The European Union's connections with and understanding of the international meetings industry have been given a boost by a meeting between EFAPCO President Nicolas Le Brun and Günter Verheugen, EU Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry and Vice-President of the European Commission.
Their hour-long discussion was shared with Kerstin Hoffman, Editor-in-Chief of CIM, Conference & Incentive Management magazine.
And the EFAPCO President came away from the session with renewed optimism about ways in which the meetings industry might be able to receive assistance in ensuring Europe retains its place as the world's Number One meetings and events destination in the face of growing global competition, most notably from Asia.
"I felt Mr. Verheugen was eager to demonstrate that the EC was there to help and, importantly, to listen to us. He underlined the fact that several key decisions had been put into practice that already have a positive and daily influence within our business," said Le Brun.
"Our exchange convinced me that our comparatively young Federation is growing in stature and taking the right course to secure greater recognition for the professionalism and economic influence of European PCOs and the meetings industry in general."
Who is actually responsible for safeguarding the interests and development of the meetings industry?
"For historic reasons the DG Enterprise and Industry became responsible for our sector. But we pointed out that the image of leisure tourism was a somewhat negative factor, especially in harsh economic times," said Le Brun.
"Congresses should be seen as essential drivers in stimulating economic recovery and as unique platforms for the exchange and development of every sector of our economies."
"We are a service industry and thus probably belong as much to DG Enterprise and Industry as to DG Internal Market and Services, with whom EFAPCO has also developed relations. However, we would like to see the Commission create or identify a unit that will tackle the meetings industry's specific challenges and issues. EFAPCO will certainly follow this line of discussion with great enthusiasm."
"EFAPCO was established with the aim of not only speaking in one united voice on behalf of PCOs but for the European meetings industry as a whole. Through the horizontality of PCO activity we have a genuine understanding of the global sector."
"I fully understand that the EC is wary of regulating. However, its influence on national legislation has become enormous. Local and national governments often hide behind this. EFAPCO feels it is essential to act at the source and to try to underline all of the possible effects of policy making. I just hope that the contacts we have further developed, and the relations we are building longer term, will benefit the European meetings industry as a whole."
Le Brun added: "We have invited the European Commission to join us at our 4th Congress which takes place, very appropriately, in Brussels - at the new SQUARE, Brussels Palais des Congrès - in January 2010."
Image: EFAPCO President Nicolas Le Brun with the European Commission's Vice-President Gunter Verheugen.
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