EEF Board videoconference 15.02.2022

1.1 EEF Development Series

AA reports that the Central European Dressage (CED) countries have offered to host the series in their countries also for Dressage (AUT, CZE, SVK, POL, HUN) and they would be ready already for 2022. One idea is to use the existing “5 arenas cup” and include the development series into the existing events.

The EEF will cooperate with the “Young Riders Academy” for additional educational elements during the Development Series for Jumping.

It is decided that a detailed project plan including budget for both Jumping and Dressage shall be finalized by AA and TS and will be presented by them at the next EEF Board meeting in March.

1.2  Budget 2022/23 & 2023/24

TP reports that the EEF has a loss in the first 6 months of the new financial year but that the income will be on the expected level again in the second half of the financial year. SL comments that the NF membership fee for 2022/23 shall be corrected down to EUR 45.000 . It is agreed that an increase in EEF membership fees will require a separate vote at the 2022 EEF General Assembly and SL is tasked to work on a proposal of the Strategic Planning Working Group which illustrates who should pay how much in the future.

1.3  Meeting with FEI Executive Board

The Board agrees on the agenda that it wishes to address with the FEI Executive Board later this week. From an EEF perspective the meeting shall focus on the takeover of European Championships, the need for an FEI Strategy and take- aways from the FEI GA in Antwerp.

1.4  Update 2022 Longines EEF Series

EO provides an update on the planning of the 2022 Longines EEF Series and reports that the host agreements have not been signed yet by Athens, Lisbon, Mannheim and Deauville. The finalization of these remaining host agreements shall be a top priority now so that the LES calendar can be announced to the members and to the media.

The Board approves an additional budget to order reserve material (fences and boarding) for the 2022 series.

1.5  Update EEF Jumping Round Table

TP informs the Board that the recommendations of the EEF Jumping Round Table are now being finalized and the respective document will be sent to the Round Table participants for final comments before it will then be shared with the EEF Board for information and subsequently sent out to EEF members and the FEI.

1.6  Weighted voting system

It is proposed that the increased membership fee should be linked to a weighted voting system and the Strategic Planning Working Group is tasked to discuss the details so that the subject can be tabled for a Board decision at the EEF in-person Board meeting in Essen (GER) in April. GD expressed his serious reservations regarding the above proposal, which he believes is not fitting and beneficial for the EEF and may transform it into a closed club of the big European NFs.

1.7  Update Communication & Commercial

NS reports that the working groups for commercial and communication have now been combined because their work is very interconnected. The new EEF website is still in progress and online conversations with two potential sponsors took place.

1.8  Sustainability project

TP informs the Board that a meeting has been scheduled with two sustainability experts, three member NFs, Frank Kemperman as OC representative and the University of Wageningen in order to kick-off the EEF sustainability project and prepare the planned webinar. The goal is to establish a universal system which would allow each country to calculate its CO2 footprint related to equestrian sport.

1.9  EU-Committee: Equine digital passports

TP reports that this project has been stopped for the time being.

1.10  Proposal received from Central European Dressage Group

UH presents a proposal for a Central European Dressage Young Horse Championship as submitted by the CED working group. It is agreed that the WBFSH shall be informed about this proposal as well and asked to provide their opinion. GD reports that the CED group is currently drafting a potential MOU with the EEF which will be submitted to GD for a first review before being submitted to the EEF Board for consideration.

2.1  OCs for Olympic Qualifications Group C

The Board agrees that high importance shall be set on the task to identify European OCs for the Group C Special Olympic Qualifiers in Jumping, Dressage and Eventing for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. One or two good locations with suitable dates shall be put forward to the FEI for each of the three disciplines. TS is tasked with this project and shall report back to the Board at the next Board meeting.

2.2  Composition Strategic Planning Working Group

SL reports that the Strategic Planning Working Group is currently being assembled again with new members in order to address the mandates received from the Board (membership fees, weighted voting system, etc). Also external experts will be consulted along the way.

2.3  Opening application process for EEF President and EEF Board members

As the terms of the EEF President and two EEF Board Members (Soenke Lauterbach & Ulf Helgstrand) are coming to an end this year, the application phase for these positions shall be opened and communicated to the NFs accordingly. The current EEF President Theo Ploegmakers and the EEF Board Member Soenke Lauterbach will be re-eligible for their positions, Ulf Helgstrand will be outgoing because he has served the maximum duration of 12 years on the EEF Board. In line with the EEF Statutes the Board furthermore decides to enlarge the EEF Board by one person. This means that in total there will be 3 Board Member positions and the President position up for election at the 2022 EEF General Assembly. Ideally the new Board members should bring knowledge in Dressage or Eventing to the EEF Board.

2.4 Job descriptions for EEF President & Board Member(s)

The following comments are made on the current job descriptions and once these have been implemented the documents can be distributed to the EEF members:

-  Add “ordinary” ahead of GA for re-election

-  Change in President’s job description the 4th last bullet point to “leads the

work of the board”

-  Speak always in the third person, don’t switch

-  Change the term “fora” to “working groups”

3.1 2022 EEF General Assembly

CM informs the Board that the Polish NF has kindly offered to host the 2022 EEF General Assembly on Monday, 12 September 2022 in Warsaw, on the day after the Longines EEF Series Final. It is currently planned to organize the GA as a purely in-person meeting (not hybrid like in 2021).

The EEF in-person Board Meeting shall take place on Saturday, 10 September 2022 at 15h00 CET.

4.1 Outgoing members EEF Jumping working Group

GD informs the Board that there are two outgoing members from the Jumping Working Group which shall be replaced by a delegate from France and Poland. Ideally, also a younger rider shall be added to the group.