Dear EMS members, dear friends,

Dear EMS members, dear friends,

Dear members of the EMS,

let me start by wishing you happy new year marked by good health and humour, as well as by some inspirative  ideas. Opening a new  four-year cycle in the life of our society, I have the opportunity to greet all of you when assuming the EMS presidency. It was your  decision, through the Council delegates, which put me into this role, and I feel a deep gratitude for your trust and at the same time  a grave responsibility thinking of what the job requires.

By the end of this year, my term as President of the European Mathematical Society will come to an end. This is therefore my last traditional annual message, and I would like to start it by sending you all my belated best wishes for a very prosperous and peaceful year 2014. A great deal of our activity in the forthcoming months will be focused on the organization of the Council meeting.

Dear EMS member, At the beginning of this year, let me express my best wishes for a prosperous and peaceful 2013. It is my pleasure to be in touch with you to report on some aspects of the work of the Society in 2012, along with some plans for activities in the near future.

About a year ago, I assumed the position of President of the European Mathematical Society with my strong commitment to work for the mathematical community and to keep the EMS at the service of the best interests of our discipline. It is my pleasure to give an overview of the life of the Society and of some of its developments.

Membership

In the first executive committee this year, a series of actions directly connected with EMS membership were decided. The following have already been implemented:

During the last three months, the Executive Committee has been shaping some of the plans described in the “Message from the President” from last January. These include attracting new members, with special attention to young people, making the Society more visible, and increasing communication with all our members. The recently established agreement with UMALCA (Mathematical Union of Latin America and Caribbean Countries) opens the door to a challenging co-operation with a learned society representing a large community outside Europe’s borders. 

1. Council Meeting in Sofia.
The Council meeting in Sofia will be held on July 10-11 where we shall elect the next EMS President, two Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Secretary and two new EC members.
The mayor of Sofia Mrs. Jordanka Fandakova has kindly accepted the Organizing Committee’s invitation to act as patron of the Council meeting. In addition to giving the welcoming address she will provide a reception on July 10 for the delegates (traditionally this is a full scale dinner).

 Marta Sanz-Solé
 EMS President