The European Buddhist Union (EBU) is an international umbrella association of Buddhist organizations and national Buddhist unions in Europe, founded in 1975. In the last 50 years the number of Buddhists in Europe has grown considerably, such that we now number several million, including Europeans of traditionally Asian Buddhist heritage and an ever-increasing number of other Europeans who have adopted the teachings of the Buddha, inspired by his message of wisdom, altruism, open-mindedness, loving kindness and limitless compassion towards all living beings.

The European Buddhist Union is active in several European institutions. It represents European Buddhism in the Council of Europe, the European Union and other European Institutions. The EBU-EU-team keeps EBU members informed on important European issues.

On the initiative of the EBU and other faith-based INGOs, the Committee for Interreligious and Interconvictional Dialogue (CIRICD) was adopted by the Conference of INGOs in 2021, to create a permanent platform for dialogue between representatives of religions and non-confessional NGOs in the Council of Europe.

Participatory status granted: 2008

Geographical representation:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Accreditations: Council of Europe, European Commission, European Parliament

The focus of our engagement:

• Interreligious & interconvictional dialogue
• Education, youth
• Human rights and religion
• Equality between women and men
• Civil participation in democratic decision-making-process
• Environment