Lecture of the EACD-President

My position in responsibility for the restoration of the gothic cathedral of St. Maria zur Wiese in Soest, again and again, needs me to use the most basic knowledge. For example, Pythagoras's theorem from more than 2500 years ago, which states that a square plus b square equals c square. Possibly after he had not succeeded in explaining something to somebody - he phraised another wisdom, but in words: “Not everything can be explained to everybody.“

What Pythagoras said then is still true today – but not, of course, here for you and me in the next 20 minutes! What I want to tell you about today is quite easy to explain and to understand. It isn't about re-inventing the wheel, no, this initiative is about thinking about the past in order to make the future good.

Our historical buildings document basic features of our culture and the identity of Europe in the world. As long ago as the Middle Ages, the Cathedral Workshops built the important cathedrals by means of a kind of international network. In today's age of globalisation, this system – and precisely because we do not copy it – acts as a fascinating role model to inspire us to new levels of creativity.

Since 1996 I set up a loosely organised international group to discuss matters of professional culture and training with regard to the work of the stonemasons. To me, this old trade is an excellent example of all the trades which played their part in building the cathedrals and which are vital to ensure that buildings of such historical importance are maintained. I had realised that these trades are often not included in the committees for the decision-making processes.

There surely exist many different reasons why they are not able to play their part there -. Yet what actually happens is done by these very same hands. Journalists called this discussion group of architects, craftsmen, sociologists, teachers, artists and historians -, the “Circle of Soest“.

In 1998, this group found that, on the one hand, the legal situation in European countries has resulted in there being great differences in vocational education. On the other hand, the decision was taken to cooperate at a high level on cross-European standards of training and further education in respect of trades.

During the annual meeting in 1999, the group came to understand that the matter of classifying crafts is an enormous problem, not only because of the importance of the contents, but also for formal reasons. It became clear to us that this problem – the grading of the quality of high-level qualifications in Europe – is not one which can solve itself. And also we saw that no country has the magic formula for all the others.

The meeting in 2000 – by now, eight nations were represented – ended with three demands: 1.) in addition to the “Master of Science“ and “Master of Arts“, etc., there should be an Europe-wide “Master of Craft“; 2.) the crafts must get rid of the Europe-wide lack of “good terms“ such as quality, youth, self-fulfilment, prosperity; 3.) the matter of professional training needs “European recommendations“.

Finally, in 2001, in a charter signed by representatives from sixteen nations, this recommendation became a call for a European “Master of Craft“.

One year later, in 2002 in Basel, Switzerland, it was decided to turn the free group into an official European association. The EACD was founded in the premises of the UEAPME in Brussels in 2003.

At the first general assembly of the EACD, held in Brac / Croatia in 2004, the young and very poor association had to deal with the offer to set up a new, large European centre of competence in Bavaria.

In 2005, on the Swedish island of Gotland, it was decided that the idea of a new building was unworkable, and should give way to a decentralised process of further education – a tour through several European countries to bring about a European Master of Craft ®. To do this, an educational plan was drawn up.

Following an international invitation to applicants, eight participants were chosen, and the tour started in Laas, South Tirol, Italy, in 2006. The candidates, stonemasons, have already acquired the highest possible qualification in their own countries. Most of them are employers. In five stations, and in six European countries, the participants qualify in blocks of three-week training with the people principally responsible in the educational establishments. This pilot scheme, held for the first time, will be concluded in 2009.

Through all the years, our movement has enjoyed generous support. In 2007, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the EACD summoned an advisory committee which had been set up earlier.

In Brussels, at the end of 2007, European guideline 2005/36/EC regulating the recognition of professional qualifications was amended. Part of the reason for this success was the EACD and its educational tour as a concrete argument regarding best practice. Some trade professions in Austria, Luxembourg and Germany were raised to medium level c of 5 levels of professional classification.

If you wish, you could say that our mission is finished, that something positive has been achieved. However, there is something magical about every new beginning, and so I will finish by showing just a few snapshots of our candidates during their educational tour.

The tour is going well – just as you would expect, given the quality of our facilities and members. The EACD wishes every participant continued success, and looks forward to on-going support in the future.