The Congress started with words of welcome by ECPM president Peeter Vosu and representatives of the hosting Swiss parties, EVP-PEV and EDU-UDF, Joel Blunier and José Lorente both arguing for certain cheeses from certain valleys, which caused some laughter.

The first lecture was then given by the Dutch economist and former Member of Parliament for the now defunct Anti-Revolutionary Party, Dr. Bob Goudzwaard. He spoke about "A Christian-social perspective on the global economy". After which there was some time for questions and answers. His slideshow and the text of his lecture can be found in the Virtual Library on this website, under Presentations.

After the coffee break, the Swiss futurist and strategic consultant, Dr. Andreas Walker delivered a lecture entitled "Megatrends and Future Changes as Opportunities or as Threats for Christian Politics?" (slide show in the Virtual Library), which was followed by discussion.

After the lunch the Belgian professor of Public Administration Emile Vanbeckevoort gave a lecture which resulted in a debate, which continued after the coffee break in one of three workshops sessions. The other workshop sessions were given by leading Moldovan economist Veaceslav Ionita and the economist proffessor Eduard Dommen, from Switzerland, who is a specialist in economic ethics. The first was about Energy Policy in Eastern Europe and the latter about Global Trade in a New Political Reality. Dommen approached this subject from the ideas of Calvin. For a taste of this, you can read his article "A reformed perspective on the global economy" here.

At the end of the afternoon the participants in the congress visited the Parliament that was within walking distance of the Congress Hotel in two groups. The two groups had a guided tour of the parliament after which they were met by Members of Parliament Christian Waber (EDU) and Walter Donzé (EVP) respectively. The MPs told about their work, about the typical characteristics of Swiss democracy and there was ample time for questions and answers.

In the evening the board convened. The next morning the member congress took place. After the opening and some anouncements the new statutes were adopted, President Peeter Vosu from Estonia and Vice President Kris Vleugels from Belgium were re-elected and Vladimir Plamadeala from Moldova was elected as board member in stead of Krasimir Momchev from Bulgaria, Dick van Dijk from the Netherlands did not have to be re-elected because his current term is not fullfilled yet. More on the new board member, Vladimir Plamadeala here.

After this new ECPM member parties - the Christian Democratic Forum of Bulgaria, the Christian Democratic Union of Ukraine, the Christian Democratic Union of Armenia and the Christian Democratic Movement of Georgia - were presented by their representatives Volodymir Stretovich from Ukraine, who is also the chairman of the Bureau of Christian Democratic Parties of Eastern Europe, vice chairman Gevorg Babayan from Armenia and George Rukhadze and party leader and MP Targamadze from Georgia. New associate member organisations were also welcomed: Amical Service France, Crown Bulgaria, Romanian Foundation for Democracy and Provita.

After the coffee break the congress adopted the policy document Priority for the Family, the political programme 'A Christian-democrat voice in the European Union' and a Joint Statement on Georgia. Some projects and strategies for the coming years were presented by Johannes de Jong after which Leo van Doesburg reported on the ECPM activities in Eastern Europe in the past year accompanied by a photo impression.

The congress was addressed by Petar Stoyanov, president op Bulgaria from 1997 til 2002 and by video message by Emil Constantinescu, president of Romania from 1996 til 2000.

The participants of the congress then prepared for the excursion to the Swiss countryside, the Emmental valley to be more specific, where they enjoyed a traditional Swiss lunch with a lot of different cheeses, sausage, meat products, bread and wine topped of by a meringue dessert, at a cheese factory. After the lunch the group had a guided tour of the dairy factory, during which both the current and the traditional production process of the famous Emmental cheese were explained and demonstrated. After a bus trip back to Berne via Olten the congress participants parted.

This well attended congress did not only once again have a very well chosen theme but was also a catalyst for new projects and initiatives by the attending people an their respective organisations in cooperation with the ECPM and each other.