Introduction
AIDA is a non-profit making international association, formed in 1960, to promote and develop at an international level, collaboration between its members with a view to increasing the study and knowledge of international and national insurance law and related matters.
The founding meeting of AIDA, which took place at 3:00 p.m. on April 28, 1960, united insurance lawyers from all over the world. The list of participants (see attachment) contains many names who were already famous at the time or have become so since. The oldest participant was Prof. Karl Wahle from Vienna. At his suggestion, Prof. Möller was appointed by acclamation as President of the founding meeting. Therefore, as his youngest collaborator, it fell to me to take the minutes of this memorable meeting. As I write this text, I still have my original shorthand notes before me.
The first speaker was Prof. Donati, who declared that he was abandoning the draft of the statutes he had proposed. A debate immediately ensued on this basis. Prof. Möller pointed out at the beginning that the Statute should be drawn up in French and English, adding that the proposal should first of all provide for the immediate participation of natural persons, but also of legal persons, especially in the form of national groups. Furthermore, Prof. Möller also pointed out that similar rules for personal participation already existed in some countries. There were no objections to this point. In retrospect, it can be said that the system of indirect participation was the only one that subsequently established itself.
The next point was the formation of a Temporary Commission, which was to consist of a representative from each country represented in the Assembly. A break was requested for the selection of the representatives. The following names were subsequently announced:
- Austria: Prof. Karl Wahle [Vienna]
- Belgium: Prof. G Wets [Brussels]
- Egypt: Prof. E Sarofim [Cairo]
- France: Prof. Andre Besson [Paris]
- Germany: Prof. Hans Möller [Hamburg]
- Japan: Prof. H Suguro [Kobe]
- Greece: Dr Alkis Argyriadis [Athens]
- India: J Minattur [The Hague]
- Italy: Prof. Antigono Donati [Rome]
- Luxembourg: Dr F Konz [Luxembourg]
- Netherlands: Dr C Scheltema [Amsterdam]
- Norway: Prof K Selmer [Oslo]
- Sweden: Dr OH Appeltofft [Stockholm]
- Switzerland: Dr H Salzmann [Zurich]
- USA: Prof. AA Ehrenzweig [Berkeley, California]
On the proposal of Prof. Donati, supported by Prof. Möller, Prof. de Sola Canizares [Dean of the Faculte Internationale de Droit Compare in Luxembourg.] was co-opted into the commission by acclamation.
Objectives
AIDA’s aim is to consider and through its collaborative efforts from time to time to propose measures which may allow the insurance industry and those affecting their business most fairly and effectively both to conduct and supervise insurance business as well as to resolve insurance disputes and, where appropriate, to harmonise national and international insurance laws.
Activities
AIDA’s activities are organised at worldwide level, as well as at international and national level through AIDA’s two international Regional Groupings – AIDA Europe (European) and CILA (Ibero-Latinamerican) – and through the activity of one or more individual National Sections, among other collaborations.