"Attempts at harmonisation in European Landscape Architecture started following the Treaty of Rome. However, for more than twenty years progress was elusive. Many professional groups in Europe found similar problems. By the mid-eighties it was clear to the EU that Sectoral Directives were not the way forward. In 1987, the EU issued a General Directive. This effectively sanctioned the free movement of profession ally qualified people throughout Europe. [...]

With some urgency, a meeting of delegates representing the landscape profession in the twelve member countries of the EU was convened. That meeting was held in Belgium, in April 1989 and from it the European Foundation for Landscape Architecture emerged.
A group of like-minded individuals came together and, after quickly gaining confidence in each other, worked hard in a relaxed environment to achieve a result. Concerns protecting national interests were quickly set aside as a spirit of cooperation engaged all those present." [Extract from Michael Oldham, first EFLA President, article in EFLA News]

In 2006, following decisions by EFLA's General Assembly and IFLA's Central Region delegates, proposals for merging the two representative organizations was approved. And on January 1st, 2007, the "Coming Together" was completed.

Membership of IFLA Europe is open to national associations of landscape architects in the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the Associate Countries (those countries formally applying to join the EU) - the latter on a non-voting, observer basis.

(1) The original twelve (1989) EFLA national associations members were: Belgium, Denmark, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Full Members as of March 2012
1989 Declaration

Executive Council members

Nigel Thorne (UK)	Marina Cervera (Spain)	Tony Williams (Ireland)	Carlo Bruschi (Italy)	Jeremy A. Dennis (Denmark)
President	Secretary-General	Vice-President Education	Vice-President Professional Practice	Treasurer

Past Executive Council members

Past Presidents:
Michael Oldham, UK (1989-1991); Jef De Gryse, Belgium (1992-1997); Lars Nyberg, Sweden (1998-2003); Teresa Andresen, Portugal (2004-2008), Fritz Auweck, Germany (2008-2009).

Past Secretary-Generals:
Stef Stegen, Belgium (1989-1992); Michael Downing, UK (1993-1998); Karin Helms, France (1999-2000); Martina Nath-Essen, Germany (2001); Trygve Sundt, Norway (2002-2004); Robert Holden, UK (2005-2008); Catherine Szanto, France (2009).

Past Vice-Presidents Education:
Annalisa Maniglio Calcagno, Italy (1989-1995); Teresa Andresen, Portugal (1995-1996); Fritz Auweck, Germany (1997-2000); Robert Holden, UK (2001-2004); Karen Foley, Ireland (2005-2007); Andreja Tutundzic, Serbia (2008-2011).

Past Vice-Presidents Professional Practice:
Arno Schmid, Germany (1989-1992); Tony Edwards, UK (1993-1997); Trygve Sundt, Norway (1998-2001); Antonio Sopesens, Spain (2002-2004); Hans van Kempen, The Netherlands (2005-2006); Bernard Capelle, Belgium (2007-2008), Nigel Thorne, UK (2008-2009).

Past Treasurers:
Jérôme Espargilière, France (1989-1991) ; Karen Lacey, Ireland (1992-1997) ; Michael Cregan, UK (1998-2002) ; Anneli Wilska, Finland (2003-2007). Poul B. Pedersen, Denmark (2007-2010).