EEF Board video conference on 7.03.2023

For Discussion:

1.1  U25 EU-CH in Jumping and Eventing

The Board agrees that detailed proposals shall be prepared by the EEF Jumping working group and EEF Eventing working group in consultation with the EEF members for EEF Board discussion. GD will prepare a letter addressed to the members regarding this subject.

1.2  EEF GA 2023

It is planned to present amended EEF Statutes to the members at the 2023 EEF GA.

The EEF Board positions of Nayla Stössel (SUI) and Quentin Simonet (FRA) are up for election (both would be re-eligible) and also the positions of EEF EU- Committee members Klaus Miesner (GER) and Gianluigi Giovagnli (ITA) are up for election (both would be re-eligible). CM will inform the members about the positions open for election and the respective deadlines to put candidacies forward.

Consideration is given to the proposal to host a separate meeting ahead of the EEF GA, for example an “EEF Innovation and Sustainability Forum”. Further details are to be elaborated by the Commercial working group.

1.3 EEF representatives in FEI Nominations Committee

The EEF will ensure that at least two very good European candidates will put an application forward for the FEI Nominations Committee where two positions are up for appointment this year.

For Information:

2.1  Update 2023 Longines EEF Series

GD informs the Board about the new date of the Regional Qualifier in Peelbergen (NED). All NFs of that region had been consulted as well as the NED NF. Final approval has been requested from the FEI. The EEF is also in close contact with the FEI regarding the allocation of wild cards for the 2023 LES.

Based on a proposal received from the Jumping Owners Club (JOC) the EEF Communication working group has developed a draft concept for a “Longines EEF Series Horse of the Year Award” linked to horse performances in the Longines EEF Series of the current year. The draft concept shall be presented by CM to the JOC for feedback and subsequently put forward for EEF Board approval. It is planned to present the award at the 2023 LES Final.

A Zoom meeting has been set-up for Thursday March 9th between the EEF Communication team and the OCs of the 2023 LES to share lessons learned during the last season and onboard the new OCs in order to maximize cooperation with regards to communication efforts.

2.2  Update FEI Nations Cup meeting

An online meeting between the FEI and NFs involved in the FEI Jumping Nations Cup had been held earlier today. 19 NFs will now receive a voting form from the FEI and only if a majority will accept the latest proposal then the FEI will go forward with the proposal. TP is tasked to clarify with the FEI the last sentence that was added to the FEI proposal regarding the EEF Series.

2.3  Update Sustainability

UB provides an update on the EEF’s sustainability activities. The carbon footprint tool has been finalized by the university and its handover to the EEF Sustainability working group has been processed. The respective manual is to be finalized by mid- March 2023. In a next step 4 pilot countries will be used for data collection. UB will also provide the sustainability content to the EYLE project team before the end of March. Sustainability webinars are planned for mid-April. The Board approves the appointment of Katerina Liberi (GRE) as the EEF Sustainability Event Coordinator.

2.4  Update EU Project (EYLE)

CM informs the Board that the logo for the EYLE project has been chosen and communicated to the EEF community via a press release. A seminar will be held by Fenna Westerduin in the Netherlands on 19 & 20 April 2023 in which two delegates from each partner country (BUL, NOR, HUN) will be coached so that they can coach the EYLE coaches in their own respective countries. The focus of the next EYLE meeting in April has been set to be on the very important subject of safeguarding children in our sport.