Minutes of the ECPP Board meeting
Rome (Italy), October 15, 2011 - 17.30 – 19.30, Hotel “Cicerone”, Conference Hall
Participated: Aknin Nicole (France), Attali Nicole (France), Bohak Janko (Slovenia), Covrig Ramona (Rumania), Filts Alexander (Ukraine), Fitzgerald Barbara (Ireland), Laurinaitis Eugenius (Lithuania), Mizinova Tatiana (Russia), Parrini Roberto (Italy), Pecjak Jan (Slovenia), Pritz Alfred (Austria), Reshetnikov Mikhail (Russia), Rhodes Adrian (United Kingdom), Sasse Charles (Belgium).
Before the beginning of the Board meeting ECPP-President prof. Mikhail Reshetnikov handed Certificate of Practitioner, Training analyst and Supervisor for Dr. Ramona Covrig (Romania), congratulated her and wished her new successes in her clinical and training work.
1) On trends in the development of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytical psychotherapy. Brief report by the ECPP President and its discussion.
The ECPP President (has) made some remarks and summarized opinions expressed by some leaders of reputable Western psychoanalytical associations. In particular, these colleagues stated that: 1) They do not have enough new candidates for professional training; 2) The average age of members of their association has increased; 3) Many psychoanalysts have to abandon principles of psychoanalysis and start practicing psychoanalytical psychotherapy; 4) Some psychoanalysts have to get a job in their previous (non-analytical) professions and practice psychoanalysis in free time. Some of our reputable colleagues have even remarked bitterly that the profession can die earlier than those who love it. These sad conclusions are explained by most of our reputable colleagues by financial crunch, decreased cultural level of population and other external reasons. According to the ECPP President, there are much more inner reasons for this systemic process which can be found in system of psychoanalytical education and training; that is the area where the ECPP has developed efficient approaches and solutions.
The information was taken into consideration. This topic will be elaborated in presentation by the ECPP President at the next ECPP Congress in 2012.
2) On the name of our organization. In particular: suggestion of the ECPP Past-President Markus Faeh to re-name the ECPP into International, not just European, confederation, due to admission of new members from Middle East and Asia (Israel, Iran) and memberships requests from Turkey.
It was admitted that the topic is very important and to find a solution that further collegial discussion is necessary.
3) On certification of ECPP members via National Branches of the countries other than the countries of their residence. In particular, a few specialists from Belarus, Baltic countries and Ukraine have had psychoanalytical training in Russian accredited institutions (psychoanalytical universities) and had their personal analysis and supervisions in Russia. Can they receive the ECPP certification via ECPP-Russia?
On the request made by the President of the UAP-ECPP-Ukraine Svetlana Uvarova (who cannot participate at the Board meeting) the discussion is postponed.
4) On structure and process of elections in ECPP National Branches. In particular:
а) Should National Branches hold elections every 2 years?
б) Should a new National Representative be elected every 4 years, after the previous one has been elected for two subsequent terms?
в) Should direct members of the ECPP who live in a country participate in elections held by the National Branch of the country?
г) Should we (the ECPP Board) determine these procedures by our decision or it is reasonable to delegate responsibility for these issues to National Branches?
On the request made by the President of the UAP-ECPP-Ukraine Svetlana Uvarova the discussion is postponed.
The following letters were discussed: from President of the UAP-ECPP-Ukraine Svetlana Uvarova (October 10, 2011), from President of the Ukrainian Federation of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapies Galina Gladush (September 28, 2011) and response by the ECPP President Prof. Mikhail Reshetnikov (October 12, 2011).
It was agreed that it is inappropriate for the President of the National Branch to make the groundless accusations against the ECPP President.
It was also noticed that proposals put forward by Svetlana Uvarova and Vladimir Mamko on the list of the ECPP modalities, direct ECPP membership and membership in National Branches as well as project presented by Svetlana Uvarova “Regulations for the collective members of ECPP” have already been discussed at the ECPP Board Meeting in Vienna on February 17, 2011, and the decisions were taken (see: Minutes of the Board meeting - February 17, 2011, point # 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f).
