Europe’s various associations of professional congress organisers (PCOs) will be hoping to move a step closer to the heart of European Union power at its next congress.

The 2012 congress of the European Federation of  the Associations of PCOs (EFAPCO) has Jose Bastos, head of unit conference organisation at the European Commission, as one of its keynote speakers.

The event is being held in the Estoril Congress Center, Portugal, 12 to 14 January.

“He will be speaking about ‘Conference organisation as a key communication tool in the European Commission’, explained Federation President, Nicolas Le Brun. “And he is also keen to encourage the involvement of some other DGs (deputies general)."

He added: "We have also just made another exciting step towards development of our pan-European voice with the recruitment of the Czech Republic into EFAPCO membership.

“Every EU member state that joins us strengthens our voice at pan-European levels and enhances our quest for positive recognition."

The congress will be themed, ‘The World has changed. Start Acting’.