Farewell Letter from the Past President
13 May 2013
Dear members of the EFAP,
During the past 15 years the European Forum for Architectural Policies has played an important role in enhancing political, professional and public attention for architectural policies in Europe. More recently, the European Council Conclusions on architecture and culture’s contribution to sustainable development, adopted by the Council of the European Union under the French Presidency in 2008, gave a clear mission to the EFAP. Therefore we changed the statutes in 2010, turning the European Forum for Architectural Policies into an international association, with the objective “to foster and promote architectural policies in Europe, bridging public governance, the profession and culture.”
The past years have been very productive and successful. The EFAP gained wide acknowledgement and goodwill as an expert network, by the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Member States and many European institutions. This month the Irish Presidency will present a report on Taking Stock of the implementation of the Council Conclusions.
There was also a shadow side to the success. Not all members could keep up with the recent development of the EFAP. Internal differences, and the drop of financial revenues as its result, created an unworkable situation and loss of perspective. Therefore I have asked the General Assembly on 10 May in Dublin to be dismissed as President of the EFAP.
I want to thank all those who have contributed to the success of the EFAP, especially the staff. In particular I am grateful to the European Commission for making it possible to emphasize the cultural potential of architecture as an essential contribution to the wellbeing of European citizens.
As I already announced at the board elections during the General Assembly in Budapest, this was my last term as President. I regret that I have to leave the EFAP in a state of destruction. Still there is a need for powerful promotion of a favourable climate for good architecture and spatial design in Europe. A new initiative to that end will be announced soon.
It was a pleasure working with many of you. I sincerely hope our paths will cross in the future.
Rob Docter
