Bureau – 2 May 2009 - Page

F.S.E. – BP.3067 – L-1030 Luxembourg - Email : contact@eurospeleo.org - http://www.eurospeleo.org

FEDERATION SPELEOLOGIQUE EUROPEENNE

FSE BUREAU MEETINGSaturday 2

of May 2009during 4

EuroSpeleo Forumin Urzulei, Italy

Reported by Ged Campion

Present participants

Bureau members : Juan Carlos Lopez (President, Spain), Ged Camion (Vice-President, Great Britain), Olivier Vidal (Secretary General, France), Manuel Freire(Treasurer, Portugal).Others : Andy Eavis (UIS President, Great Britain), Sofia Reboleira (ECPC Secretary,Portugal), Gianpietro Marchesi (President SSI, Italy), Riccardo Dall’acqua (FSEDelegate, Italy), Antonio Gutierrez–Gameroes (interpreter, Spain).Excused : Alexey Zhalov (Vice-secretary, Bulgaria)Meeting starts at 9.30amBefore starting the meeting, the FSE President warmly thanks the SSI President forwelcoming the FSE Bureau and for the good organisation of the 4

EuroSpeleoForum.

1. Outstanding Reports

There were two Bureau meetings in Vercors. Jean-Claude Thies has completed thefirst report and Olivier Vidal (OV) will complete the second. It was acknowledged thatonly brief notes were taken on the second meeting. OV to complete the final draft ofthe General Assembly Meeting (GAM), also from Vercors.Ged Campion (GC) raise the issue of the last Bureau report completed in Paris thatwas still to be placed on the website. Manuel Freire (MF) will put it on the website.

2. UIS-FSE Political Balance

Discussion took place regarding the place of the UIS and FSE. Vercors 2008 hadbeen a very positive experience and had highlighted the spirit of co-operationbetween these two bodies. There were a number of projects that both organisationscould work on together. The possibility of a FSE rep in the UIS Bureau was alsoraised and this could be discussed at the UIS Congress in Texas. Andy Eavis (AE)said it was important that commissions in both organisations are active.

Bureau – 2 May 2009 - Page

F.S.E. – BP.3067 – L-1030 Luxembourg - Email : contact@eurospeleo.org - http://www.eurospeleo.org

The FSE Protection Commission has been particularly effective in 2008 and this washighlighted as very progressive work.There is a project of expeditions database that is currently being supported by bothFSE and UIS. The meeting agreed that it was important to build in common thedatabase and Manuel Freire is nominated as project leader to work on this on behalfof the FSE with the agreement of the UIS President. It is acknowledged thatsometimes it is difficult to get expedition reports from expeditions. Some are quiteprecious about their work and don’t always share it. However, FSE and UIS shouldencourage sharing the data.The building of the Expeditions database online interface is discussed and could beput on the agenda of the different interested national organisations. An agreementbetween UIS and FSE needs to be signed in Texas on the way of cooperation andwhether further money should be invested in the database. Links with PeterMatthews and BBS will be vital. It is also agreed that this should be placed on theagenda of the GAM at Hidden Earth in September. It is felt that it would be importantto start with a list of all the existing expedition databases and proceed from there.The vote is unanimous.

3. UIS Congress at Texas

The FSE should be well represented including Juan Carlos Lopez (JCL), ManuelFreire (MF) and Ged Campion (GC). It is agreed that an FSE stand should beavailable and a banner and a poster could be made up to the cost of 200 euros. Inview of the secretary being unable to attend, there will not be Bureau Meeting.

4. EU Commission Meetings

* Sports Unit in EU CommissionGC and JCL report back that no further information has been provided and JCLagreeds to send a letter to Brussels asking what the outcome of the decisions hasbeen about this commission.* Protection directorate in EU CommissionIt is generally agreed how much energy has been put into by the ECPC although theoutcome had not been achieved. A meeting of the Protection Commission will beheld at the Balkan Camp on 24th June in Antalya, Turkey. It is not clear at this stagehow many people would attend from the FSE.

5. Newsletter

JCL has not been able to progress this any further because of other work demands.

Bureau – 2 May 2009 - Page

F.S.E. – BP.3067 – L-1030 Luxembourg - Email : contact@eurospeleo.org - http://www.eurospeleo.org

6. Greek Situation

No change has been informed since last GAM in Vercors. It is felt that it was aninternal problem that needs to be resolved by the cavers in their own country. AndyEavis explains that such tricky situations occurs in several countries around theworld. These are very difficult to be dealt by the UIS too.

7. Membership Status

MF is able to report that the following were paid up members :France, Italy, Sweden, Morocco, Switzerland, Greece.Austria has asked to be Observers in the process and has donated 20 euros as theydid in 2008.There are currently 21 countries as members and the new coming ones are Norwayand Armenia. Turkey has asked to wait for the reform of their national union.AE ask what are the boundaries of Europe. It is answered that according to article 1of the FSE statutes, every country member of the Council of Europe is authorised tobecome a member of the FSE.Action : MF agreeds to send all data regarding Bureau Members and financial statusby the end of May.

8. FEALC / FSE Relationships

Discussions take place about the bilateral agreement that Italy has signed with Brazilconcerning expeditions and additional financing of their expeditions.It is decided by the FSE Bureau that speleological projects including at least 5countries members from FEALC and FSE can apply to the ESP funding. This is anillustration of how Euro-Speleo projects can extend it reach and benefit speleoprojects in countries outside of Europe.

9. EuroSpeleo Projects

The meeting covers a number of the projects that have been financed in 2008.

•

Remapping of Tabara Humplau in Romania (CH)

•

Special edition of International Journal of Speleology (IT)

•

Expedition to IranThe expedition visiting Iran has received no money up to now because no report wassubmitted. A delay up to end of June is given to them.Four new requests for projects has been received for 2009 :

•

Laos expedition (DE)

•

Alps Speleo Camp (FR)

•

Cave Rescue Meeting (HU)

•

Expedition to Georgia (LT)