EFPPA Booklet 1: About EFPPA

Introduction

EFPPA is a federation of national Psychology Associations and is the only European organisation entitled to speak for European psychologists. It provides a forum for European co-operation in a wide range of fields of psychology practice and research.

There are 30 member associations of EFPPA (see list at the end of this booklet) representing about 110,000 psychologists. The member organisations of EFPPA are concerned with promoting and improving psychology as a profession and as a discipline, particularly, though not exclusively, in applied settings and with emphasis on the training and research associated with such practice. The psychologists in the member associations include practitioners as well as academic and research psychologists. The Federation has as one of its goals the integration of practice with research and the promotion of an integrated discipline of psychology.

The History of EFPPA

The European Federation of Professional Psychologists Associations (EFPPA) was founded in Germany in 1981, when representatives of 12 national psychology associations signed the Statutes. The first General Assembly (G.A.) was held in Heidelberg in 1981. Since that time General Assemblies have been held every two years: 1982 Edinburgh, 1984 Vienna, 1986 Lausanne, 1988 Rome, 1990 Luxembourg, 1991 (Extraordinary G.A.) Budapest, 1992 Brussels, 1993 Tampere, 1995 Athens, 1997 Dublin, 1999 Rome. The EFPPA General Assembly is now held in conjunction with the biennial European Congress of Psychology. Its next General Assembly will be held in London in 2001.

The aims of EFPPA are:

• to promote communication and co-operation between member associations in Europe, and to contribute to their development
• to further the establishment of ethical codes of practice for psychologists, and to promote the application of psychology as a means of improving the well-being of those to whom psychologists offer services
• to promote the furtherance of psychology and its application, with particular reference to professional training and the professional status of psychologists
• to support the interests of psychology and its application in relation to any European or international organisations concerned with specifying requirements for the professional practice of psychology
• to support member associations in promoting the interests of psychology within their own countries
• to facilitate contacts with international bodies of psychology
• to promote the development of professional psychology in all its different areas and subject matters and, as appropriate, to assist in the co-ordination of this activity (EFPPA Statutes Article 3)

Membership of EFPPA

Membership is open to the national psychology association of European countries. There may be only one member association per country. In countries where there is more than one national psychology association, the Federation should endeavour to identify the most representative organisation and, if appropriate, encourage the development of a national federation in order to promote co-operation among psychological associations. Membership is determined by the General Assembly upon presentation of the applicant association's articles, statutes, and code of ethics plus details of the membership (see EFPPA Statutes Article 5).

As a European federation representing the interests of psychologists in Europe, EFPPA is committed to making contact with member associations of psychologists from European countries, which are not yet members of EFPPA. This is particularly the case in relation to psychologists' associations from countries in the east of Europe, with whom EFPPA is concerned to make contacts, to share information and to promote collaboration. A member of the EFPPA Executive Council has responsibility for developing these links and contacts, and the EC will attempt to help to support initiatives.

Activities of EFPPA

Collection and exchange of information

EFPPA has a unique potential for collecting and disseminating information on a wide range of areas in Europe such as ethical codes, education and training, professional practices, regulations and legislation. This is achieved both through the work of Task Forces, through the work of the General Secretaries of the member associations and the EFPPA Secretariat and through features in the News from EFPPA published in the journal "European Psychologist".

Publications

EFPPA publishes an electronic newsletter (www.efppa.org), Information booklets and reports of Task Forces are available from the Head Office or can be downloaded from the webpage

• Booklet 1 About EFPPA
• Booklet 2 Statutes of EFPPA
• Booklet 3 Optimal Standards for Training
• Booklet 4 Congress Guidelines
• Booklet 5 Task Force Guidelines
• Booklet 6 Ethical Metacode

Also published under the auspices of EFPPA :

• Inventory of Regulations (now out of print)
• Test Survey (available from Dansk Psykolog Forening)
• Psychologists Moving in Europe (out of print)

Monitoring developments and lobbying in respect of developments, directives and legislation both within the European Community and outside

EFPPA has a responsibility to its member associations to monitor developments and lobby on behalf of members, both in relation to developing European Community legislation and in respect of broader relations across Europe.

