The idea for ENIEC was conceived as a Dutch-Danish collaboration in 2005, by the founding members Grete Madsen and Jan Booij. The founding idea emphasised the exchange of ideas and practices between individual members in Europe who are enthusiastic and committed about developing and improving the quality of life of older people with a migrant background. With the support of the cities of The Hague and Copenhagen, a two-day inaugural meeting was held in Copenhagen in March 1 & 2, 2007, attended by 38 professionals from across Europe.
At the inaugural meeting in Copenhagen, participants elected a board with the authority to formally establish ENIEC as a members’ network. In 2007, ENIEC was officially registered as a Dutch association with the Chamber of Commerce in The Hague. To this day, ENIEC’s official domicile and address remain in The Hague.
Since its inception, ENIEC has organised annual meetings each year: Nijmegen (2025), Helsinki (2024), Gdańsk (2023), The Hague (2022), Online (2021), Bristol (2019), Madrid (2018), Pécs (2017), Frankfurt (2016), Istanbul (2015), Oslo (2014), Brussels (2013), Amsterdam (2012), Gothenburg (2011), Helsinki (2010), Frankfurt (2009), The Hague (2008), and Copenhagen (2007).
The 2026 Annual Meeting will take place in 2026 from April 15–17 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
