To day we have an important message for the future of our profession, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine in Europe. The National Societies of Europe voted in Amsterdam at the occasion of their General Assembly during the 17^th Euromedlab meeting 5^th June, unanimously for the merger of FESCC (Forum of the European Societies of Clinical Chemistry) and EC4 (the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine) and they created a new European organisation in accordance with the IFCC organization nominated as �EFCC� The European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and laboratory Medicine, in accordance with IFCC nominated as  the European Branch of IFCC. To clarify the whole initiative I would like to go back to historical facts. During the Pont-�-Mousson meetings (1990-1992) and through the initiatives of different representatives of the National Societies from Europe a platform (FESCC) was created for exchanges between the presidents and the Societies of Clinical Chemistry in Europe according to WHO. Prof Herman Wisser (Germany) nominated as first President (1991) insisted on the necessarily of making a real and operational structure which could be the European branch of IFCC, the first statutes were voted in the Nice meeting (April 1993). FESCC should provide European leadership and worldwide exchanges in clinical chemistry and Laboratory medicine to national professional societies, which are full members of IFCC, to the diagnostic industry and to governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to serve the public interest in health care. Training and education in laboratory medicine was a major task for FESCC. Also established in 1993, but with roots dating back to 1975, the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EC4) is the European Union subgroup of FESCC-IFCC. EC4 co-ordinates and promotes the harmonization of practice and quality across the EU countries, with particular emphasis on laboratory accreditation and professional regulation. It operates the EC4 Register of Specialists in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, whose members are awarded the qualification Eur Clin Chem. The recent enlargement of the European Union to 27 countries and the expected further enlargement have necessitated the reconsideration of the relationship between FESCC and EC4. It is our firm conviction that a merging of the two organizations into one body, in a structure that assures the effective work and momentum, is the way forward. The merger should lead to a stronger European branch of IFCC that can initiate, co-ordinate, and support and improve scientific and professional activities in our field in Europe. After a long period of preparation and discussion, the National Societies have voted unanimously for the creation of the new European Society � EFCC, the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, a new organization with new vision and mission, which will take up the challenge of sustaining and promoting the profession at European level. 

We have strong plans and decisions for the future based on the existing strategic plans and new visions and missions of EFCC. The main issue of EFCC is to have a stronger cooperation with the National Societies and with their members and also with the diagnostic industry to serve our profession and defend our profession