The Launch Event, October 2005
The European Software Association launched at the European Parliament in October 2005, bringing together its founding board, Members of the European Parliament and European Commission officials — the moment described in our About Us history.
Where it all began
In October 2005, 25 independent software vendors came together to launch the European Software Association at the European Parliament in Brussels — the founding moment behind everything the Association does today. Read the fuller story on About Us.
The event brought founding board members face to face with the Members of the European Parliament and Commission officials the Association was created to work alongside, including Paul Rübig and Malcolm Harbour, MEPs, and Jesús Villasante of DG Information Society and Media.
Many of the executives pictured below went on to lead the Association’s board for years afterward — see their full profiles on Board Biographies.
Scenes from the launch
More photographs of the board and Association events are collected on our Photography & Imagery page.
See how the Association has grown since
From a launch event with 25 founding ISVs to a full calendar of Brussels events and policy Workgroups — explore where the Association stands today.