As delivered by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Director of the EDQM, dear Petra,

Excellencies,

Parliamentarians,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to this reception –

Over the course of today, I know that you have had the opportunity to reflect on the impressive achievements of the EDQM throughout the past six decades –

From ensuring the quality and safety of medicines and health products that we need on a daily basis –

To protecting consumers from cosmetics, food packaging and other products that contain contaminants and toxic ingredients.

So that people across Europe and beyond can have faith in what they are prescribed and what they buy.

In this way, the work that you do here has made an enormous impact on ensuring the right to protection of health.

There is no doubt that the EDQM benefits from the insights and expertise of a wide range of people –

Including member and observer states’ delegates across various bodies, such as the European Pharmacopeia Commission –

Steering committees, networks and intergovernmental committees –

And the experts’ contributions to the work of over 100 expert groups.

Not to mention the skilled and dedicated staff who work in the EDQM, every day, and make their own crucial contribution to the safety and quality of medicines and health products throughout our continent, and beyond.

All of these people – staff, delegates and experts – are absolutely vital –

And it is a pleasure to see that so many of you  are here today to take part in this celebration.

It is also impressive to see the way in which the EDQM has built strong and effective relationships with partner organisations –

Including the European Union and the World Health Organisation.

Dear friends,

As you know, the frontiers of science and technology are advancing at an extraordinary speed.

This will no doubt have big implications for all of us –

Including of course in the field of health and healthcare, which are at a crossroads with many disciplines.

The past 60 years have shown that the EDQM is unique in the world both in its composition, and its capabilities.

So, I take this opportunity to thank you so much for what you have done – and at the same time wish you a happy anniversary to all of you!