European Relocation Association

EuRA WELCOMES U.S ORGANISATION TO EUROPE

London, November 4, 2003 - The European Relocation Association (EuRA), the professional body of the European relocation industry, has today congratulated the Employee Relocation Council (ERC), on their decision to open an office in Brussels.

EuRA President, Francine O’Byrne, said: “We congratulate the ERC on the opening of their Brussels’ office. EuRA has established a strong global network of relocation professionals and we look forward to building closer ties with the ERC to promote even greater professionalism and best practices standards within our industry.”

EuRA was founded in 1998 to spread knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding corporate mobility and to enhance industry performance standards by communication and education. The aims and objectives of the organisation are to promote the concept of relocation and to create a professional framework within which the relocation industry can grow and develop. The association aims to promote the highest levels of professionalism and service and to encourage the development of a professional relocation qualification in con junction with the European Academy of Relocation Professionals EARP. EuRA tracks industry trends and maintains links with associate organisations, partners and clients as well as providing support services to members.

Notes to editors:

1) The ERC was formed in 1964 and is the professional member association concerned with workforce mobility around the globe. Their current membership includes more than 1,250 representatives from corporations and government and military agencies as well as nearly 10,000 individuals and companies that provide relocation services targeted at both U.S domestic moves and international moves.

3) Francine O’Byrne became President of EuRA in 2003. She is the MD of The Relocation Bureau Ltd, based in Dublin.

For further information please contact:

Alex Foley or Anna Thomsen

Alex Foley & Associates Ltd

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7352 3144

Mobile: + 44 (0)7976 713 478

E-Mail: alex@alexfoleypr.com

European Academy of Relocation Professionals

An Exciting New Venture for the Relocation Industry in Europe

Like everyone involved in the corporate world, the Relocation Industry in Europe is undergoing massive change and to keep pace with the demands that are being placed upon it, we have established an organisation to evaluate training and education to make way for an industry qualification. Our mission statement is:

“To establish a series of benchmarks that denote best practice within the European Relocation Industry and to create standards of excellence by which individual relocation professionals and relocation service providers can be measured"

- The first of its kind

- Helping to regulate the industry

- Benefits to Corporate Clients

- High Standards of Professionalism throughout Europe

- Professional Training Syllabus.

- Qualification – Three Levels of attainment.

- Continual Professional Development

- May 2003 Launch of a Professional Qualification training syllabus.

earp.eu.com – Web Site being developed to include more information for you. We will let you know when the web site is up and running

Founder Members of the EARP are – ABRA (Belgium), Association of Relocation Agents (UK), European Relocation Association, SNPRM (France)

Executive Board Members representing the Founder Members above:

Anita Meyer ABRA

Chrissie Twigg ARA

Kerstin Groenlund EuRA

Joelle Touhadian SNPRM

The Steering Group helping the Board:

Liz Hennessey of The MI Group

Walter Vermeeren of PRS Europe

Annie Panton of Quintus Consultants

24th March 2003