Welcome Speech By: Psicomotricistas Del Estado Español (Fapee) and The Spanish Universities That Have

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Welcome Speech by
RUI FERNANDO ROQUE MARTINS

PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN FORUM OF PSYCHOMOTRICITY (EFP)
5th EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF PSYCHOMOTRICITY
Thursday, 9th May 2013

Main Auditorium
Barcelona University
Distinguished Speakers, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very good afternoon to everyone, and thank you, for joining us, at the 5th EFP
European Congress of Psychomotricity.
I would like to present my compliments to all academic colleagues and administrative

authorities participating in this opening ceremony and express to you my deep
satisfaction for sharing this important moment for the development of
Psychomotricity.
To our eminent speakers, the EFP delegates and all participants who have come
from all over Europe, I am greatly honored and pleased to welcome you to
Barcelona, on behalf of the European Forum of Psychomotricity. We are indeed
honoured to have you here with us.
We have about 300 participants from 15 countries gathered here today, making our
congress a truly European initiative. I welcome also the colleagues from South
American countries that have also honoured us with their presence. Their presence
is also an opportunity to establish new scientific and professional bridges with other
geographical realities.
The 5th European Congress of Psychomotricity is organised by the European Forum

of Psychomotricity in collaboration with the Federación de Asociaciones de
Psicomotricistas del Estado Español (FAPee) and the Spanish Universities that have
developed courses in the scientific and professional field of Psychomotricity.
!
The Spanish organisation committee and also the scientific committee have done a
fantastic work preparing our congress and I would like to thank them for their energy,
competence and professionalism during the organization process. For sure, the
success I anticipate to this congress will certainly be the result of the effective
collaboration between the FAPee and the Spanish Universities, in coordination with
EFP delegates and EFP Board.
I would like to present a special thanks to our colleague Estrella Masabeu, the
Spanish delegate at EFP, not only for her fundamental work in motivating Spanish
colleagues to propose the organization of this congress, but also by her leadership
during the organization and also the continuous communication and coordination
with the EFP Board and the General Assembly.
This Congress is certainly a special occasion for those who work for the
development of Psychomotricity, in education, research and professional
development. It will be an occasion to meet, to listen, to discuss, to share information
and to plan for the future. Indeed, a congress is an opportunity to discuss key points
of scientific and professional policies and strategies, helping us to define how we
should encourage responsible conduct in our political decisions, to promote
Psychomotricity at the European level and also to establish personal contacts with
colleagues from other parts of the world.
Previous EFP congresses have been developed under this principle. The first
congress took place in Marburg - Germany, in 1996 with the theme: Psychomotor
Activity and Human Development.
The second congress took place in Strasbourg - France, in the year 2000 with the
theme: “Psychomotor Education and Therapy in a Society of Change on the
Threshold of the Third Millennium”.
The third congress was organised in Lisbon - Portugal, in 2004, with the theme:
“Psychomotor Identity: Similarity and Diversity”.
Finally, in this historical sequence of EFP congresses initiatives, the fourth and
previous Congress was organised in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, in 2008, with
the theme “Crossing Borders”.
These made it possible to present perspectives about psychomotor concepts and

methodologies and consequently have contributed to clarify the fundamentals of a
common profession based on a common identity, respecting possible diversities.
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And here we are again, now in Spain, in Catalonia, in Barcelona, to continue this
exceptional course that begun in 1996. The EFP is proud to host this event again,
bringing together renowned experts in our field, to address the vital issue of research
excellence and professional development.
In my opinion, now is the right time to reflect on some questions. Today, Europe is at
the crossroads of its future, in a difficult situation of crisis.
Are we choosing the right path in the crisis? Do our intervention programmes
achieve the intended effects? Which innovative sectors or methodologies can we
search for to work on? How can we secure a sustainable growth of Psychomotricity
and produce long-term value development for our scientific and professional field?
In an increasingly globalised world, there is a critical need to develop guidelines and
recommendations for promoting Psychomotricity at a European level. Given today's
exigencies created by the political and economical demands and pressures upon
professions, it is intended to improve and consolidate the professional, educational
and research efforts to provide the European community with exceptional value for
Psychomotricity. We cannot make this journey alone!
The theme of this congress is “Different faces of Psychomotricity”, and will certainly
help us to think about some of these subjects. Research activities are now taking
place at a higher level and so it is imperative to discuss positive approaches to
encourage best research practices, including examining the role of academic
publications in setting the standards for psychomotricity and also to present
professional experiences.
We have with us today representatives from universities and research organisations.

