The AIDA Presidential Council met in Madrid on Thursday 11 November 2004. The President of AIDA, Prof Dr Carlos Ignacio Jaramillo, opened the meeting by welcoming those present.  He thanked the Spanish Section of AIDA (SEAIDA) for its hospitality and Corporacion Mapfre for its sponsorship and for allowing the Presidential Council to use the Mapfre convention centre as the venue for the meeting. 

Prof Fernando Sanchez Calero, President of SEAIDA welcomed everyone to the meeting on SEAIDA’s behalf and invited the AIDA Presidential Council members to stay on for the Insurance Law Conference to be held jointly with Portuguese colleagues, due to commence later that day.

In memoriam Felix Fingerhuth, Secretary-General of AIDA 1986-1990

The President and the Assistant Secretary General (Administration) paid tribute to the memory of Mr Fingerhuth who died in Switzerland during the summer of 2004.  The Presidential Council paid homage to Mr Fingerhuth’s memory by standing for a minute’s silence. 

Spanish-Portuguese Insurance Law Congress, Madrid, 11 and 12 November

The President summarised the programme for the Congress and congratulated SEAIDA members and Portuguese colleagues responsible for its organisation. 

Dr Soares Povoas spoke about the history of the Portuguese Chapter of AIDA.  He thanked Prof. Sanchez Calero for his efforts in helping to re-establish the Portuguese Section and Sergio Barroso De Mello for his efforts in Brazil. 

A representative of the Portuguese Section thanked the Presidential Council and expressed the hope that the Congress would mark the beginning of a fruitful chapter in the Portuguese National Section’s history.

New/Reactivated National Sections

The Presidential Council approved a proposal by the Assistant Secretary General (Administration) that the reactivated Portuguese Section of AIDA, and the Iceland Association of Insurance Law, be admitted to membership of AIDA formally at the next World Congress (Buenos Aires in October 2006).  In the interim these organisations will be treated as honoured guests of AIDA and they should be provided with news of AIDA’s activities in common with all current Chapters. 

XIIth Word Congress, Buenos Aires, 2006

The President had been to Buenos Aires recently, and reported that wonderful facilities had been selected and the organising committee are very enthusiastic. 

Dr Horst Speyer reported on progress made regarding the arrangements for the World Congress.  A leaflet has been printed with a return slip for indications of interest.

AIDA’s Scientific Research Prize

Brochures and posters advertising the prize have now been published in Spanish, English and French.  Copies were circulated and members of the Presidential Council were encouraged by the President to disseminate information concerning the prize at their offices, universities, etc. This also appears on the AIDA website. 

Working Parties

Eduardo Mangialardi’s report on the evaluation of the Working Parties’ answers to the special questionnaire was distributed.  Some answers are still pending.  The President expressed the hope that a complete set of answers would be received by the next Presidential Council meeting.

On behalf of the Italian section, Prof. Fernanda Morales argued that there was a need to promote the study of insurance law at universities.  In the long term, this would provide members for AIDA’s National Sections as well as the Working Parties.  The President asked the Italian Chapter to present a written proposal to the Presidential Council at the next meeting. 

Reports were presented by representatives of the Working Parties on Accumulation of Claims and Subrogation, Motor Insurance, Prevention and Insurance, and Reinsurance.

Diagnosis of Structure and Function of National Sections: evaluation of answers to questionnaire

This questionnaire has now been posted on the AIDA website. The President commented that the answers would provide an “X-ray” of AIDA.  The President is working on a comparative table, but it would be premature to discuss this before more responses were provided by National Sections. 

Liber Amicorum in honour of Professor Antigono Donati

The President emphasised the importance of this project and urged cooperation.  Prof. Gambino delivered a report, explaining that the idea was to pay homage to Prof.  Donati in recognition of his sterling work in insurance law.  To date, only 12 Chapters have responded to the invitation, with only five actually submitting contributions. 

International Co-operation Agreements

Prof. Fontaine reported that following the cooperation agreement between AIDA and the University of Louvain, a joint colloquium on the harmonisation of insurance contract law had been suggested.  Progress towards international harmonisation can be seen to some extent not only in Europe and Latin-America but also, more recently, in Africa. He wondered whether the subject would be better suited to a large scale public colloquium or a small specialist seminar. 

Prof. Cousy said that a small seminar would be useful in relation to work already under way under the title of “Restatement”.  Professors Dufwa, Kullmann, Rokas and Wansink as well as himself were involved in this project. 

The President suggested that a task force be set up, comprising, initially, of himself, Professors Cousy, Duboisson of Louvain and Fontaine.  Other interested persons would be welcome to join. 

AIDA website, AIDA Mail and AIDA Flash

The Assistant Secretary General (Administration) reported on improvements to the AIDA website – particularly the ability of his firm, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, to publish AIDA Mail without external assistance and to update website information on National Sections.  The President reported that a new issue of AIDA Flash had recently been published. 

AIDA Insurance Library

The Treasurer reported on progress with the electronic library project.  To date, only Argentina, Colombia and Spain had responded to requests for information.  She suggested that perhaps other National Sections did not have their own libraries, but said that any information about informal collections or indeed unpublished material would be welcomed.  The President said that over 1000 potential sources of information had been identified, and the project was ongoing. 

Berlin Congress, date and venue of next meeting

It was noted that an Insurance Law Congress, arranged by the German section, is to be held in Berlin from 24 to 27 May 2005.  The German section’s kind invitation to the Presidential Council to meet in Berlin on this occasion was accepted.  Thereafter, the Presidential Council will probably meet in Cancun in November 2005, in conjunction with the next CILA Congress.