Last month we hosted the first European IPPNW Doctors in TrainingWeekend Retreat here in Düsseldorf, Germany. Ten young IPPNW doctorsfrom Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Germany and Switzerland cametogether for one weekend in order to get to know other young, motivatedand politically and socially active IPPNW-doctors, to meet old and newfriends, to talk about te issues that matter to them and to have a funand relaxed break from the everyday stress of hospital work.

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IPPNW has affiliates in the following European countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey. There are also active IPPNW student groups at many universities all around Europe, see www.IPPNW-students.org. It is a goal for IPPNW strengthen existing affiliates and to extend our activities to more countries in Europe. European IPPNW affiliates are working for the goals of IPPNW, are taking part in federal campaigns, and are also running several national projects on their own.

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In many countries in Europe IPPNW has active affiliates working in many different ways for the goals of the federation. There are active IPPNW student groups at many universities all around Europe. It is a goal for IPPNW to strengthen existing affiliates and to extend our activities to even more countries in Europe. European IPPNW affiliates are taking part in federal campaigns of IPPNW, and are also running several national projects on their own. In August 2005 IPPNW affiliates all over Europe arranged and took part in ceremonies in remembrance of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, sixty years ago.

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This report is structured along the following five goals: Develop and support international student projects; support the student chapters in the local work and attempt to get them in touch with their affiliates; improve communication and governance within the student movement; represent the students’ voice within the BoD and the Planning Committee for Helsinki 2006; and foster growth amongst student chapters in the Global South. The report touches on our achievements in the past year and identifies the obstacles we have encountered, outlines our plans for the coming year and formulates our recommendations for future student work within IPPNW.

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In Aubagne, in the sunny South of France, 80 physicians und medical students from all over Europe met to discuss and develop joint projects. It was the first European IPPNW meeting in a long time that was held on its own and not tagged on to another meeting. On the agenda was an exchange on European IPPNW issues, for example the IPPNW contribution to lasting peace in the Mediterranean region, the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe, nuclear weapon-free zones, nuclear energy, but also structural questions and preparation for the next World Congress in Helsinki.

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During the last years there has been growth within Europe in Coordination of IPPNW activities. Yet more is needed. The world looks increasingly at Europe, not only as individual member states, and IPPNW also has to reflect that. We therefore try to strengthen the bonds between the currently 19 European IPPNW affiliates as part of the global IPPNW confederation.

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We have accumulated most of the annual reports of European affiliates. "After 4 yrs having been VP I have seen growth within Europe in Coordination. Yet more is needed. The world looks at Europe, not at individual member states. Quite a few member states got a common currency: the euro. 10 More countries joined the European union. This report is meant for the Board Pack. It's nice to read what's going on in a region. It would be better when members (Board or others) would regularly visit updated websites of a region, to see what programs run in an affiliate, then to find common grounds and look for fundable projects that could be coordinated by the Central Office. "

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"Having met with almost all national representatives in Europe, witnessed the presentations of local activities both at the meeting in Berlin last year and the congress in Dublin this year, I have to conclude that the IPPNW student movement is alive and well in Europe. In countries like Sweden, Finland, the UK, Norway and Germany, IPPNW students are actively working together with the physicians of the affiliate and are shaping and influencing the affiliate through members in the board of directors or active participation in events, projects and publications. In countries like Estonia, Russia, Romania and Austria, the student groups are doing important and effective work themselves, without much contact to the national affiliate."

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The main focus of most IPPNW-affiliates has been the war on Iraq. The situation in Belgium is different from many other countries because the government and especially the Minister for Foreign Affairs held a position quite close to ours. During a well watched TV debate, he said to the American (unofficial) representative, "we may be your allies, but we are not your valet." And he repeated this stance a large number of times in various media. Some people felt he was overdoing it, that a small country should not have outstretched itself so. Anyway, it pleased public opinion and he has just been re-elected with more than 300 000 votes.

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