European Buddhist Union

The NBO has been a member of the EBU for over 15 years.

Visit the European Buddhist Union website »

The European Buddhist Union is an international umbrella association of Buddhist organisations and national Buddhist unions in Europe. Delegates to the EBU from the NBO work on behalf of the NBO members and contribute to Buddhist work at a European level and have the opportunity to meet and make friendships with other Buddhist groups  across Europe. The NBO has always been very active within the EBU and for the past 6 years Jamie Cresswell has served as President.

The EBU was founded in 1975 as an umbrella association for existing European Buddhist organisations. The influence of Buddhism and Europe upon each other goes back much further than the 19th or 20th centuries: there has been much interaction between Buddhism and European culture since the beginning of Buddhism in India in the 5th century BCE.

The vision of the EBU is to create a fellowship of European Buddhists bringing Buddhist ideas and principles into European society. It is open to all schools and traditions of Buddhism in Europe wishing to unite on the basis of Buddhist teachings and work together in spiritual friendship and respect for diversity. There are now over 50 member organisations from 16 European countries.

In 2008 the EBU obtained official participatory status with the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations at the Council of Europe.

Through the activities of the EBU it aims to facilitate international exchange and promote spiritual friendship amongst European Buddhists; to support social action and ideas motivated by Buddhist values; and to amplify the voice of Buddhism in Europe and worldwide.

The European Buddhist Union is guided by an international council elected by a general assembly of all member organisations. The present council was elected for 3 years in September 2014. This year elections will be held for a new Council.

Over the years the NBO has been part of a  number of initiatives including Human rights and Education at the Council of Europe, meetings and conferences with the European Commission and Parliament, Buddhist and multi faith Conferences across Europe and in Asia, Interfaith dialogue and action.

Information and reports from European Buddhist Union activities are always posted to the NBO website.

Membership of the EBU is open to individual groups as well as National umbrella groups and pan European groups. If you would like your organisation to be part of the EBU please apply using the procedure on the EBU website

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