem from the Constitution of the European Scout Region and Conference Rules of Procedure.

Youth leadership

The Movement is committed to sustainable and meaningful youth leadership in decision-making. As per the European Youth Empowerment Framework approved by the European Scout Committee, Member Organizations are encouraged to nominate candidates under the age of 30.

Gender balance

Reflecting the diversity of our global Movement, candidates identify as female are encouraged to stand for election.

Number of elected candidates 

Only one voting member per Member Organization can serve on the European Scout Committee. 

Code of Conduct for Elections

All candidates must familiarise themselves with and abide by the WOSM Code of Conduct for Elections (CoCE) and are required to complete training on the Code of Conduct for Elections, to be administered by the World Scout Bureau, when promoting their candidature. 

Role description

Learn more about the key responsibilities, tasks, and specifications for candidates.

Membership status

Nominations should be submitted by a Member Organization that is in good standing with WOSM, including their WOSM and Regional Registration Fees.

Safe from Harm

Candidates must complete the required Safe from Harm training. 

Conflict of interest policy 

Elected candidates must consider the interests of the Scout Movement and adhere to the standards outlined in this policy.

Support for potential European Scout Committee members

The European Scout Region, guided by the European Scout Committee, is committed to improving the candidate experience while fostering greater diversity and engagement in decision-making. Member Organizations play a crucial role in this process, ensuring a broad range of perspectives are represented.

To support potential candidates and Member Organizations, we provide learning and engagement opportunities outlining the responsibilities and expectations of serving on the European Scout Committee. These help candidates gain a clear understanding of what it means to take on this important role.
 
As part of our ongoing efforts, we invite all potential candidates to attend an online session during the March 2025 Business Meeting of the European Scout Committee. Please save the date: 2 March 2025. This session will offer a valuable insider’s view of the decision-making process, observe how the team collaborates, and gain a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and dynamics of the role.

Additionally, the Candidate Journey Team is available to assist potential and endorsed candidates throughout the process. This dedicated team is focused on creating a supportive, inclusive, and safe environment for all nominated for the European Scout Committee 2025–2028. Select a meeting time slot or contact Sian Bagshaw at sian.bagshaw@scout.org to discuss this further.

Induction and first business meeting

The induction of the European Scout Committee will be scheduled in the last two week-ends of September 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Statute of our Association, which was established in Switzerland, is available here.

Each European Scout Committee member takes on a specific oversight or liaison role based on the Triennium’s priorities, the strengths and interests of the elected members, and the needs of the Region.
 
While these roles may evolve throughout the term, typical portfolios include:
  • Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
  • Governance in the coordination of the Regional Scout Plan and Operational Framework
  • Governance oversight of priority areas such as Safe from Harm and key regional events such as Roverway and the Regional Conference
  • Board of the European Scout Foundation (ESF) 
  • Ex-officio member of the KISC Committee
  • Member of the WOSM-WAGGGS (Europe) Coordinating Group (internally called Joint Work)
During this Triennium, additional roles included
  • Sustainability Champion
  • Crisis Coordination
 
These roles are collectively decided by the elected ESC members at the start of the Triennium, considering the workload distribution to ensure balanced responsibilities.
 
In addition, the European Scout Committee operates a Committee Contact System, on which each Committee Member is assigned several Member Organizations (MOs) based on knowledge, proximity, language, and other criteria determined by the Committee. 
 
The Committee‘s Contact role aims to: 
  • Ensure proximity and dedicated space of exchange for each MO with the ESC through one of its members.
  • Serve as a contact person for the official contacts of the MOs assigned.
  • Follow-up on questions and/or requests, and/or direct the question to the person within WOSM who can answer the question and/or request.
  • Bring the matter to the attention of the European Scout Committee.

Yes, 1:1 support is available before and during the Conference through the Candidate Journey Team at sian.bagshaw@scout.org. If you prefer a specific contact person for continuity, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate this request.

The full candidate list must be released by 19 June 2025. However, with the support and cooperation of candidates — including submitting all required materials such as photos and videos on time — we may be able to publish the list earlier.

During the previous conferences and particularly elections, some social media activities, such as ScoutConfMemes, led to personal attacks on candidates, which went against Scouting values.

  • To address this, the Candidate Journey Team is prioritising a safer and more ethical election framework, including:
      • Strengthening the Code of Conduct regarding online behaviour.
      • Providing training and guidance for Member Organizations (MOs) and delegates.
      • Implementing Safe from Harm (SfH) mechanisms to ensure respectful engagement during the campaign.
      • Providing clear procedures to report and handle inappropriate social media behaviour.
      • Treating any potential violation of the Code of Conduct for elections with utmost urgency and confidentiality in close collaboration with the Ethics Committee.

We encourage candidates to utilise online meeting tools to engage with and meet the Delegations ahead of the Conference. Both Google Calendar and Calendly offer free subscriptions and could assist in making this engagement as smooth as possible. 

Candidates will have a specific meeting/session with the Candidate Journey Team before and after the election to help them prepare, answer any questions, and offer a dedicated space for support and unity.

Candidates will engage with MOs through the Meet the Candidates session, a marketplace-style interaction that provides a more direct and interactive way to connect.

Additionally, candidates are encouraged to use the Networking/Exhibition space and any available free time to further engage with MOs and other participants.