One of thequestions that regular readers of this webpage might legitimately ask is thatof „the facts“. In some previous articles that were posted, we speculated onthe expansion of the ECo-C to France, or, last week, to Poland. While such atrack is interesting, it could seem somewhat sterile if not associated toactual, practical forecasts and expectations.

Such istherefore the purpose of the present news piece: to outline the spread of the ECo-Cacross the European continent in concrete terms backed by forecast dates andtimelines.

As one can seeon the map, the ECo-C is already available internationally, in Germany andSlovakia. It is furthermore to be launched in Hungary come fall. As these threecountries are traditional close partners of Austria, their early adoption ofthe certificate comes as no surprise.

It is also nosurprise that the next countries lining up to adopt the certificate areRomania, Poland, by June 2011, followed by the Czech Republic and Bulgarialater in that year. All of these countries are new EU member states with strongconnections to the German-speaking world; in fact, up until 1918, parts ofRomania and Poland as well as the Czech Republic were integrated to theAustrian Empire. While those historical links have long ceased to exist, theadoption of the certificate would, as demonstrated in last week’s article,serve to support the workforce and resolve problems that all of thesecountries, together, face.

It is in 2012that the ECo-C is forecast to really explode; five country representations fromboth Western and Eastern Europe are expected to enter into the scene (Franceand Spain in the first half of the year, the Netherlands, Serbia and Croatia inthe second). Sweden is also forecast to launch its program as of the beginningof 2013, with three more countries (Italy, Slovenia, Malta) to join in 2014.

A suspiciousreader might ask: how can one rely on such a distant forecast? It is true that,according to this planned, approximate launch dates have been determined forthe next four years, and certainly, those dates may be amended in the future.However, much can be explained by the stringent standards of quality that the ECo-Cretains and applies the licensing of country representations, trainers andtraining centres the translation of training materials. The ancient adage isonce again proven… good things take time! In turn, this means that the forecastdates are realistic, chosen so as not to rush the expansion of the certificateor compromise what it stands for.

Pictured: The Expansion of the ECo-C in Europe, by Date