Development of common standards of training and common practices

An objective of EFPPA is to develop a more common framework for minimal standards of training and professional practice of psychologists in Europe. The 'Optimal standards for training' was agreed by member associations in 1990 (EFPPA booklet no.3). The EC Directive 89/48/EEC requires member countries to develop procedures for recognising the equivalence of qualifications and for facilitating movement between member states. EFPPA aims to share information amongst member associations concerning education and training routes, curricula and standards and to examine the regulations for professional practice existing in its member associations.

Expert advice

EFPPA provides a means for ensuring that expert advice is available both to individual national bodies and to relevant inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies on matters relating to psychology.

Links with other bodies

EFPPA has links with a number of relevant international bodies including: the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, the American State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), the Organisation of Psychologists in Quebec (CPQ), the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, Council of Europe, European Union (EU), the International Association for Applied Psychology (IAAP), the International School Psychology Association (ISPA), the International Union for Psychological Science (IUPsyS), the European Organisation for Liberal Professions (SEPLIS), United Nations Education of Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), World Health Organisation (WHO). EFPPA aims to establish other links as appropriate to further the development of psychology and psychologists in Europe.

EFPPA collaborates with IAAP and IUPsyS in co-ordinating the Forum of European Psychological Associations, which offers the opportunity for information exchange, communication and the development of joint policies and action in matters of common concern to European topical psychological associations. The forum meets at the occasion of international congresses of psychology taking place in Europe and provides a European network for communication and collaboration of these associations (details available from EFPPA secretariat).

Conferences and meetings

The biennial European Congress of Psychology is organised under the auspices of EFPPA. The First European Congress was held in Amsterdam in 1989, the Second in Budapest in 1991, the Third in Tampere in 1993, the Fourth in Athens in 1995, the Fifth in Dublin in 1997, the Sixth in Rome in 1999, and the Seventh is due to be held in London in 2001. (www.bps.org.uk)
The Federation holds its General Assembly in conjunction with these meetings. EFPPA is also involved in other meetings and small conferences where this is possible, appropriate and practicable.

GROUPS of EFPPA

Standing Committees

EFPPA has established four Standing Committees which support the work of the Executive Council and the General Assembly by monitoring developments on the European legislative level in general and in the fields of psychotherapy and tests and testing in particular. A Standing Committee on Ethics helps to support the development of ethical standards and the implementation of a meta code on ethics (cf. Booklet 6)

• Standing Committee on Ethics 1999-2003 (renewed)
• Standing Committee on European Legal Matters 1997-2001
• Standing Committee on Test and Testing 1999-2003
• Standing Committee on Psychotheraphy1999-2003

Standing Committees are appointed for a four-year period and may be renewed following review.

Task Forces

Much of the development work of EFPPA is carried out by Task Forces which are appointed at a General Assembly usually for a two year period and to carry out a certain task. They consist of representatives from member associations. Each Task Force has a convenor and a small number of members with interest and /or expertise in the area of activity.

During 1999-2001, EFPPA has Task Forces in the following areas:

• · Disaster and Crisis Psychology 1999 - 2001 (prolonged)
• · Psychology in the Education Field 1999 - 2001 (prolonged)
• · Traffic Psychology 1999 - 2001

Task Forces usually work for a two-year period and present a report to the General Assembly. They provide a valuable means of collecting information on a particular area from member associations and the reports are a useful resource both for members and others.

Communications

One of EFPPA's most important tasks is communication. The Federation has several means of communication:

• · A newsletter on the World Wide Web
• · regular circulars mailed to Member Associations from the Secretary General
• · each Executive Council member has liaison responsibility for a cluster of countries
• · face-to-face communication with member associations wherever this is possible, e.g. meetings of the Presidents´Council or when meetings or conferences are held in that country.

Finances

Member associations pay an annual subscription to EFPPA, according to the size of their membership. The financial resources of EFPPA are used to fund a small Secretariat and administration of EFPPA, Task Force activities, meetings of the Executive Council, the Presidents' Council, the General Assembly and the production of EFPPA publications.

Operation of EFPPA and the Executive Council

EFPPA has an Executive Council consisting of an Executive Board of three members and four other members. The Executive Board consists of the President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer. Members of the Executive Council serve a term of four years and are eligible for re-election for one further term. Each Member Association may have only one member on the Executive Council. Between meetings of the General Assembly (every two years) the Executive Council is responsible for the management of EFPPA and for the observance of the Statutes and Regulations.

Update: 2000