ICC Summit Successfully completed on 25-26 September in Brussels Square Convention Center. For the full coverage visit this Link
Here you can rean a summary of this important meeting
Rotary Intercountry Committees Meeting in Brussels – 25 September 2025
The Rotary Intercountry Committees (ICCs) gathered in Brussels on 25 September 2025 for a high-level meeting featuring leaders from across Rotary International, showcasing ICCs’ growing role as bridges of peace and cross-cultural cooperation.
Opening by PDG Nathalie Huyghebaert, ICC Executive Council Chair
Nathalie welcomed participants, stressing that ICCs thrive through “friendship across borders,” modern communications, and the energy of global members. She noted the increasing involvement of Rotaractors and highlighted ICCs’ rapid responses to crises—from earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco to wildfires in Spain and the humanitarian emergency in Ukraine. Current actions include a collaborative initiative to provide food for 1,000 children in Gaza, supported by the Rotary Action Group for Peace and international partners. She also outlined upcoming ICC events in Athens, the UAE, UNESCO, and the 2026 Rotary International Convention in Taiwan, as well as the ICC Assembly in Lecco, Italy, in May 2026, where elections and the new ICC Peace Award will take place.
Remarks by Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo
President Arezzo affirmed ICCs as vital to his priorities of eradicating polio, growing membership, and fostering peace. He emphasized the role of personal interaction in overcoming fear and building peace, drawing on his experience hosting an international RYLA in Sicily.
Rotary Programs and Peacebuilding: Director Ellina Kushnir
Ellina Kushnir highlighted Rotary’s seven structured programs, from Interact and Youth Exchange to Fellowships and Action Groups, linking them to leadership, intercultural understanding, and community impact. She urged ICCs to set measurable goals and ensure that activities deliver concrete results—stronger relationships, better understanding, and healthier communities.
European Perspective: Andreas Strub
Andreas reflected on peace as the universal desire of ordinary people for safety, dignity, and opportunity. Drawing on Europe’s post-war reconciliation, he emphasized Rotary’s power to rebuild trust through intercultural initiatives. He urged ICCs to engage youth and link peacebuilding to themes such as the environment and climate change, reminding participants: “Argue as much as you want, but don’t let the day end without making peace.”
Italian ICC Model: PDG Alessandro Pastorini
Alessandro presented the revitalization of ICCs in Italy, San Marino, and Malta, now numbering 57. Through strong coordination and digital transformation, the network has expanded and hosted major conferences on migration and Mediterranean peace. The upcoming ICC Assembly in Lecco will focus on “ICC and World Peace.”
Panel: ICCs as Bridges of Peace
Moderated by PDG Ashot Karapetyan, the panel featured PRID Katerina Kotsali-Papadimitriou, PDG Güneş Ertaş, PDG Ovidio Cos, and Yaseen Jaffer. They defined ICCs as Rotary’s “people-to-people diplomacy,” citing practical projects such as aid for Ukraine, youth camps, and interfaith initiatives. Key messages included Rotary’s neutrality as a unique advantage, the need for measurable local impact, and youth as indispensable peacebuilders.
Rotary in Afghanistan: Rameen Javid
Rameen reported on Rotary’s resilience in Afghanistan, where three active clubs continue projects in education, health, and economic development despite immense challenges. The chartering of the first ICC in Afghanistan marks a milestone in connecting the country to Rotary’s global peace network.
Africa and the Future of ICCs
A panel moderated by Pierangelo Panozzo brought insights from Marie-Irène Richmond, Thomas Huyghebaert, and PRID Patrick Chisanga. They emphasized community-centered peacebuilding, the catalytic role of women and youth, and linking grassroots ICC projects to AU–EU platforms. Consensus emerged that every local project—from equipping health clinics to supporting micro-enterprises—represents a tangible step toward lasting peace.
India–USA Peace Path
Rahul Wadhwa introduced the “Peace Path,” a Gandhian initiative retracing the Salt March with thousands of Rotarians and citizens. Activities included Peace Pole installations, peace pledges, and rallies. Future plans involve “Peace Groves” and a second Peace Path in 2026, with global participation invited.
Rotary and Rotaract Together for Peace
A youth-led panel, moderated by Maria Vittoria Gargiulo, stressed genuine integration of Rotaractors in Rotary decision-making. They highlighted projects emerging from the Rotaract Days at the United Nations, cross-cultural district initiatives, and strategies for joint Rotary–Rotaract leadership. Their message: peace accelerates when Rotary and Rotaract work as one team.
Upcoming ICC Events and Charter Ceremonies
Future events were promoted, including the ICC and Public Image Forum in Athens (13–16 November 2025) and UNESCO Day. The meeting concluded with charter ceremonies for new ICCs between Belux–Spain, Belux–Romania and Moldova, Afghanistan, and France–Mali.
The Brussels ICC Meeting affirmed Rotary’s ICCs as vital engines of peace, dialogue, and humanitarian response—connecting cultures, addressing urgent needs, and empowering future generations to build trust across borders.
