On Sunday 28 May 2023 the Committee teamed up with the other EU institutions running for charity in one of the Belgian capital's most popular sporting event, which was being held for the 43rd time.

The event, a celebration of grassroots sport, brought together more than 40 000 runners and walkers from 89 different countries.

The EU team raised funds for human-rights advocate Amnesty International.

EESC Vice-President for Communication Laurenţiu Plosceanu gave the start for the fourth block of the race, together with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Commission representative Stefaan De Rynck.

Mr Plosceanu underlined the dynamic presence of the EU institutions in the event standing for democracy and human rights and described the crowd as "a tsunami of 40 000 citizens, running for peace, democracy, human rights and EU values".

The 60-strong EESC Trainees Association took part in the race to raise funds for veterans of the war in Ukraine in collaboration with the NGO Promote Ukraine and the National Council for Sports Rehabilitation. The funds will go into financing rehabilitation programmes.

The event was organised by the Syndicat d'Initiative - Bruxelles Promotion 1886 and saw the participation of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who ran for the Belgian Red Cross. (at)