Launched early 2009 by a joint initiative of the French Chamber of Midwives (Ordre National des sages-femmes) and the NMC (UK), the network is an informal forum of cooperation which groups the regulators of the midwifery profession in European countries. The aim of such a network is to improve the mutual understanding and exchange of best practices between regulators and competent authorities and to co-ordinate joint communications with EU decision makers on issues of mutual concern, especially in regard to EU legislation.