Fourth meeting

Fourth meeting April 2006: On March 21, representatives from six major European exhibition centres met in Brussels for an intensive one-day programme of work on EU affairs. Among the topics discussed was the battle by all exhibition organisers against copying and product piracy. Messe Frankfurt reported on their initiative “Messe Frankfurt against copying”. All EMECA members present agreed to send documentation of their activities to Barbara Weizsäcker and thereafter to decide on an EMECA campaign in Brussels on this issue. Enrica Baccini from Fiera Milano presented the concept and timetable of the study on “Barrier Free Exhibition Sites”. The University of Brescia and Milan Polytechnic will be carrying out the study together with partners of other EU universities. EMECA will then present the results in Brussels in 2007, within the framework of the EU “Year of Equal Opportunities for All”. The first guest speaker, Jupp Hamacher from the European Commission’s Conference Unit, explained how the EU organises conferences in Europe. He stressed that mostly political or other organisational reasons were behind the choice of location for the EU’s big or medium-sized conferences. Official tenders are organised for only very few conferences. However, Hamacher invited all EMECA venues to send in their URL for a central register of conference facilities around Europe that he intends to establish, and he also offered a counselling service for the construction of new conference facilities. Representatives of Brussels-based CEA-PME (Confédération Européenne des Associations des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises), Walter Grupp and Marc Ziese, reported on the latest changes the Services Directive had undergone after the European Parliament vote. The general system of VAT in different trade situations within the EU was also discussed. General strategy and policy issues within the industry and vis-à-vis European institutions were also debated specifically in the context of a representative event planned for the autumn in Brussels. Other topics included cooperation with the local Euro Info Centres and participation in the EU programme AL-Invest. The status of fair organisers has changed, making it easier to become a partner in the AL-Invest network. The meeting was held in a very constructive and open atmosphere, and all the participants agreed that its agenda and quality were very valuable. The EMECA Working Group invites participation from all interested parties. The next meeting is scheduled for September 2006. Contact: barbara.weizsaecker@messefrankfurt.com