An international event
More than 200 participants convened in the conference center of the French center of international commerce in Paris to attend this international seminar.
In his opening speech, Jacques Isnard, president of UIHJ, said: if we exist today as we are, it is because 20 States of EU are liable to become liberal. It is envisaged that in 4or 5 years, all the European countries have adopted a liberal status for the judicial officers. This is fundamental for us because we suffer from a lack of common identity. The principle of today's event was decided several months ago. We suffer to witness the loss of activities yet we have considerable assets and a considerable strength. We do not know how to use them. We must take away everything that is harmful to the activities of judicial officers relating to debt collecting.
As an introduction to the meeting, an analysis and comments were made by Roland de Meerleer (Belgium) and René Duperray (France) on a questionnaire that was sent to French and Belgium judicial officers. The results are clear and reflect on the same general feeling on both sides of the borders: is appears imperative to be positioned on the debt collecting market and the status of judicial officers seems no longer adapted to the economic realities.
What is debt collecting?
Marcel Mignon, president of the Belgium national chamber of judicial officers and Paul Rochard, vice-president of the French national chamber of judicial officers, made a presentation of the principles of debt collecting in Belgium and France.
During a round table, several participants from diverse areas gave their point of vue on debt collecting. They consisted in André Voillequin, general manager of the Association of Law and Communication (Adec), José Gillet, judicial officer in Lamballe (France), Bernard Menut, secretary of UIHJ, Alain Bordet, judicial officer in Angleur (France), and Sylvain Gros-Désir, vice-president of the French association of credit-managers.
This round table uncovered the problems encountered by judicial officers in the perception of the market of debt collection. It was also possible to focus on the needs of the big clients and their expectancies in that field and to assess the needs.
A plea for the debt collecting by judicial officers
During the first workshop, relating to the causes that affect the debt collecting market to the detriment of judicial officers, Jean-Paul Spinelli, member of UIHJ, sweeping away the notes he had prepared for the occasion, started a vibrant plea towards his colleagues for them to realize the issue on a European level. “Do we want to compete with debt collecting companies?” he asked a captivated audience. “This meeting, which is organised by UIHJ, has no other purpose than to organize a reflection and create reactions”.
Robert Vergauwen, judicial officer in Gent (Belgium), developed the social et legal situation of judicial officers, the negative image of the profession, the activities of debt collection and the future challenges for the profession. He concluded his intervention in insisting on the importance of this conference. “We have to realize the importance of exchanging our opinions et our mutual experiences in order to prepare the future of our professions”, he said.
Networks of judicial officers
The second workshop was set to present the creation and the functioning of networks. Under the chair of Francis Guépin, member of UIHJ, Leo Netten, first vice-president of UIHJ, and Hans Pessers and Mr Blum, respectively president and vice-president of INCASS (PB), each made a remarkable intervention on the historical creation of judicial officers' networks in the Netherlands while presenting two of them: GGN and Incass.
In particular, Leo Netten underlined that judicial officers can offer more service than a debt collecting company. But, in order to be competitive, they have to adapt. “In the Netherlands, our offices have not known a drop in our business”, he explained. “On the contrary, on average, our gross has been multiplied by three since 1990. If judicial officers want to have a leading role, it is necessary that the offices have a dimension that can attract clients”.
For the well being of our profession...
Before the final word that marked the end of a historical meeting, the president Isnard, made an intervention with his usual enthusiasm and fervour. “Since the extension of UE, there are 20 Member States that know of a liberal status for judicial officers. Our actions are not the same as they were five years ago. With twenty liberal countries, the concern of UIHJ is to preserve and develop the economical interests of its members. Judicial officers throughout the world must have the ability to develop and grow. This is major issue. If Dutch judicial officers are today in a favourable position, regarding the future of French of Belgium judicial officers, we think that the risks are high. In Quebec, our colleagues were wealthy several years ago but hey were not careful. Within four years, only 300 offices remain from the existing 600. As far as the future is concerned, debt collecting will be essential. Debt collecting concerns us all. It is a question of will and engagement. We will maintain our judicial activities. I believe in debt collecting and, through networks, in judicial officers brought together. I believe in the future of the profession. Be trustful. Everything that is in preparation in Brussels, Strasburg or the Hague, will burst out for the well being of our profession...”
