The purpose of the European Mathematical Society is to promote all aspects of Mathematics in European Countries including research in Mathematics and its applications and also to assist and advise on problems of mathematical education.

The Society seeks to establish a sense of identity amongst European mathematicians and aims to act as an intermediary between mathematicians and those in charge of politics and funds in Brussels.

Although the role of mathematical sciences in civilization has been of central importance for many centuries, the current trend towards a global economy and a knowledge society has made information and innovation technologies increasingly dependent on scientific research driven by mathematics. In the present day context, mathematical sciences, including statistics and computing, are accepted as an integral part of technological and cultural progress.

The EMS represents and acts on behalf of more than 50 European National Mathematical Societies as well as individual members from almost all European countries. Our aim is to make the EMS attractive to all professional mathematicians in Europe by providing valuable services to the mathematical community.

The EMS committee “Raising Public Awareness of Mathematics” has the important task of making the general public aware of the significance of mathematics. I wish this committee every success.

Ari Laptev, July 2010
EMS President

... and here can be found 12 good reasons for joining  the European Mathematical Society.