Members of the Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau recently attended the U-Impact conference which was held in Bucharest, Romania. The Gibraltar delegates were Pili Rodriguez (Bureau Manager), Ivan Cruz (Deputy Manager), and Joanna McGrail (Senior Adviser). Also attending was Michael Podesta, (Crown Council with the Gibraltar Law Offices).

The conference funded by the European Union is a joint project between National Association of Citizens Advice (Romania) and European Citizens Action Services (ECAS).

The main topic of the Conference was: “The Impact of the Refugee Crisis and the Freedom of Movement” with particular emphasis to its impact on Romania and EU Citizen Rights. There was an input from speakers from various EU countries attending, including video conferencing participation.

Attending the conference were MEPs, national and local dignitaries, representatives of non-governmental agencies based in Europe, together with local and international journalist, experts in the field of Citizens Advice.
The Conference was also being transmitted live to other advice information giving entities across the EU.

The Gibraltar delegates also attended the General Assembly of Citizens Advice International during which elections for the Chair of Citizens Advice International was held. Pili Rodriguez was unanimously re-elected as the Chair. This is the fourth time that Ms Rodriguez has been elected and it is a testament to her hard work and dedication and of her team at CAB Gibraltar.

She was invited to talk on the development, services and ambitions of the Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau and Citizens Advice International which was also broadcasted live to all countries linked to the Conference.

During the Assembly, Michael Recagno from Gibraltar CAB who had been responsible for creating and designing the Citizens Advice International website was appointed as the webmaster for Citizens Advice International.

The conference was a follow up to meetings organized earlier this year in Brussels, with meetings in the European Commission and European Citizens Action Services (ECAS) and the conference “Pathways to Resolution, Ending Conflict/Ending Negativity” held in Gibraltar in June.

Pili Rodriguez said: “This event gave Gibraltar CAB the opportunity to showcase the innovations and initiatives it has developed for the community in Gibraltar. It is also very encouraging and gratifying when larger jurisdictions want to emulate the services and how it has developed and implemented these locally.”

“The strong bonds which has developed between Gibraltar CAB with European Citizens Action Services (ECAS) and Citizens Advice International will no doubt enhance the current services and support it currently shares, not only to the citizens of our Community but Internationally, in support of their rights and entitlements”.

Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: “This demonstrates the outstanding work carried out by the Citizens Advice Bureau internationally. I would like to congratulate Ms Pili Rodriguez on her re-election as the Chair of Citizens Advice International and to thank all those individuals from the CAB and the Law Offices who played part in this programme. It certainly makes Gibraltar proud to be at the forefront of this brilliant initiative!”

For more information of Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau please contact us on: Tel: 200 40006, Email: [email protected] Web: www.cab.gi

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