Following their first ever annual general meeting in Finland, it is a Fin, Reijo Vauhkonen, who will take over as the next President of Euroroc, the European confederation of national organisations that represent their countries\' stone industries.

The presidency will be passed on by the current president, Joachim Gr¸ter, during the Marmomacc stone exhibition in Verona, Italy, at the start of October.

In the UK, Stone Federation Great Britain pulled out of the European organisation a few years ago while the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) retain their membership. Euroroc aims to represent the interests of the European stone industry at the European parliamentary level.

Reijo Vauhkonen says his aim is to improve the competitive position of the stone industry in Europe. He says: "The stone industry is at a critical stage in Europe. The demand for natural stone is increasing but an increase in imports from outside Europe and aggressive marketing will force European companies to redefine their business strategies."

He warns European stone producers not to enter a price war. "You cannot respond to the increase in imports by lowering prices and compromising profitability as you would eventually reach an impasse."

He says European stone producers and masons must invest in research and development to improve the way they present and supply their products and raise awareness of their stones.

"Led by the Finnish Natural Stone Association, the stone industry in Finland has jointly invested in R&D for years now. Lately they have been concentrating their efforts on increasing the awareness of stone. The current year is the Year of Stone, to make construction professionals and ordinary people more aware of stone."