Abstract :
The development of the IRE in Europe comes at a time when the European nations are busily forming ever closer ties economically, industrially, and politically. Nevertheless, although the need for better exchange of technical information within Europe is now consciously felt, it is a fact that each of the national European technical societies is handicapped by history in building a professional society for a United Europe. The IRE can build just such a society. The various IRE sections will continue to operate nearly autonomously, free to serve wherever needed and to adapt to local conditions as appropriate. They will, in the not distant future, be joined together in the structure of an IRE Region (as the Canadian sections were joined long ago). The Regional Committees, automatically both international and European, will not only help to coordinate professional-society activity, but will provide a force to attack the special problems facing the new Europe. This is the challenge facing the international IRE.