ECHAMP’s tenth annual membership assembly was held on 29 April in Bled, Slovenia. Full member companies from eighteen different European countries were represented, as were ECHAMP’s corresponding members - European patient, doctor and practitioner associations – and associate members, the national trade associations.

ECHAMP’s membership assembly is traditionally held in the Member State holding the EU Presidency. This year, Bled provided a beautiful and peaceful setting for the event. The hotel was situated on the edge of Lake Bled, a glacial lake in the foothills of the Eastern Alps. In the evening, guests were invited on a short bus ride to the famous Bled castle, perched on a rock overlooking the lake, where they were given a guided tour of the castle, including the authentic printing press and wine cellar. They were able to experience some traditional Slovenian entertainment in the form of dancing and sword fighting and finished the evening with a typical Slovene meal in the castle itself.

The Membership Assembly itself was efficiently and expertly chaired by Patrick Sirdey. Max Daege, President of ECHAMP, gave members an update on ECHAMP’s activities for 2007 and plans for 2008, and each of ECHAMP’s working parties also gave a report. In the afternoon, in a closed session, the annual budget was approved, and ECHAMP was pleased to welcome four new full members – Biosan AB and Plantamed AB from Sweden, Zymella Pharma from Poland and Vavian Pharma from Romania, bringing the number of countries represented in ECHAMP to a total of 17. The Leverantörsföreningen För Homoepati och annan Komplementärmedizin (LFfH) from Sweden was also accepted as a new associated member. ECHAMP now has 56 full members, 11 associated members and 12 corresponding members.

This annual event is always a good opportunity for all the stakeholders in this sector to work together to focus on what is needed to further develop the sector, to discuss joint initiatives and to enjoy each other’s company. The event in Bled was no exception.