Last Friday (26 Nov. 2010), almost 140 consultants from 17 European countries followed the interesting lectures from the highly qualified speakers regarding “Responsibilities and Results” and later in the interactive Europe Cafe, went on to discuss how European consultancies can successfully survive in increasingly tougher global competition.

		In her opening words, LAbg. GR Katharina Schinner as representative of the host, the city of Vienna, expressed her delight in providing the Wappensaal of the Wiener Rathaus for the purpose of intensive cooperation of European consultancies in the Europa forum of the AIC which, after 5 years, has already become a tradition. She went on to say how proud she was that Vienna could officiate as the host city of this European congress. AIC President Walter Mayr thanked the City of Vienna for this, now their now third vote of confidence and he warmly welcomed almost 140 representatives of domestic and foreign consultancies from a total of 17 European countries.
		Presenter Nadja Hahn (ORF), as she has done many times before, perfectly accompanied the ECCF, and gave Walter Mayr not only the chance to welcome the representatives of the Austrian International Consultant (AIC) sponsoring organisations (BAIK, FV UBIT und FV IB der WKO), but also to take stock of the small anniversary: 5 years ECCF.
		In doing so Walter Mayr pointed out that not only has the number of forum participants doubled since the first forum in 2006 but also that the numbers in AIC itself have grown from around 70 to just short of 300 today. Similarly the activities have multiplied of the AIC-enabled national and international cooperations, the AIC-supported enabled consortia and through AIC-activity acquired export tasks. Success that, according to Mayr, is the confirmation and mandate for the continuance of activities.
		Olympic champion Toni Innauer demonstrated the similarities between elite sports and business. He highlighted the reasons for success and failure of both individuals and teams, broached the issue of our attitude towards failure and the indispensable willingness to take responsibility for the consequences of our actions, that we must muster as individuals just as in teams.

The critical and constructive explanatory notes in the presentations of Ana Coelho, Panos Panagopoulos, Robert Krimmer und Eberhard Rhein that were directed to the challenges consultants face in different branches and their European-wide cooperation, were well received.

	Ana Coelho, Director of EU Affairs, ACC1Ó – Catalan Agency for Competitiveness Download Presentation
	Panos Panagopoulos, President, European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations (EFCA) Download Presentation
	Hannes Posch, one of the initiators of ARGE Planning and consulting export and long standing president and legal advisor of the Austrian International Consultants, used the 5th ECCF, that he helped to plan, to announce his retirement from operative activities of AIC, and he took leave with his familiar encouragement of young people.
	Robert Krimmer, Senior Advisor on New Voting Technology, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) & Office for Democratic Instruments and Human Rights (ODIHR) Download Presentation
	Eberhard Rhein, Advisor at the European Policy Centre Download Executive Summary

Interactive and communication-supporting setting
The “Europe Cafe” was again the interactive and communication-supporting setting that initiated discussion, and networking. The outcome of the discussions ultimately showed a very positive and future oriented direction with a completely realistic view of the upcoming challenges from all sides of Europe’s consultancies.

A total of 16 ‘Table hosts’ led the discussions around the tables of the Europe Cafe and considered together with the participants, concrete measures for improvement of the competitiveness of European consultancy.

Following the presentation of the results of the discussion, participants had the opportunity for traditional networking with a buffet served in the Rathauskeller.

Several of the lectures are available to download (please refer to the links adjacent to the photographs of the speakers)

Use this link to access the photo gallery of the 5th ECCF