The Bureau and the Executive Board of ICA met in Malmo, Sweden, from April 14 to 16, 2008, at the invitation of the National Archivist of Sweden and the Municipal Archivist of Malmo.

The President welcomed three recently elected office holders: Ian Wilson, President of ICA 2008-2010, Nolda C. Römer-Kenepa, Vice President in charge of CITRA 2008-2012 and Lew Bellardo, Chair of the Programme Commission 2008-2012, as observers.

The Treasurer introduced the 2007 financial statements and indicated that the report audited by the firm Deloitte would be available soon.  The Executive Board expressed satisfaction that the financial situation of ICA had returned to normal and noted that, thanks to the efforts of some members, it will now be possible to sustain more activities and projects.  It thanked especially the United Arab Emirates for its generosity.

The Secretary General Designate presented the Annual Report of ICA for 2007 and explained the draft Strategic Directions of ICA 2008-2018.  Members will soon be consulted widely by Internet before the document is submitted for final discussion and approval by the Kuala Lumpur AGM.  The Strategic Directions will be underpinned by a Business Plan which will focus more specifically on the activities to be undertaken and the budgets that will be allocated to each.  The first on the spot comments by the Branch Presidents and Section Chairs present at the Malmo meeting were noted.

The Executive Board approved the proposed creation of two new sections which currently have provisional status: the Provisional Section on Notarial Records (SAN) and the Provisional Section on Sports Archives (SPO).  The final decisions will be taken by the AGM at Kuala Lumpur.

The Secretary General introduced the members to three ICA websites: for the organisation, for the discussion groups and for the Congress.  He explained that priority has been given so far to the development of the Congress site, but all necessary adjustments will be made to the others as soon as possible.

The Vice-President in charge of the Congress and the Secretary General updated the members with information on the organization of the 2008 Congress, particularly on the very full programme.

The Executive Board approved the appointment of Didier Grange as Deputy Secretary General as of the 2008 Congress and of Perrine Canavaggio as Secretary of the Programme Commission.  

The 2008 AGM will be very important since it will decide upon the ICA Strategic Directions in the coming years. 

Welcome to all in Kuala Lumpur next July!