The ECRN member regions attended the Permanent Working Group meeting on 10th and 11th May 2012 in Brussels. The two-day meeting covered all current issues of the network, including for instance the progress of the European Commission’s policy analysis study, discussion over the theme for the 10th ECRN Congress (to be held in Autumn 2012), progress of ChemClust and ChemLog projects, as well as a new initiative to set up a Thematic Working Group on chemical logistics. On the second day of the meeting, a representative from the European Commission, Mr. Marko Susnik, joined the meeting to present current progress and steps ahead concerning REACH registrations and SMEs and to discuss possible support activities in the regions.

Furthermore, the meeting participants were invited to a networking dinner to continue discussions and inter-regional exchange in a more informal setting. We had pleasure to host distinguished guest speakers for the evening: the president of ECRN and the Minister of Science and Economy of Saxony-Anhalt, Prof. Dr. Birgitta Wolff and the former director of the permanent representation of Saxony-Anhalt in Brussels and an active contributor to the work of ECRN, Mr. Thomas Wobben, who has recently moved to a new position in the Committee of the Regions.