I hope that these three days of congress, allows academics, researchers and
professionals to share their ideas and views on common psychomotor issues,
discussing about the leadership challenges and responses in research which may in
turn inspire new or validated standards of practices in the professional field.
By the end of the Congress, as usual, we intend to formulate the final conclusions
and eventually make some recommendations, which will be a benchmark for the
future and will certainly contribute to promote excellent research and appoint
principles and strategies for training students, allowing them to acquire the adequate
skills to answer the current challenges of society.
The “European Forum of Psychomotricity” was founded in 1996 and seeks to sustain
and increase its excellence as an institution that supports Psychomotricity in Europe,
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through producing creative and innovative activities for education, professional

development, research and political initiatives.
Having in consideration the international recognition of its standards, the European
Forum of Psychomotricity has identified some strategic areas of development:
a) Contribute to the creation of a basic national education in Psychomotricity,

at the bachelor level in European countries, respecting the minimal
requirements already approved by the EFP and influencing academic
structures to use European benchmarks and homogeneous references for
initial or post-graduated education courses;
b) Contribute to the development of a specific profession recognised in the
different European countries and also by the European Commission;
c) Promote high quality research in cooperation with institutions of higher
education, to strength the validity of psychomotor practices in the different
contexts of intervention and at the political level;
d) Sustain communication between national members and their political
authorities and also promoting opportunities in continuing professional
education and lifelong learning through courses and professional mobility
programmes;
e) Enhance students experience, cooperation and partnership between
different European countries;
These goals are pursued throughout the different activities of the EFP organs,
namely the General Assembly and the Board, which have the responsibility to lead
the EFP dynamic.
The EFP has also three commissions working for psychomotor education, for
science and research and for the profession, which have produced some basic
documents, such as, for example, the Minimum Curriculum for Initial Education in
Psychomotricity and also the Psychomotrician Professional Competences In Europe.
The EFP also organises Students’ Academies every year and the European
Congress every 4 years.
There are different levels of psychomotor development in European countries and

diverse integration in systems of political organization, mainly in Health, and
Education. More developed countries should establish bilateral protocols based in
homogeneous training with the same criteria for recognition of professional practice
in other countries, and should support countries less developed in their path.
Also, all common initiatives (intensive students programmes, European Pos-
graduations, conferences, etc.) are also positive steps in this development direction.
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The EFF organizes its activity to provide European countries with the conditions to
develop in the most appropriate direction for our professional security in the future.
To accomplish this goal, we must think European and as always, that means to
respect differences to progressively achieve common identity. For that, we should
always understand and respect all specific situations at the professional and political
level and get inspiration from models of development, which are already confirmed.
Since the creation of the European Forum of Psychomotricity, countries have

increased knowledge of each other and have awakened the interest to learn from
each other. It is always in communication and dialogue we can advance.
Having this idea in mind, I would like to remind you of a Roman philosopher and
statesman, named Lucius Seneca, who was a contemporary of Jesus Christ and
said “If one does not know to which port is sailing, no wind can be favorable”. This
congress is also an opportunity to discuss and define the best routes to our port and
to blow scientifically and professionally our Psychomotricity ship's sails.
With these words, I hope this Congress provides you with a forum to exchange
scientific ideas, inspire new research, and new contacts for closer co-operation, so
that we can, together, envisage the future of a promising development of
Psychomotricity in Europe.
I also wish you a pleasant and interesting stay in Barcelona.
Finally, on behalf of the Board of the European Forum of Psychomotricity, I’m very
proud to declare officially opened the 2013 European Congress of Psychomotricity,
here in Barcelona.
Thank you very much
Barcelona, 9 of May 2013

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RUI FERNANDO ROQUE MARTINS

5th EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF PSYCHOMOTRICITY

Thursday, 9th May 2013

Distinguished Speakers, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to present my compliments to all academic colleagues and administrative

The 5th European Congress of Psychomotricity is organised by the European Forum

These made it possible to present perspectives about psychomotor concepts and

We have with us today representatives from universities and research organisations.

through producing creative and innovative activities for education, professional

a) Contribute to the creation of a basic national education in Psychomotricity,

There are different levels of psychomotor development in European countries and

Since the creation of the European Forum of Psychomotricity, countries have

I also wish you a pleasant and interesting stay in Barcelona.

Thank you very much

Barcelona, 9 of May 2013

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