The Chamber of Healthcare Institutions of Serbia became an observer member. The Polish Hospital Federation and UNICANCER (France) became full members.

On January 1, the observer members Bulgaria and Romania accessed to the European Union and became full HOPE members.

The observer members Cyprus, Hungary and Malta became full members as from May 1, 2004. At the Plenary Assembly of June 5, 2004 in Malta, the National Hospital Association of Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the Association of Health Institutions of Slovenia were accepted as full members as from May 1, 2004. The Extraordinary Plenary Assembly of November 29, 2004 in Berlin adopted the new constitution of HOPE and the Standing Committee of the Hospitals of the European Union became the European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE).

The Extraordinary Plenary Assembly of November 29, 2004 in Berlin adopted the new constitution of HOPE and the Standing Committee of the Hospitals of the European Union became the European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE).

HOPE Central Office moved from Leuven to Brussels.

As from January, the Slovak Hospital Association became an observer member. At the Plenary Assembly (June 10-12, 2001) the Hungarian Hospital Association was accepted as an observer member.

As from January, the Romanian Hospital Association became an observer member.

The Ministry of Health of Cyprus became an observer member.

During the 36th Plenary Assembly held in Stockholm & Helsinki from 8 to 9 May 1995 the Hospital Committee of the EC welcomed three new members: the Federal Ministry of Health of Austria, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (observer members since 1993). Adopting a new constitution, the Assembly created an international association for social gain named Standing Committee of the Hospitals of the European Union, with HOPE (Hospitals for EurOPE) as the acronym to be referred to.

Status of working relations with WHO-Europe.

At the 30th Plenary Meeting of Lisbon (May 7, 1989) the constitution was amended and the name changed into The Hospital Committee of the European Community. Launching of the HOPE Action Programme aiming at a more concrete and active role in the social development of Europe.

The Swiss Hospital Association became an observer member.

The Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality of Spain and the Portuguese Association for Hospitals Development (A.P.D.H.) became members.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare of Greece became a member of the Committee.

The Committee obtained consultative status with the Council of Europe.

The NHS Confederation of United Kingdom, the Department of Health and Children of Ireland and the Danish Regions, became member at the Plenary Assembly in Munich.

The Study Committee became The Hospital Committee of the European Economic Community.

In Rome the representatives of the hospital associations of the six founding members of the European Economic Community (Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Italy) created the Study Committee of the Hospital Organizations in the Common Market. This Study Committee decided to meet regularly in order to discuss questions and problems relative to hospitals.