The 76th General Meeting of the European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE) convened in Nicosia in Cyprus from May 24-27, 2023, hosted by the Cyprus Association of Civil Engineers (CYACE).
The event brought together representatives from professional organisations of civil engineers across numerous European countries and the international community.
Speakers and delegates at the conference in Nicosia.
Dignitaries such as the presidents of the World Council of Civil Engineers (WCCE) and the European Council of Engineers Chambers (ECEC), as well as the secretary general of the Engineering Association of Mediterranean Countries (EAMC) also attended the assembly.
Importance of ensuring safety, health, and sustainability in construction projects
Transport minister Alexis Vafeadis, emphasised the importance of ensuring safety, health, and sustainability in construction projects in his opening speech.
Cyprus transport minister Alexis Vafeadis.
The president of the Scientific and Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK), Constantinos Constanti, and the secretary general of CYACE, Kyriakos Tsioupanis, also delivered welcome messages.
Evangelitsa Tsoulofta, the president of CYACE, presented the organisation's work and showcased its activities through a commemorative video on its 30th anniversary.
In his opening speech at the 76th ECCE General Assembly, the president of the European Council of Civil Engineers, Andreas Brandner, extended a warm welcome and expressed gratitude to the CYACE for hosting the session.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, armed conflicts, and EU developments, the president highlighted the opportunities they bring to the engineering profession.
He emphasised the need for engineers to present themselves as solution-oriented, highly qualified partners, requiring reflection on training, qualifications, and uniform solutions that enable greater mobility. Brandner also highlighted important initiatives on building safety and expanding membership, while emphasising the importance of politics in addition to technical aspects.
The review and analysis of national regulations aim to facilitate engineer mobility, acknowledging language skills as a potential obstacle. He concluded by expressing hopes for intensive cooperation during the assembly and an enjoyable time in Nicosia, including the subsequent international conference on health and safety.
Key highlights of the general assembly included the presentation of ECCE's Strategic Plan for 2023-2030, outlining the organisation's goals and vision for the future.
Engineers Ireland joins ECCE
Engineers Ireland's Civil Engineering Department (Murt Coleman represented the organisation) officially joined ECCE as a member, and a memorandum of understanding was signed between ECCE and the International Safety and Health Coordinators in Construction (ISHCCO), emphasising its commitment to promoting a culture of prevention for professional safety and health in Europe and globally.
Engineers Ireland's Murt Coleman addressing the conference.
The general assembly also announced the updated joint declaration (Manifesto) titled '3S Approach – Safe – Sound – Sustainable: The Need for Integrating Structural/Seismic Upgrade of Existing Buildings, together with Energy Efficiency Improvements' by ECCE and WCCE.
This initiative, which originated in Europe in 2020, now represents the shared vision of civil engineers worldwide, aiming to promote holistic upgrade approaches that align with global policies and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a safe and sustainable world.
Additionally, Platonas Stylianou, the vice president/president elect of ECCE, presented the progress on ECCE's upcoming book on the 'Civil Engineering Profession in Europe' and the developments related to the 3S Approach initiative.
Disaster resilience
The general assembly featured presentations on recent earthquakes in Turkey and research findings by ECCE members concerning building inspections, disaster resilience, and professional safety and health.
Through discussions, exchange of opinions, and practical solutions, the general assembly strengthened the bonds between ECCE members and CYACE, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The ECCE general assembly concluded with the 8th International Construction Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) Conference, titled 'Respect Human Rights – Everyone Has a Role to Play', with the motto 'Focus on People – Join Vision Zero'.
The conference, held on May 26 and 27, 2023, at the Hilton Nicosia hotel, attracted more than 250 delegates and featured 17 distinguished speakers from seven European countries.
As part of the hospitality programme organised by the Cyprus Association of Civil Engineers, attendees enjoyed traditional Cypriot gifts, experienced traditional dances, and partook in dinners, and cultural visits along with various other activities.