BIPAVER, the federation of national associations representing the European retreading industry, confirmed a number of organisational changes at its Annual General Meeting, held on Tuesday September 22 via digital means.
BIPAVER to Register as EEIG
Firstly, BIPAVER confirmed the move of its headquarters from Leiden in the Netherlands to Bonn, Germany with effect from 1 April 2020. The move, explained BIPAVER, was instigated due to the decision by Tim van der Rijken to step down as General Secretary of VACO, the Dutch association and uncertainties over his successor, as well as changes in the retreading industry in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, the Federation also announced its intention to apply to be an officially registered as an EEIG – European Economic Interest Grouping at the European Commission. Until now BIPAVER has operated as a department of the national association acting as its headquarters, but now the plan is to establish BIPAVER as a formal entity within the EC in order to minimize the legal, fiscal and psychological difficulties that persons, companies and other bodies face in co-operating across borders. As a result of this decision a new BIPAVER constitution has been sent out to members taking into account the legal necessities of the EEIG.
There have also been some changes in the make up of the BIPAVER Board. It was confirmed that Jukka Lankolainen (Finland) will serve a second term a President of the Federation until 2022. In the meantime, Guido Gambassi from AIRP (Italy) has been appointed as Vice-President, replacing Tim Hercock (UK), who left the retreading industry earlier this year. It is anticipated that Gambassi will succeed Lankolainen as President in 2022.