It was decided that it is necessary: 1) to study thoroughly all the aspects of the conflict between the Ukrainian colleagues; 2) to ask the ECPP Board members Aknin Nicole (France) and/or Fitzgerald Barbara (Ireland) if they could go to Kiev and explore the problem there with all the parties participated; 3) to invite the following people to take part in the discussion of the situation: Galina Gladush (Kiev), Alexander Filts (Lviv), Anna Kushneruk (Kiev), Natalia Pilguk and/or Elena Sukhorebraya (Odessa), Svetlana Svetozarova (Zaporodjye); Lyudmila Uskova (Kiev), Svetlana Uvarova (Kiev); 4) to schedule the meeting of the Ukrainian colleagues with the ECPP Board members on January 31, 2012 in Kiev; 5) to compensate the expenses of the ECPP Board members who participate in the meeting from the ECPP financial funds; 6) to return to the discussion of the situation in the Ukraine at the next ECPP Board meeting in Vienna in February 16th 2012.
5) On the next General Assembly of the ECPP in Italy (2012) – dates, place. Discussion of suggestion by Roberto Parrini.
In result of the extensive discussion it was decided to change the title of the scientific Conference. New name is: “New Dynamics in psychoanalysis” (instead of: “Change and Transformation within Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Approaches”).
The dates for the General Assembly (Friday October 5, 2012) and scientific Conference (Saturday and Sunday October 6-7, 2012) were finally set. It was also suggested that due to the fact that many participants of the Conference have never been to Rome, it is reasonable to schedule the sessions 10 am - 1 pm, then 1 pm - 2 pm lunch break and then sessions 2 pm-4 pm. The rest of the time will be left for informal communication and sightseeing in the Eternal City. It was proposed that the ECPP Board members and Presidents of the National Branches in different countries start to prepare for the scientific module of the Conference and to select the papers.
Hotel “Cicerone” was initially suggested as a place for the General Assembly and scientific Conference. The Board asked Roberto Parrini to find adequate but cheaper place (maybe – place for stay of participants only) and inform the Board by February 16th 2012. The Board also entrusted Roberto Parrini with elaborating financial plan of the General Assembly and scientific Conference so that the Board can determine the amount of participation fee.
6) Info on finances and membership fees: the ECPP Treasurer Tatiana Misinova.
The report on the financial account and new receipts was heard and approved.
7) On the ECPP Secretary: in connection to Stephany’s retirement.
The Board asked Alfred Pritz to think about a candidate for the position of the ECPP Secretary out of psychoanalytically oriented specialists who permanently lives in Austria.
8) On approval of the ECPP Past-President Markus Faeh’s activity in popularization of ECPP in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
The ECPP President informed the Board about the activity of the ECPP Past-President Markus Faeh in the Eastern Europe, where he has held about 10 workshops on contemporary psychoanalysis and a number of group and individual supervisions. The new book by Dr. Markus Faeh “The Way of the Analyst” was presented, which was published in Russian. Prof. Reshetnikov asked our Western colleagues to cooperate with the Eastern Europe more actively, to share their practical experience and theoretical knowledge and to exchange the texts which can be translated and published in the countries-members of the ECPP.
9) Request from Ukrainian Federation of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapies (UFPP) from 07.07.2011 on direct collective-membership in ECPP.
In the process of discussion questions were raised which were already mentioned in item 4. It was stressed that there is no such category in the ECPP as «direct collective-membership in ECPP». There is, however the category of «organizational membership» (see Minutes of the Board meeting, Graz, October 23, 2009).
In the result of the discussion it was unanimously decided that the Ukrainian Federation of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapies (UFPP) is to be an organizational member of the ECPP.
The decision is installed after the payment of annual membership fee from this organization (less than 50 members – 250 Euro/per year, 51-100 members – 500 Euro/per year).
10) Situation in Ukrainian NO.
The discussion is postponed on request of the President of the UAP-ECPP-Ukraine Svetlana Uvarova.
11) Application form from Lviv-ECPP-Institution (Alexander Filts) about membership as Accredited Training Institute.
The report by the ECPP Board member Alexander Filts and the assessment of the organization made by the ECPP Board member Alfred Pritz were heard.
As a result of the discussion it was unanimously decided that Lviv-ECPP-Institution is to be accepted as an Accredited Training Institute of ECPP in Lviv.
The decision will be installed after the payment of annual membership fee from this organization (less than 50 members – 375 Euro/per year, 51-100 members – 750 Euro/per year).
12) Other issues.
Other issues were discussed.
In particular: Ramona M. Covrig proposed to create a special part of the ECPP-web-site, where our colleagues can find information about training analysts and supervisor, including their e-mail address, possible languages of work with patients, as well as personal analysts and supervisors, possibility of analytical and supervision’s work by phone and skype-system.
13) Data of the next ECPP Board meeting in Vienna (ZFU) is 16th February 2012 (Thursday), 16.00 – 19.30.
The ECPP President
Prof Mikhail Reshetnikov