The early 20th century Spanish philosopher, George Santayana, suggested "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". On a number of current European issues, this advice seems wise!

Firstly, the core of ECA's activity is working to improve aviation safety. It is why we place the phrase 'Piloting Safety' right after our name; emphasising that as an organisation we both drive safety decision making in the right direction as well as indicating that safety is of vital importance to the pilot profession. ECA seeks to provide expert and professional input at all levels of our industry, and we are normally afforded high levels of respect for our often unique perspective. However, the EU Institutions would do well to remember that in the past we have shown that we are prepared to make our case forcefully, and if necessary in public, should we feel the high and improving level of aviation safety is under threat. Quite simply, aviation safety is a life and death issue for professional pilots!

Secondly, the airline business is one where the customer is in often prolonged contact with one group of workers, and every front line employee group has to deliver their work punctually to enable the service to be on time. Consequently, the way those employees are managed is crucial to the success or failure of the business. Our airlines are gaining the benefits of a more liberalised, and therefore more competitive market place. However, the tools provided by good employee relations to manage change effectively in a highly dynamic business are being lost. Only after prolonged and disruptive industrial 'confrontation' during the end of the 19th and early 20th century did Europe develop positive collective bargaining structures. Unless we insist on modern versions of these progressive statutes being provided at the level of the European Single Market, we will be "condemned to repeating" the industrial conflict.

Thirdly, organisations like ECA and our Member Associations take pride in the strong link between the represented and their representatives; forged through rigorous democratic structures. Whether it is providing expert input to a technical issue in front of the regulator, or in contractual discussions between employer and employee group – we are clearly stronger because we are united; indeed it is the reason we are called 'unions'. We must always try to capture and pass on the body of knowledge to new representatives as they are elected; allowing us to be not just professional pilots, but professional pilot representatives, too. This 'legacy', combined with regular review and modernisation of our structures and activities, enables us to maintain strength and relevance. ECA and its MAs have always realised this, modernising our structure in 2003-05 and we are in the process of running the exercise once again.

ECA has from its inception in 1991, emulated the profession it represents. In just 100 years, aviation has developed from a tentative 'hop' by the Wright Brothers to a technologically advanced, safe and reliable mass transit system for the globe. Likewise in just under 20 years, ECA has grown to become one of the more influential groups in European aviation, representing the Pilot Associations from 36 (soon to be 38) European Countries; with strength, conviction, determination and growing success. We will continue to learn from both the past and each other to ensure we remain strong and succeed in persuading the EU Institutions follow our lead and work for a safer industry, with strong industrial relations structures which provide competitive benefits to our industry – and to avoid repeating the negative conflict of the past.