User:ELAEnglish/sandbox

'The European Latvian Association' (ELA) is a federation of non-governmental organisations of European Latvians, registered outside Latvia. The purpose of its activities is to represent the interests of the Latvian diaspora on a European scale and to promote the co-ordination of information, educational and cultural activities, as well as co-operative projects between its member organisations and other affiliated organisations of ethnic immigrants.

The ELA represents 14 organisations in 10 European countries. Its working language is Latvian and it is a member of the World Federation of Free Latvians (WFFL) and Europeans Throughout the World (ETTW).

Aims and Objectives
The specific objectives of the ELA are as follows:


 * to facilitate the preservation of the ethnic identity of Latvians living in European countries, access to lessons in the Latvian language and to promote the Latvian culture;
 * to strengthen the citizenship link of Latvians living in Europe with Latvia, as well as promote the awareness of European citizenship;
 * to promote tolerance and a mutual understanding between Latvians living in Europe and the Latvians living in Latvia;
 * to promote the understanding of Latvia’s history in Europe, as well as promoting the remembrance of the victims of totalitarianism;
 * to support the Latvian government’s efforts to facilitate the return of Latvian citizens currently living abroad, back to Latvia.

The ELA supports and promotes the European Union principles and values, that is, closer union among the European countries and peoples, a common economic space, including the free movement of persons, respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law, as well as respect towards European cultures and linguistic diversity.

In order to implement its objectives, the ELA works with non-governmental organisations at European and national level, as well as Latvian, European and European Union institutions.

In accordance with its Articles of Association, the ELA’s main decision-making body is the Assembly of member organisations, which is convened at least once a year by the ELA Presidium. The Presidium, including the Chair and Deputy Chair, with a total of six members, is elected for two years, by the Assembly of member organisations. The Assembly also elects a treasurer, accountant and audit committee to deal with its financial matters. The Presidium may involve other people in organising its work. Currently, the ELA Presidium is comprised of a political reporter, cultural reporter, educational reporter, communications reporter and project reporter.

Member Organisations
Competent member organisations:
 * Association of Latvians in France
 * Netherlands-Latvian society “Latvija”
 * Association of Latvians in Sweden
 * Latvian Central Council in Sweden
 * Association “Daugavas Vanagi” in Germany
 * National Council of Latvians in Great Britain
 * Community of Latvians in Germany
 * Latvian Association in Belgium
 * Welfare Fund “Daugavas Vanagi”, UK
 * Latvian Association in Ireland

Affiliated member organisations:
 * Latvian Association in Norway
 * Association of Latvians for Latvians in Ireland
 * Latvian-Finnish Society “Laivas”
 * Association of Latvians in Switzerland
 * Latvian Association in Peterborough, UK

History
On 31st July 1951, in London, representatives from the Latvian National Council in Britain, the National Committee of Latvians in Belgium, the Association of Latvians in Denmark, the Latvian Relief Committee in France, the Society of Latvians in France, the Latvian Central Council in Germany, and the National Council of Latvians in Sweden, founded the European Centre of the Latvian Liberation Committee (LLC EC). Its aim was to promote the liberation and statehood of Latvia.

On 23rd September 1995, in London, representatives from the Latvian National Council in Britain, the Latvian Welfare Fund, the Central Council of Latvians in Sweden, the Central Council of Latvians in Germany, and the Latvian Liberation Committee transformed the European Centre into the Western European Latvian Association (WELA). Its aim was to promote the implementation of Latvian national political interests in Western European countries and international organisations, and to co-ordinate the activities of Latvian organisations in the fields of information, education and culture.

On 11th September 2006, in Riga, with the aim of overcoming the division of Eastern/Western zones of the Latvian organisations, as well as facilitate the co-ordination of activities between the Latvian organisations across Europe, at its General Meeting the Western European Latvian Association renamed itself the European Latvian Association. Representatives from Latvian organisations in the UK, Sweden, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Ireland took part at this meeting.

On 12th September 2009, in Hamburg, with the aim of making the European Latvian Association a legal person, the ELA Assembly of member organisations passed a resolution to formally register the European Latvian Association and approved the new version of its Articles of Association.