CREATION OF EFAPCO: European Federation of Associations of Professional Congress Organisers

On the 15th January 2004 a meeting between five Associations of Professional Congress Organisers of Europe took place after an initiative taken by the Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organisers (HAPCO).
The European Associations that attended the meeting were the following:

• ABPCO (Association of British Professional Conference Organisers), represented by its Chairman, Mr. Peter Mainprice and its Executive Director, Mr. Tony Rogers.
• APOPC (Association of Portuguese Professional Congress Organisers) represented by its President, Mrs. Luisa Ahrens Teixeira.
• BAPCO (Belgian Association of Professional Congress Organisers) represented by its President, Mr. Nicolas Le Brun
• OPC Espana (Association of Spanish Professional Congress Organisers) represented by its President elect, Mr. Julio Abreu
• HAPCO was represented by its President, Mr. Dimitris Mantzios, its Vice President, Mr. Zacharias Kaplanides and its General Manager, Mrs. Filio Lazana.

The purpose of this initiative was to discuss the possibility of creating a non-profit Federation of Associations of PCOs operating within the European Union under the name of European Federation of Associations of Professional Congress Organisers - EFAPCO.

The main aims of EFAPCO are:
- to further and increase the recognition of professional congress organisers within the European Union
- to encourage the establishment of Associations of PCOs in other countries of the European Union
- to monitor, propose and advise on European Union laws affecting the meetings industry
- to promote and preserve the interests of European professional congress organisers and their suppliers
- to undertake research concerning problems faced by professional congress organisers and to promote relevant solutions
- to raise and maintain high professional standards across the meetings industry by providing education and training opportunities
- to serve as a networking opportunity for members to exchange ideas and experiences.
- to further and encourage the professional relationships of its members
- to increase business for professional conference organisers both within and into Europe.

Apart from the national Associations of PCOs, the Federation will accept as associate members PCO companies operating within the EU, as well as other businesses directly or indirectly related to the conference industry as affiliate members.

The first Executive Committee unanimously decided to give the first Presidency to Greece, as originator of this project. The EC will be composed as follows:
President: Mr. Zacharias Kaplanides - HAPCO
1st Vice President: Mr.Julio Abreu - OPC Espana
2nd Vice President: Mr. Peter Mainprice - ABPCO
Secretary General: Mrs Luisa Ahrens Teixeira - APOPC
Treasurer: Mr. Nicolas Le Brun - BAPCO

The members of the Executive committee will be appointed to their position for a two-year period. EFAPCO will be based in Brussels. The statutes of EFAPCO will be signed by mid-February 2004 and the official launch will take place during the CONFEX exhibition in London.

The Greek Vice-Minister of Development, Mr. Dimitrios Georgakopoulos, saluted this initiative by a letter he sent to the participants, where he mentions that "the Greek government supports every serious attempt towards the development of conference/congress tourism in Greece and abroad. In our country the MICE sector represents an important tool for tourism development. I wish you success to your initiatives".