Strategic Planning in Malta: Klára Joklová Contributed to the Future Direction and Rules of the CEE Hub
On March 27 and 28, 2026, a key meeting of the CEE Hub Steering Committee took place in Malta. Representing the Czech chapter, Klára Joklová, Executive Director of Wikimedia Czech Republic, actively participated in the meeting in Floriana, Malta. As a founding member of this committee, she raised key issues of transparency and data protection at the meeting and contributed to the development of new election rules.
Czech Influence on the Professionalization of the Region
As one of the longest-serving members of the Steering Committee, Klára Joklová brings stability and an emphasis on procedural integrity to the discussions. It was precisely these areas that were key at the March meeting for the further development of the regional group, which brings together chapters from Central and Eastern Europe.
“Given that I have been on the steering committee since the very beginning, I consider it important that the CEE Hub be built not only on joint projects, but above all on solid and transparent foundations. In Malta, I therefore raised the issue of conflict of interest (COI) policy and presented a concrete proposal for compliance with the GDPR. Similarly, my priority was to establish fair and clear election rules that will ensure a democratic transition of the hub’s leadership in the coming term,” explains Klára Joklová.
Planning for the Fourth Year and New Challenges
The main agenda item was a review of the CEE Hub’s mission with a view to the year 2026 and beyond, along with how to communicate it and prepare an activity plan for the coming year (Y5). Thanks to Czech contributions in the areas of legislation and ethics, the hub has moved toward a more professional operational framework that aligns with European standards.
Key outcomes of the meetings in which the Czech delegation participated:
- Election rules: Preparation of a clear framework for elections to the new steering committee, which defines processes and ensures continuity.
- Transparency and ethics (COI): Establishing mechanisms to prevent conflicts of interest among leadership and the executive branch when making decisions regarding resources.
- Data protection (GDPR): Implementation of the Czech proposal for the secure handling of personal data within the framework of international cooperation.
- Post-2026 Strategy: Defining which communities the hub will support in the future and in what form.
International Cooperation in the Heart of the Mediterranean
The meeting was attended by 10 members of the steering committee, along with a team of staff members and Jessica Stephenson, a representative of the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF). This in-person meeting, the first in some time, provided an opportunity to discuss the international agenda, including the distribution of Rapid Grants in the region and the strengthening of communication channels between regional chapters.
Photo: MHeidarzadeh-CEEhub, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons