Minutes of the
FEDEMAC General Assembly 2016
On November 12, 2016 in Munsbach, Luxembourg
Beginning:
End:
1.
09:00 hrs
12:40 hrs
Official opening, welcome by President Sabine Hartmann
Attendance according to attendance list (Annex 1).
President Hartmann welcomes all participants of the General Assembly 2016.
She welcomes the special guests:
 Terry Head, President of IAM
 Jesse van Sas, Netherlands, General Manager, FIDI
 Ian Waters, General Manager, OMNI
 Walter Laffitte, President, LACMA
 FEDEMAC Past President Arnaldo Righetti
 FEDEMAC Past President Lucien Pot
 FEDEMAC Past President Denis Caulfield
 FEDEMAC Past President Klaus Moericke
President Hartmann welcomes those participants attending a FEDEMAC
General Assembly for the first time:
 Juan Luis Feltrero Oreja, President, FEDEM
 Martin Hobbel, President, Organizatie voor Erkende Verhuizers
 Jean-Luc Muratet, President of the Regional Group “Aquitaine Limousin
Poitou-Charentes” of Chambre Syndicale du Déménagement
 Laurent Peyer, General Secretary, ASTAG
 Guillaume Rochman, Sofrapack
 John Simpson, Multi Trolley
President Hartmann remarks that the invitations, agenda and further documents
had been distributed in line with the requirements of the FEDEMAC Statutes. 90.9 % of
the total votes of the FEDEMAC Membership are represented at the General
Assembly 2016.
2.
Vote of Clerk to produce the minutes of the General Assembly 2016
The General Assembly votes unanimously Ellen Troska to produce the minutes
of the General Assembly 2016 (80 votes in favour, no vote against, no
abstention).
3.
Apologies for absence
President Hartmann reports that apologies for absence had been received
from:
 Bernard Desponds, FEDEMAC Past President
 Tony Richman, FEDEMAC Past President
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Minutes of the FEDEMAC General Assembly on 12th November 2016
 Jannick Collen, Laurence Lechaptois and Hervé Brassac, President,
General Secretary and Legal Advisor of Chambre Synidicale du
Déménagement
 Gary Wheadon, President of BAR
 Luca Lucesole, President of AITI
 Jos Bakker, Representative of OEV
 Marc Lehmann and Sibylle Weber, President and FEDEMAC
Representative of ASTAG
 Manfred Meier, General Secretary of AMARA / ÖMTV
 Atle Skaarud, President of FIDI-Norway
 Georgi Zlatarev, General Secretary BMA
 Joseph Pace de Gray, DOM Transport, Malta
 Piero Peic and Jennifer Russell, Credo Movers, Croatia
4.
Adoptions of the Agenda
The General Assembly vote unanimously in favour of the Agenda of the
General Assembly 2016 (80 votes in favour, no vote against, no abstention)
5.
Approval of the Minutes of the General Assembly 2015, Riga
The minutes of the General Assembly 2015 held in Riga, Latvia are approved
unanimously (80 votes in favour, no vote against, no abstention).
6.
FEDEMAC 2015/2016
6.1
President’s Report
President Hartmann thanks all participants for attending this year’s General
Assembly in the beautiful country of Luxembourg, one of the 6 founding
members of the European Economic Community in 1958.
One of the milestones of the European Community was January 1, 1993, when
the internal border controls between EU countries were abolished and the
European Single Market – based on the free movement of people, goods,
services and capital – was finally launched.
In 2004 and 2007 12 countries joined the European Union followed by Croatia
in 2013. Most of these new member states are East European countries, which
had to undergo difficult processes of transition and integration. The European
Union grew from 15 member states in 1995 to 28 today. A huge challenge for
the EU and the new members!
But the exchange of information, knowledge, experiences, and expertise helped
all Members of FEDEMAC to get along with new regulations and conditions in a
faster changing environment.
President Hartmann points out that after all that has been achieved throughout
the last 58 years the feeling of today is: we are stepping back somehow.
The Europeans are living on one of the richest continents of the world and have
the most freedom. But wealthy people with high standards are getting more and
more egoistic and concentrate on themselves.
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Minutes of the FEDEMAC General Assembly on 12th November 2016
President Hartmann questions, how we can keep the standard of living and
peace shared over the last years. The ones who own the most can lose the
most and that is what they are afraid of.
Europe is facing more and more national regulations and nationalism within
different European Member States. The national protectionism all across
Europe is getting stronger. This is no specific issue of the removal or transport
industry. It is just the way Europeans are going backwards.
President Hartmann scrutinizes whether the developments highlighted will lead
to a break-up of one of the biggest trading blocs worldwide and whether
FEDEMAC will be directly affected by these developments.
She emphasizes that FEDEMAC has always been serving the needs and
wishes of its members. There are no plans for changing this approach. But the
input of the member is needed to serve them best, to seek out for the common
goals and to fulfill the tasks.
6.2
Lobbying Report
Gabriela Dimitrova refers to the report in the General Assembly documents and
reports on various details of her working targets and latest developments. She
reports also about the planned activities for the next year (see Annex 2).
Gabriela Dimitrova highlights that more and more national initiatives have been
observed in 2016. Brexit and the application of national minimum wage
regulations for the international transport sector are examples.
She emphasizes following topics of special interest for the European Movers:
•
Union Customs Code (UCC): The UCC is changing the rules for the
customs procedures of cross-border movement of goods in the EU.
Wherever possible customs clearance shall be made at the port of entry
of the EU. Information about imported goods shall be forwarded from the
port of entry to the country of final destination. This could be a first step
to enable also the final clearance of imported Household Goods at the
port of entry in future.
•
A European platform to enhance cooperation in the prevention and
deterrence of undeclared work has been set up.
•
EETS: tolls shall be charged on a distance based system and not time
based. One unique toll system for the EU is preferred. The Eurovignette
Directive should also be revised.
•
Social dumping: The European Parliament wishes to see the creation of
a European blacklist for companies that have broken social rules. Those
will not be allowed to apply for any type of public tenders be it at national
or European level.
•
Minimum wages: national regulations are implemented to fight against
social dumping and unfair competition.
Gabriela Dimitrova reports that FEDEMAC has actively taken part in various
consultations. Such consultations are often basis for initiatives of the European
Commission for new legislation. The contributions of the FEDEMAC Member
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Minutes of the FEDEMAC General Assembly on 12th November 2016
Associations and Direct Affiliates are needed to represent the views and
opinions of the whole European Moving Industry in such consultations.
She announces to study the background of the different member associations of
FEDEMAC intensively in order to elaborate the topics of special interest of
single association.
Gabriela Dimitrova points out that Germany was the first country to introduce
the application of national minimum wage regulations for international
transports. France followed and Italy is awaiting the outcome of the infringement
procedure against Germany, before introducing its planned new legislation.
Gabriela Dimitrova states that these national initiatives could lead to a situation
in which 28 different minimum wage legislations and registration procedures
have to be respected by international services; a situation which is not
compatible with the single market and European Treaties in regards to the free
movement of goods and services.
Gabriela Dimitrova refers to the statements of Mark Chudley on the Brexit given
the day before. Brussels was shocked after the Brexit vote, but turned back to
business as usual. When article 50 is triggered, the UK will have a period of two
years to negotiate its exit. For the time being, we are awaiting the appeal
decision of the UK High Court in regards to Brexit and the need for it to be voted
by Westminster.
The Calais ”Jungle” had been dismantled. Drivers are much safer now.
Gabriela Dimitrova reports that she had various meetings with Members of the
European Parliament, the EU Commission officials, and representatives of IRU,
MPE, FNTR etc. In 2017 she also plans to attend some General Assemblies of
the national movers associations, especially in those countries where no
language barriers exist.
Arnaldo Righetti asks whether the French minimum wage requirements create
bureaucratic burdens. Serge Fontaine answers that France is located in the
middle of Europe. The main problem of the French transport industry is that
drivers from other EU countries stay in France to conduct illegal cabotage
transports. The French minimum wage requirements had been introduced to
protect the French transport industry from unfair competition and social
dumping.
Gabriela Dimitrova points out that all countries had remarkable reasons to
introduce minimum wage rules for the international road transport. Those laws
created great awareness of the problems of the industry. The cabotage rules
are to be revised. The EU aims to implement simplified cabotage rules allowing
effective control.
Terry Head reports that the US Service Contract Act defines standardized
minimum wages for each kind of work on regional or state bases. The point of
origin is essential for the wage applicable. He remarks that the minimum wages
are very low for skilled workers, especially on federal level.
Gabriela Dimitrova clarifies that the Posted Workers Directive had been
originally drafted to tackle the issues faces within the construction industry. The
transport industry was not taken into consideration within the Directive, instead
it was planned to draft a legislation specific to that industry. However, such
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Minutes of the FEDEMAC General Assembly on 12th November 2016
legislation was never produced, hence the problems that are now occurring
across Europe.
The General Assembly discusses aspects of harmonised wages misuse of
cabotage and a lack of economic convergence between Eastern and Western
European countries.
6.3
Treasurer Report
Mark Chudley refers to the Treasurer Report in the General Assembly
Documents.
No further comments or questions arise.
6.4
Report of the Internal Auditors
Boris Ceselkovski reports that he controlled the vouchers and documents and
found everything in order. He reads out the report of the internal audit (see
written report in Annex 3). Everything has found in order.
He recommends absolving the
responsibilities for the year 2015.
6.5
FEDEMAC
Board
from
its
financial
Secretariat Report
No comments or questions arise.
6.6
Reports of Member Associations
No comments or questions arise.
7.
Review of the Business and Action Plan 2016-2018
President Hartmann asks the General Assembly to review the Business and
Actions Plan 2016 – 2018 later.
8.
Membership Matters
8.1
Developments of Membership
President Hartmann reports that the Hungarian movers association Makoesz
is no longer member of FEDEMAC. The Board decided in its first Board Meeting
in 2016 that the request of Makoesz for a reduced membership fee cannot be
followed, since it would be against the FEDEMAC Statutes.
Global International Relocation, Portugal withdraws from FEDEMAC
Membership. Notice had been given on August 16, 2016. The Membership will
come to an end 6 months later, on February 2016. For 2017 the full annual
membership fee is to be paid according to Article 16.3. of the FEDEMAC
Statutes.
A draft letter of the Chambre Syndicale du Déménagement, indicating that
CSD wants to leave FEDEMAC, raised questions to the FEDEMAC Board,
which need to be discussed.
Teletrans, Greece, has founded some years ago a new company and wishes
to transfer membership from the old company to the new. Appropriate
documentation about the newly found Teletrans had been received.
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Minutes of the FEDEMAC General Assembly on 12th November 2016
The General Assembly votes by majority in favour to transfer the membership of
Teletrans to its new company (78 votes in favour, no vote against, 2 votes for
abstention).
8.2
Contact with potential Members
President Hartmann reports that various potential membership contacts had
been followed up by FEDEMAC Headquarters upon request of companies and
as result of trying to register for the full use of the FEDEMAC Webpage. If
appropriate, the national associations are informed about interested companies
and requested to inform about the membership within the national association.
If a national association is not existent, information about Direct Affiliation is
provided.
Two applications for Direct Affiliation had been received in 2016.
An application of the company Alliance World Services, Rumania had been
received in 2016. The Board studied the information and documentation
received carefully and decided that an objective company site visit is
appropriate. Dana Dascalu, CDD Relocation, visited the applicant in September
2016 and filled out a site visit survey sheet, given by the board.
The Board decided not to support the application of Alliance World Services.
The Application of Trans-Fair, Poland had been received in October 2016. It is
under evaluation and several documents had not been delivered so far. If
applicable, the Board will ask for a written vote of the FEDEMAC Members.
President Hartmann took up contact with the Finnish Direct Affiliate Niemi to
investigate possibilities for a membership of the Finnish removal association
SMPY. She had been advised that the Board of SMPY discussed the
membership in FEDEMAC serval times and has at the moment being no
interest in a membership.
8.3
Commercial Partners
President Hartmann reports that the company Oskar Schunck GmbH & Co.
KG has withdrawn the Commercial Partnership with FEDEMAC. This will be
effective as of December 31, 2016.
She reports that the Headquarters has received an application for Commercial
Partnership of MEKRAtronics during the last days. MEKRAtronics is a supplier
of mirror systems for trucks. The Board was not able to study this application so
far. If applicable the FEDEMAC Members will be asked for a written vote.
President Hartmann invites the Commercial Partner Sofrapack, Multi Trolley
and Roldo Rent to report about their products and services.
John Simpson informs about the optimised Multi Trolley.
Guillaume Rochman presents selected packing material for the removal
industry.
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Minutes of the FEDEMAC General Assembly on 12th November 2016
Gerard Geijtenbeek informs about the application of barcodes and RFID for the
use of the Roldo Rent products. He informs about the LoRa senor allowing the
automatic counting of boxes.
President Hartmann thanks the Commercial Partners for their continuous
support and input.
7.
Review of the Business and Action Plan 2016-2018
Aivars Usans refers to the “Future Timetable and Three-Year Action Plan” of the
FEDEMAC Business and Action Plan 2016 – 2018 (see Annex 4) agreed by the
General Assembly in 2015.
Aivars Usans points out that the demands and requirements expressed by the
FEDEMAC Members are taken into account. The FEDEMAC Board is serving
its members, the National Associations and Direct Affiliates.
Aivars Usans refers to the discussion of the day before, in which the FEDEMAC
Members expressed that they don’t want FEDEMAC to become more
commercial.
President Hartmann explains that the Board wants to thoroughly discuss the
expectations of the members expressed and prepare proposals for future
actions. An extended Board Meeting is planned to focus on this task. The
members are requested to give further input to enable the Board to serve
the FEDEMAC Members accordingly. Concrete demands and requests are
needed to enable the Board to elaborate initiatives applicable.
President Hartmann is asking the General Assembly to vote on an additional
Board Meeting or extended Board Meeting in 2017, which had not been
taken into account setting up the Budget 2017.
The General Assembly votes unanimously in favour for an additional or
extended Board Meeting 2017 (80 votes in favour, no vote against, no
abstention).
Aivars Usans points out the contacts with the membership will be continued, but
changes are to be considered.
An exchange of best practice between the member associations is supported
by the FEDEMAC Board and Headquarters. The Board doesn’t push any longer
for a creation of national associations. The initiative to set up national
associations must come from the companies. FEDEMAC will monitor the
situation in the countries applicable. It will support the creation of national
associations, if applicable. The existing membership of FEDEMAC will have
priority for the near future.
FEDEMAC is active in the social media. The Young Movers facebook
communication is outstanding. All FEDEMAC members and especially the
attendees of the General Assembly are requested to read these FEDEMAC
publications and share them with member companies and colleagues.
The FEDEMAC Directory is the best visited page of the FEDEMAC Website. It
is visited by potential clients of the listed companies and it is also a platform for
cooperation of companies. It brings commercial benefit to the member
companies organised in FEDEMAC.
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Minutes of the FEDEMAC General Assembly on 12th November 2016
The FEDEMAC Forum is accessible via the FEDEMAC Website. It is used as
archive to maintain and store important documents, which are partly of historical
character. FEDEMAC Headquarters is to be contacted, if problems with the
access of the internal part of the FEDEMAC Website arise.
FEDEMAC is an active member of IRU and MPE. FEDEMAC is proud that a
new Memorandum of Understanding had been signed with the World
Customs Organisation (see Annex 5).
Gabriela Dimitrova points out to Gert Hebert that she has good contacts with
the IRU representatives in Brussels, which are active in the political work of the
association. Her contacts with the Geneva are limited.
Aivars Usans points out to Denis Caulfield that the Board will discuss
possibilities of reduced membership fees under exceptional circumstances
during one of the next Board Meetings. At present the FEDEMAC Statutes and
Membership Fee Rules do not allow any exemptions.
He reports that he visited the Hungarian Association Makoesz in September
2016. He had the impression that the Hungarian members had no common
view about their association in general. The FEDEMAC Board was not
convinced that a reduced FEDEMAC membership fee had made any difference
for Makoesz membership in the medium run. The door is not closed for the
Hungarian movers.
Aivars Usans thanks the Spanish organisers of the YMC 2016, held in Madrid.
The next YMC will be held in Riga, 11 – 13 May 2017. The organisation is
progressing. Program, hotel and outdoor activities are organised. Sponsors,
speakers and topics for presentations and discussions are to be addressed.
Suggestions from the FEDEMAC Members are welcome. A promotion of the
YMC 2017 from the FEDEMAC Member Associations is highly welcome.
President Hartmann thanks Terry Head for the active support of the YMC. She
is proud that the last YMC was attended by participants from four continents.
Terry Head remarks that the benefit from the cooperation is great for the IAM
members participating.
Aivars Usans points out, that contacts with the worldwide moving
organisations had been successfully made. He thanks the international guest
for taking part in the 2nd Summit.
The topic recognition of the industry had been discussed the day before. The
issue will be followed up.
The FEDEMAC Board will discuss the pertinence of an extraordinary meeting
of General Secretaries and a FEDEMAC congress.
9.
Discharge of the FEDEMAC Board
Ian Studd thanks the FEDEMAC Board on behalf of the General Assembly for
the engagement and its work done during the last year as well as for the
organisation of the meetings in Luxembourg. Ian Studd asks the General
Assembly to discharge the Board.
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Minutes of the FEDEMAC General Assembly on 12th November 2016
The General Assembly unanimously absolves the FEDEMAC Board from any
legal responsibility regarding the finances of the year 2015 (80 votes in favour,
no vote against, no abstention).
The General Assembly unanimously absolves the FEDEMAC Board from any
legal responsibility due to errors and omission (80 votes in favour, no vote
against, no abstention).
10.
Vote on the External Auditor for the year 2016
The General Assembly unanimously votes R.P. Arnold as external auditor for
the financial year 2016 (80 votes in favour, no vote against, no abstention).
11.
Finances
11.1 FEDEMAC Membership Subscriptions 2017
Mark Chudley explains that the FEDEMAC Subscriptions for 2017 had been
calculated according to the FEDEMAC Membership Subscription and
Commercial Partner’s Financial Contribution Rules.
The FEDEMAC General Assembly unanimously agrees the Membership
Subscriptions 2017 (Annex 6). (80 votes in favour, no vote against, no
abstention)
11.2 FEDEMAC Partnership Contributions 2017
Mark Chudley points out that the Partnership Contributions for Commercial
Partners 2017 had been calculated according to the agreed FEDEMAC
Membership Subscription and Commercial Partner’s Financial Contribution
Rules.
The FEDEMAC General Assembly unanimously agrees the Financial
Contributions for the Commercial Partners 2017 (Annex 7). (80 votes in favour,
no vote against, no abstention)
11.3 Vote on FEDEMAC Budget 2016
Mark Chudley refers to the draft Budget 2017 distributed with the agenda for the
General Assembly 2016.
No questions arise
The FEDEMAC General Assembly unanimously agrees the proposed Budget
2017 (Annex 8). (80 votes in favour, no vote against, no abstention)
12.
Date and venues for the General Assemblies 2017
President Hartmann announces that the General Assembly 2017 shall not be
held in conjunction with a Moving Industry Leaders Summit. The members of
FEDEMAC need more time for discussing internal matters. It is planned to meet
for two full meeting days on the November 10 and 11, 2017. Conference Hotel
will be the Hotel Renaissance in Brussels near the European Parliament.
Gabriela Dimitrova informs that the European Parliament and Commission will
work also on November 11. National Holidays do not affect the European
Institutions.
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Minutes of the FEDEMAC General Assembly on 12th November 2016
The next FEDEMAC General Assembly will be held in Brussels on 10th and 11th
November 2017.
President Hartmann asks for invitations and/or proposals for the General
Assembly 2018.
The FEDEMAC General Assembly 2018 will be held in Spain. Possibilities to
hold the FEDEMAC General Assembly 2019 in Denmark will be investigated.
13.
Any other matter
President Hartmann asks the member associations to inform FEDEMAC
Headquarters about dates and places of Conferences and General Assembly
on national level as early as possible.
President Hartmann thanks Dr. Ellen Troska for the ongoing support and the
organization of the summit, as well as Gabriela Dimitrova for getting the
speakers on board and supporting the organization.
President Hartmann thanks the participants for the constructive discussions and
closes the meeting.