With the ever increasing popularity of birdwatching in Europe, there has been a growing desire to link together the activity and the expertise of national bird rarities committees in some way.

It was agreed to:

• Encourage the founding of a national rarities committee in every European country
• Provide help for national committees when requested to do so
• Prepare and maintain a European list and
• Organize meetings of delegates of the national committees at approximately two-year intervals to maintain personal contact, information exchange and co-operation