The General Assembly of Eumabois – held on Friday, October 23, 2009, in Munich, Germany, hosted by the German association VDMA – welcomed the Ukrainian association Uwma and its President Vasyl Masyuk. The representatives of the Ukrainian woodworking technology industry will sit at the European federation table for two years as observers. At the end of this period, Uwma will become an official member of Eumabois.
The assembly - with delegates of 11 out of 13 member associations (Portugal and Austria were absent) - worked in a climate of great harmony.

The key topic was concern for the recession phase that global economy is going through and the inevitable impact on the industry. Franz-Josef Buetfering, Eumabois President, said he hopes for an even more open and direct confrontation among companies in the near future, in order to identify common guidelines and actions, especially in the domain of exhibitions. Great attention shall also be paid - added Buetfering - to extra-European associations, keeping in constant touch with them. So, Eumabois confirmed its commitment to the definition of a more and more efficient calendar of international exhibitions “recognized” by the European federation, acting as a unique reference for all industry actors worldwide. “Among the measures to be adopted to get out of the current economic situation – added the Eumabois President – there must be a partial reorganisation of the exhibition landscape; the European federation is evaluating the current scenario with accurate analysis and surveys by qualified professionals”.

The calendar of supported exhibitions – see annex – is full of events in 2010, especially in spring and autumn. According to the 40-year-old scheme in even-numbered years, the whole system will revolve around the international biennial exhibition Xylexpo, to be held in Milan from 4 to 8 May 2010. New events added to the calendar are Interwood in Athens and W10 in Birmingham.

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