The end of 2021 has just been celebrated and, as always, it is time to take stock, one cycle closes and a new one begins. Although only a few months separate us from our last newsletter, important decisions have been taken by our Association before the end of the year.

I would like to start with the farewell (due to company retirement) of my former Vice President, former ELA President and dear friend Jorge Ligüerre. We all owe a lot to him, to his wisdom, great professionalism and invaluable contribution to the growth and development of the European Lift Association over so many years of attendance. We wish Jorge to continue to maintain his optimism, friendliness and good health in his non-professional life. At the same time a strong and warm welcome to his successor as the new VP of ELA, Andeas Wespi. We look forward to many years of hard work in translating the strategic objectives of ELA's multi-year programme, recently approved by the Board, into precise operational objectives.

Of course, I am also very pleased to welcome the new members of the Board. ELA's new management team is preparing for this new year and the important commitments already on the calendar with its usual determination. There are still many uncertainties in a global framework that, due to the worsening of the pandemic, shows great signs of concern. Unfortunately, our activities will also have to live within this framework of great instability, starting with the organisation of the next General Assembly, currently scheduled to take place in Dresden next May.

Evidently the same perplexities will condition the important event of Interlift 2022 (end of April) and the ELA Conference itself planned for May 20th. Only last month ELA started, albeit timidly, to promote physical meetings at its offices (Committee and Working Group meetings). The return to a cautious normality was unfortunately short-lived, with new Belgian government regulations that have forced us to a rapid return to teleworking, with newly imposed restrictions and confinement to our homes. However, I am sure that we will continue our efforts to achieve the important goals we have set ourselves.