Dear AIACE members,
Many AIACE members bitterly regretted the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Congresses for reasons that are unfortunately well known. But after this forced postponement, we were finally able to meet again in 2022. The Congress were held from 14 to 21 May in Loutraki, Greece, as planned in 2020, according to a programme similar to what had been established at the time.
It gave us the opportunity to meet in a confraternal atmosphere and to discover the region during the programmed excursions (Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplion, Hydra; the Corinth Canal was unfortunately still closed for works), as well as during the gala dinner and the various convivial meals.
The centre piece of the Congress is of course the General Assembly. This year, at the opening session, we were pleased to welcome Vice President M. Schinas, former EU Ombudsman N. Diamandouros and Professor Ch. Rozakis, former First Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe. In addition, we heard words of welcome from former EU Commissioner S. Dimas and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the European Union. Dimas and the Deputy Minister for Research and Technology of the Greek Government C. Dimas, as well as the Mayor of Corinth, V. Nanopoulos, who contributed to the organisation of the congress, both financially and logistically.
Some twenty secondary school students from Corinth attended the opening session – a first – and had the opportunity to ask questions, thus offering a refreshing view of concerns far removed from the Health Insurance or Pensions.
The General Assembly agenda included discussions on the interface between the JSIS and national health systems, the Salary and Pension Adjustment Method and communication with members. A very interesting session was also devoted to a meeting with representatives of the EU administrations, where social affairs played a major role, which is also a first. Four workshops were held on topics of particular interest to the pensioners (Pensions, JSIS, Social Affairs and Communication and Insurance) and the Management Board met afterwards.
