The 32^nd annual meeting of the ECML Governing Board which took place in Graz and online on 18-19 October, brought together representatives from 32 countries. This was a very special meeting, marking the welcome return of Spain as the 36^th ECML member state and the participation of Ukraine as Observer, and acting as a bridge between the current ECML Programme, Inspiring innovation in language education; changing contexts, evolving competences and the new programme 2024-2027, Language education at the heart of democracy

Not only did participants enjoy a foretaste of project resources currently being finalised for showcasing at the ECML’s closing conference, to be held in Graz on 13-14 December, but they also engaged in rich discussions on the themes and range of activities which will be offered in the new programme, including new development activities (projects and think tanks), selected as a result of rigorous evaluation process, following a Call for new project proposals. Together with a wide range of in-country capacity-building activities (ECML Training and consultancy) and webinars and colloquia for a wider public, the new programme will make a significant contribution towards the implementation of the Council of Europe’s Recommendation (2022)1 on the importance of plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture. This Recommendation is central to the new Education Strategy 2024-2030, adopted at the 26^th Session of the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education held in Strasbourg in September.

For the period 2024-25 the ECML Governing Board elected Matthias von Gehlen (Germany) as Vice-Chair, re-elected Panagiotis Passas (Greece) and elected Nataša Perić (Montenegro) and Wendoline Timmerman (Netherlands) to the Bureau.