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To all FIDIC board members, member associations, past presidents council, committee/council members and regional chairs/Presidents
MA Letter 03_2022
Geneva, 16 March 2022
Dear Colleagues,
This letter follows our last letter to you of 25 February 2022 in which FIDIC condemned Russia’s invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine, asked for the immediate cessation of the war and offered our support to our Ukrainian member association, the AECU. FIDIC has received a very supportive response to our letter from our member associations.
Since that time, the invasion has not ceased but intensified and has resulted in the continued loss of life and injury and the displacement of millions of Ukrainians. The impact of the war on buildings and critical infrastructure has also been very severe. In a manner unprecedented in recent history, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has deeply alarmed people around the world, particularly those in Europe and those who have had the lived experience of war, invasion and occupation.
Many member associations are discussing the issues and are concerned as to what action may be most appropriate in the circumstances. The FIDIC board and secretariat have reflected on FIDIC’s international mandate and our statutory objectives, including diversity and inclusivity, to develop our approach to this very serious and concerning situation.
FIDIC is an apolitical, independent federation of member associations and we do not maintain relationships directly with any governments. Our member associations represent consulting engineering firms and their professionals and do not represent their country’s governments.
FIDIC’s stated role and that of its member associations around the world is to “improve people’s quality of life through the promotion of quality, integrity and sustainability in the infrastructure industry and the projects and services it delivers on a global scale” (FIDIC website). Obviously, any war is contrary to FIDIC’s objectives and the values our members uphold and the present invasion by the Russian government of its sovereign neighbour must be condemned.
We are sending this letter to voice our continued condemnation of the invasion, to demand again the cessation of the war and to update you on FIDIC’s actions.
Actions Undertaken:
- On 25 February 2022, FIDIC’s president and CEO wrote a letter to all member associations in FIDIC condemning Russia’s invasion and called for the immediate cessation of the war.
- On 25 February 2022, a letter was sent to Association of Engineers-Consultants of Ukraine (AECU) offering FIDIC’s support and assistance.
- FIDIC training in Russia has been suspended.
- On 2 March 2022, FIDIC’s CEO wrote a letter to the president of NACEC (National Association of Construction-Engineering Consultants) in Russia condemning the war, advising them that FIDIC received support for our position from the member associations and asked for NACEC to call for the cessation of the war.
Current Actions:
- Establish a link on our website to enable member associations to assist the people of the Ukraine through a fundraising partnership with relevant international relief organisations.
- FIDIC will continue to engage with AECU to see how to best support them now and in the future.
- NACEC responded to FIDIC’s 2 March 2022 letter on 11 March 2022 and further discussions are underway with NACEC on the way forward,
- Following consultation with NACEC, the FIDIC board has decided to suspend the participation of the NACEC member on the FIDIC Europe board until further notice.
Further to the above, FIDIC continues to receive correspondence from its member associations and other stakeholders on the matter. The FIDIC board and the FIDIC CEO continue to review and will reflect on such correspondence in a near future.
We hope that these actions are consistent with your aspirations for FIDIC and our global industry and look forward to any feedback you may wish to provide to us. We will continue to monitor the international community’s response to the invasion and may take additional actions in the future.
We are sure that we speak for all of you in expressing the hope that the war in Ukraine will end very soon and that peace and sovereignty will be restored to this great nation.
Yours sincerely,
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