The European Chess Union (ECU) is an independent association for the interests of European chess. It was founded on August 30, 1985, with the organisation's founding meeting taking place in Graz, Austria. ECU is an affiliated organisation to FIDE and the oldest and strongest continental chess power.

Data: Abbreviation ECU – Formation 1985 – Headquarters Hünenberg, Switzerland – Location Europe, Membership 55 national federations – President Zurab Azmaiparashvili – Website www.europechess.org.

Board: The European Chess Union Board is elected for a four-year term. Its members for the 2022-2026 term are the following: Zurab Azmaiparashvili, President; Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy President; Gunnar Bjornsson, Vice-President; Malcolm Pein, Vice-President; Alojzije Jankovic - Vice-President, Eva Repková - Vice-President, Jean-Michel Rapaire - Vice-President, Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou, Secretary General; Ion-Serban Dobronauteanu, Treasurer; Vanja Draskovic, Honorary Vice-President; Johann Poecksteiner, Honorary Vice-President.

ECU Presidents: 1985-1986: Rolf Littorin, Sweden; 1986-1998: Kurt Jungwirth, Austria; 1998-2010: Boris Kutin, Slovenia; 2010-2014: Silvio Danailov, Bulgaria; 2014-present: Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Georgia.

Such a big organisation like ECU, should be supported by various expert bodies, which are by today: Arbiters Council, Educational Advisory Board, Education Commission, Events Commission, Media & Communication Commission, Social Commission, Trainers Commission and Commission for Women Chess.

The ECU headquarters are in Hünenberg, Switzerland, with a membership 55 national federations. Here is the ECU home page.

ECU Trainers Commission

The ECU Trainers Commission (ETC) is the youngest body, founded in late 2022, with its main mission to support the training programs and development in European chess. The Council is consisting of: (ECU-ETC - Council).

The ECU-ETC has been quite active in those two years by today and it:

• Created a comprehensive Guide/Regulations (ECU-ETC - Regulations).
• Created and published a comprehensive teaching three-volumes (beginners, intermediate and advanced) Syllabus-series (600+ pages) aimed at educating trainers and self-improvement. The partnership with a well-known publishing company/platform (Chessable) allowed ECU to turn the Syllabus-series in a commercial product, so that it can financially benefit (now & in the years to come).
• Educated Trainers through seminars and gave them the opportunity to achieve ECU-ETC Trainer’s Titles. Participation of the female trainers has been notably high.
• Created a database of the ECU-ETC Titled Trainers (ECU-ETC - Titles List).
• Created a structured Academy Program for the European (and other Continents) best young players and run that program for 6 months long in late 2023 to middle 2024.

Future Programs: The ECU-ETC has announced already the following:

• The 2024-25 Academy Program (November 18th to April 29th), with famous trainers taking part (I.Sokolov, A.Mikhalchishin, A.Stefanova, E.Grivas, M.Illescas, J.Timman, R.Ramesh, L.D.Nisipeanu, J.Krivec, G.Kjartansson, J.Petronic), lecturing in well-structured programs (ECU Academy 2024-2025 - Flyer). Note that the program is open to any player, all over the world.
• The 4th Titles’ Seminar (25.11-05.12), which is again open to any trainer all over the world (ECU-ETC - Webinar Seminar 4-2024 - Announcement). 

ECU-ETC General Secretary
GM Efstratios Grivas

Full regulations page or the ECU