EBCOG Newsletter September 2006

Abstract

These are important times for EBCOG. We have had an outstandingly successful start to 2006 and are now in the process of planning actively for an exciting future. That we are in a strong position to do so is in large part due to the great success of the European Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology held in Torino in April. I must pay tribute to the enormous efforts made on behalf of EBCOG by the Presidents of the Congress, Professor Chiara Benedetto and Professor Andre Van Assche, as well as the Chair of the Scientific Committee, Professor Ziva Novak Antolic, and the Chair of the Italian Committee, Professor Marco Massobrio. The meeting was a huge success on every level, scientifically, socially and financially. It was attended by almost 1,500 European obstetricians and gynaecologists, more than ever before, and covered a vast range of topics. Particularly successful were the sessions involving colleagues in our affiliated European subspecialty societies, the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology, the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, the European Association of Perinatal Medicine and the European Urogynaecology Association. Links with these societies are of great value in keeping EBCOG up to date with developments in the subspecialties that they represent. Amongst the most popular sessions were the hands-on training sessions, several of which were organised by other European societies, such as the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy, European Federation for Colposcopy and International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Other organisations involved in the special symposia included International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, European Menopause and Andropause Society and European Society of Contraception. Ours is rapidly becoming the most important European meeting for general obstetricians and gynaecologists, and we intend to build on the outstanding success, which has been achieved. The next European Congress will take place in Lisboa, the capital of Portugal, slated on 5–8 March 2008. Plans are already well under way to arrange a joint meeting with the Portuguese Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Further information about the Congress can be found currently at http://www.mundiconvenius.pt/2008/ ebcog2008/ and will soon be available also on the EBCOG web site. Please put these dates in your diary now. It is already time to start planning the 2010 Congress. National Societies are invited to submit bids now, so that they can be considered at the EBCOG Council meeting on 2–3 December 2006. I know that there will be great competition to hold this prestigious event and I look forward with enthusiasm to receiving the applications. The EBCOG Council met immediately after the Congress in Torino. This was the last meeting as SecretaryGeneral for Professor Juriy Wladimiroff and as President of the Union Europeenne des Medecins Specialistes (UEMS) Section of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for Professor Antolic Van Assche. Professor Eeva Marja Rutanen had also come to the end of her term on the Executive group. We thanked them all for their outstanding contributions to the development of European obstetrics and gynaecology in Europe. Professor Wolfgang Holzgreve from Basel was elected Secretary-General and Professor Jacques Lansac from Tours was elected to the Executive group. Professor Lansac is currently President of the College National des Gynecologues et Obstetriciens Francais and has already Eur Clinics Obstet Gynaecol (2007) 2:223–224 DOI 10.1007/s11296-006-0049-2