Julio Abreu addresses the tricky subject of “Challenges for PCOs in the 21^st Century” to delegates attending the 25^th Annual Congress of COCAL in Montevideo, Uruguay.

EFAPCO, The European Federation of Associations of Professional Congress Organisers, has extended its global communications network thanks to a presentation by its Honorary President, Julio Abreu, to delegates attending the 25^th Annual Congress of COCAL in Montevideo, Uruguay.

His address tackled the tricky subject of “Challenges for PCOs in the 21^st Century”.

And EFAPCO’s former president, now Honorary President, also took part in a satellite video linkup round-table discussion involving ICCA President Leigh Harry plus other influential Montevideo delegates including Tom Hulton (IMEX), Anne Wallin Rodven (Oslo Convention Bureau) and Flavia Malkine (EMBRATUR-Brazil).

On his way back to Madrid, Abreu was also able to attend his first meeting of the World Ethics Committee of UNWTO to present EFAPCO’s perspective and ideas to a global audience.

His appointment to the Ethics Committee followed EFAPCO’s appointment, last year, as the first PCO-based body to be invited to join the WTO’s Affiliate Members Council.

Incoming EFAPCO President Nicolas LeBrun, from Brussels said: “We heartily endorse Julio’s dedication to making sure that EFAPCO has a global voice as well as driving European standards of congress organisation. His worldwide vision is a real asset in our drive for full political and economic recognition of PCOs operating in all EU Member States.

“And like the rest of our members, he is determined to help Europe continue to develop as the world’s leading meetings destination. We have an extensive network of full, associate and supporting members, but every new member helps to strengthen EFAPCO’s voice in the corridors of EU power and with decisionmakers in every EU state. The EU has been slow to recognise conference organising as a profession and a powerful generator of employment and economic benefits. That has got to change."

“A significant breakthrough in relations with the EU has developed over the last 18 months and the Federation has begun talks with the European Commission about introducing universally-recognised professional standards across the complete spectrum of congress organisation.”

Le Brun added: “The Federation is also developing an institutional framework, formalising the recognition and accreditation of the profession and its professionals. There have also been significant successes in the development of fuller co-operation between EFAPCO members of all kinds.