Michael Gill, Mikael Rosenmejer, Carlos Ignacio Jaramillo and Augustino Gambino

The AIDA Presidential Council met in London on Wednesday 15 May 2002, at the offices of Barlow Lyde & Gilbert. The meeting was scheduled to coincide with the British Insurance Law Association ("BILA") Colloquium, on 16-17 May (a full report of the BILA Colloquium can be found herein below). The meeting was chaired by the President, Mikael Rosenmejer.

PROFESSOR ANTIGONO DONATI

Vice-President Agostino Gambino of the Italian Chapter paid tribute to the former Honary President, and one of the most prominent figures in AIDA, Professor Antigono Donati, who had recently died. One of the founders of AIDA in Luxembourg in 1960, and one of the first co-presidents, Professor Donati became President in 1962, an office that he held for 12 years, to oversee AIDA develop throughout the world, hold Quadraennial World Congresses, American regional congresses, and the establishment of AIDA's permanent working parties.

Outside of AIDA, Professor Donati was also well know. He chaired the OECD committee on technical co-operation, sat as a member of the Italian Parliament and many other Italian institutions, was awarded numerous honorary doctorates and professorships, including that of International Business at the University of Los Angeles. He was a Knight Grand Cross of both Italy and Spain, and was decorated by many other countries, including Argentina, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg & Peru.

For the full text of Professor Gambino's tribute to Professor Donati, click here

XI WORLD CONGRESS - NEW YORK

Steve Acunto, AIDA US Vice President, and one of the organising committee for the Xith World Congress, reported to the Presidential Council on progress. He confirmed that the New York Superintendent of Insurance has agreed to act as honorary chairman of the Congress. Full details of the World Congress can be found above.

AIDA WORKING PARTIES

Dr Speyer circulated a report from the working party on Accumulation of Claims & Subrogation (see below). The next meeting was scheduled for 14 September 2002, in La Plata, Argentina, and the Working Party will also meet in New York.

Pieter de Lange reported that the Pensions Group would meet the following week in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. About 40 international delegates were expected.

Gerard Kamphuisen reported that the Distribution of Insurance Working Party had met for the first time in Budapest. It was noted that so far only 8 chapters had nominated representatives to the working party.

Milagros Sanz delivered a report on the Prevention and Insurance Working party on behalf of Dr Alarçon.

Colin Croly reported on the Reinsurance Working Party, which met in London in the morning of 15 May. (See below).

The chairman of the Transport and Insurance Working Party, Professor Kris Bernauw's report was read to the meeting by Michael Mendelowitz, the Assistant Secretary General (Admin). A questionnaire asking about the present situation on legal and regulatory issues concerning transport and insurance has been drafted by the Working Group (and was first published in AIDA Mail issue 9). This questionnaire can be viewed in the Transport and Insurance Working Party area of the new website. To date, there has been a disappointing response and the Presidential Council encourages the National Sections to appoint a representative to the working party and to respond to the questionnaire.

AIDA WEBSITE

The new AIDA website was demonstrated to the Presidential Council and was well received. It was confirmed that links would be established between the website and existing National Chapters websites, and also that those chapters who do not have websites will be able to utilise the design to design their own sites.

AIDA MAIL

The Presidential Council unanimously approved the proposed redesign of AIDA Mail and the change to an electronic format.