Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is my privilege and honour to welcome, all of you to the Twelfth European Conference on Earthquake Engineering.  It was exactly thirty years since European Association had its Fourth Meeting (at that time called Symposium) in London.  The 1972 London Symposium started a new era in the history of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering and we are certain that history is repeating itself.  The European Association for Earthquake Engineering has implemented major changes in its structure to improve its effectiveness and impact on European earthquake engineering.

Since Paris Conference in 1998, we have experienced devastating earthquakes in Europe and abroad.  We have witnessed the adverse effects of earthquakes on our structures as well as on our fellow human beings.  We worked very hard to understand the reasons and to find ways to mitigate the earthquake risks. Even though it has only been four years since the Paris Conference, there have been significant advances in the field of earthquake engineering.  Now its time for all of us to discuss these new findings and the results of our most recent investigations and research for improving the safety of our structures as well as to minimize the earthquake damage. 

Many prominent engineers and scientists from Europe and from all over the World is with us to share their knowledge and experiences.  We are looking forward to excellent lectures and lively discussions.  The London Conference will surely make a big impact on our understanding of earthquake related phenomena and on our approach to mitigate the earthquake risks.  We believe that with the recent advances in earthquake engineering, we have the capabilities to minimise the adverse effects of earthquakes.

Of course there is still a long way to achieve fully earthquake proof human environments.  But with your support and dedication, we are certain that in the not too distant future, we will be able to reach our goal.  The London Conference may be the beginning for this new era in the field of earthquake engineering and in the history of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering.  

Even though many of you may be aware of the organisation and the activities of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering, I would like to summarise very briefly about the existing situation.

The Executive Committee of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering that was elected in Paris 1998 is composed of 9 members including the President, 2 Vice Presidents, Secretary General and Secretary.  At the present we have 27 national associations and national committees as members of the European Association.  The European Association for Earthquake Engineering has organised 12 symposiums and conferences and 20 regional seminars since it was established in 1964.  During the period of 1998-2002 scientific activities were carried out by 9 Task Groups under different topics.  All the related activities and news were inserted in the European Association for Earthquake Engineering web pages that were established in 1995.

As the President Philippe Bisch summarized, during this term significant changes were implemented in our Statutes.  One of the most important developments is the publication of the EAEE Official Journal that that will come out in April 2003.  We are looking forward to your support and contributions to our new journal in the future.  We are also looking forward to have most of you as individual members of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering in the near future.  EAEE individual members will have automatic electronic subscription to Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering and will have other privileges as members.

Lastly as the Secretary General I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Organising Committee for making every thinkable effort to create a perfect and stimulating atmosphere for the Twelfth European Conference on Earthquake Engineering.  I am sure it will be a very fruitful and joyful conference for all of us and we will always remember London 2002 as a very special event.

I wish all of you successful meetings, rewarding discussions and joyful stay in London.  

 Atilla Ansal

Secretary General