Organisational structure

Our organisation is based on this structure:

You can also download this diagram.

We have a distinctive structure. This is firstly because of the people involved in the Agency - National representatives nominated by the Ministries of education in each of the member countries from the policy (Representative Board members) and practitioner levels (National Co-ordinators) who share a common understanding of key issues in special needs education and who work together to provide authoritative perspectives on special needs education in their country.

Secondly, these National representatives work together with the Agency staff to develop a common understanding of key issues at the European level.

With regards to the management of our work, all the bodies of the Agency work interactively with one another in a complementary and mutually supportive way in order for their collective work to be of maximum benefit to member countries.

Representative Board Members are appointed by their countries to act as the political level National representatives within the Agency. They are responsible for representing their country's interests in the Agency by ensuring their country's needs are accounted for in the Agency's activities.

A central task of the Representative Board is to nominate from within itself the Agency Management Board , which is delegated to make detailed decisions relating to a number of agreed tasks and for ensuring that the work of all Agency bodies can be effective and efficient.

The Chairman of the Management Board also acts as Chairman of the Representative Board.

The Management Board works closely with the Director of the Agency, Cor Meijer (director@european-agency.org) who is responsible for the overall management and day-to-day operation of the Agency in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Representative Board and Management Board.

At an operational level, National Co-ordinators are responsible for contributing to the development and implementation of work programmes for projects and activities. They perform a complementary role alongside Representative Board Members. They are appointed by member countries to act as National expert practitioners in the Agency's work. They are responsible for representing their country's interests by ensuring their country's perspective and situation with respect to special needs education is accurately accounted for in the Agency's work.

The day-to-day management and implementation of our work is carried out by the Staff members under the direction of the Agency Director and in close co-operation with the National Co-ordinators.

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