General meeting passes resolution to dissolve Basi e. V.; A+A Congress to continue under new organisational umbrella
In future, the task of organising the A+A Congress will lie with the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). On 7 October 2026, the general meeting of Basi, the German Federal Association for Occupational Safety and Health, voted to dissolve the association. With this step, it set the course for reorganisation of its core tasks.
The A+A Congress is held every two years in Düsseldorf, alongside the A+A trade fair, the world’s leading trade fair for safe and healthy work. The next A+A Congress, the 40th, will be held from 19 to 22 October 2027. Over the decades, Basi has used the congress to create a central platform for discussion of safety and health at work. Representatives from the social partners, the German federal and state governments, the statutory accident insurance (German Social Accident Insurance Institutions), the research community and professional associations meet at the congress to discuss topical developments, challenges and potential solutions. This successful format will form the basis for the future strategy.
“Far from marking an end to our collective efforts, this step creates a new foundation for their organisation,” says Dr Christian Felten, Managing Director of Basi. “The DGUV’s resolute commitment opens up new opportunities to integrate the A+A Congress and the A+A trade fair even more closely, develop new formats and expand the reach of the congress. At the same time, the partners whose support over many years has formed the bedrock of the congress will continue to be involved comprehensively.”
In order to preserve the character of cooperation to date, which has been founded on the social partnership and the involvement of numerous institutions, the DGUV is forming a strategic congress advisory board. A range of stakeholders are to be represented on this board, notably social partners, government institutions, social insurance institutions, trade associations and other existing member organisations. Together, they will support future development of the congress’s content and strategy.
Preparations for the A+A Congress 2027 are already underway and will continue seamlessly and independently of the formal process of Basi’s dissolution.
Following the resolution passed by the general meeting, the legal process of winding up Basi e. V. has now begun. Owing to the steps required by the legislation, this process will take some time. The transfer of responsibilities to the DGUV will ensure the continuity of ongoing work, particularly the preparations for the 2027 A+A Congress.
As Dr Christian Felten is keen to stress, “This decision marks both an end and a new beginning for Basi. An organisational structure that has proved successful for many years is drawing to a close. The philosophy, however, will remain the same: working together to promote safety and health at work.”