 A Letter from the Editor ProChiropractic Europe (P.C.E.) is an “Umbrella Organisation” of chiropractic patients´associations from countries in Europe - and have their annual General Assembly in a new country each year - generally in connection with the European Chiropractor Unions (ECU) convention. In 2001 the PCE had the General Assembly in Paris in connection also with the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) and the ECU convention. The concept for the ECU convention can be "Spinal Rehabilitation, Back to pain, Disability of the 21st Century , Facts and Myths " ect. Dr. Tony Metcalfe, Great Britain who, after 18 years as president of the ECU, resigned from the demanding position, has always been a great supporter of the PCE. 1998 - 1999 it was a Danish Chiropractor Dr. Flemming Teilman Nielsen ( ECU president 1998-2000) and chiropractor Dr. Peter Dixon, Great Britain (ECU president 2000-2004)from England. Dr. Philippe Druart (ECU president2004- ) Belgium. In the North of Europe, Great Britain, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium have legislature for chiropractic and have a greater number of patients and chiropractors than other regions. The Prochiropractic Europe does not however ignore nor forget other associations and will continue to support and help to create stronger patient associations, which will give the chiropractic profession more political effectiveness in regions other than Northern Europe. There is a great difference between Northern and Southern Europe in chiropractic legislation and legal interpretation. In the North of Europe the Saxon Law interpretation predominates, which indicates that "You may practice as you wish unless the law expresses that it is forbidden." In the South of Europe, however, they follow the Napoleon codex which interpretation leads to "What the law does not expressly permit is forbidden." For the furture it is important that the Prochiropractic Europe remains the central contact point for the European Parliament and the Commission and continues to work with them. The Prochiropractic Europe also hopes to be able to contribute to obtaining chiropractic legislation in Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, and Italy. They are some of the countries, lacking legislature - but some has for several years had active ProChiropractic - others only for few years Officers appointed to the Prochiropractic Europe Executive Committee are from Italy Ms. Louise Pellissier and was elected Vice President. She has been the founder and admistrator of the Italian patients' association. Dr. Ernst Kistler, who is an attorney, was elected treasurer of the Prochiropractic Europe. He is also President of the Swiss patients' association. Switzerland was the first country in Europe to legislate chiropractic. Since Switzerland is composed of cantons each with their own laws, the whole population had to vote on this legislation.
After PCE General Assembly 2006 in Stockholm we had the pleasure of welcoming a new secretary into our Executive Committee - namely Ms. Jenny Joutsamo an attorney and from Finland. She is also the president of the Finnish patient association. Ms. Ann-Liss Taarup is working in Denmark - where chiropractic is legalised and the education is on the Danish university - and the chiropractic patient association is nearly 80 years old - and has actually fulfilled all our goals. Ann-Liss Taarup President of Prochiropractic Europe | 
