Owing to the developments in Near East it was agreed during an EMS General Assembly in Lecce, September 2002, that in January and April 2002, the EMS should stepwise decide on a possible change of venue. To all parties involved it was clear that the situation in Jerusalem, where the meeting was planned to be held, was such that there was real doubt that a congress in this city would be successful. The EMS president sent a letter to all European Societies for Microscopy, asking for their help in taking over the work done so far by the Israeli Organizing Committee. The Executive Board of EMS received three proposals and on the 18 th of April, a telephone conference was organised in which all members of the Executive Board participated. After this discussion, the unanimous decision was taken to accept the offer of the Belgian Society to organize EMC 2004 (European Microscopy Congress) in Antwerpen. The date of the Congress has not been changed: August 22-27, 2004. Presently, the International Advisory Board is being composed, and soon the agreement between EMS and the Organising Committee in Antwerpen will be signed. The First Announcement will be distributed at ICEM15 in Durban. We have to thank our Israeli colleagues for all the work they have done in preparation of EMC 2004 and express the hope that peace will be restored in the area soon.

A website is under construction to provide more information: http://www.emc2004.be