• SPS1: Close binaries with compact objects
• SPS2: Massive stars formation
• SPS3: Science with the Virtual Observatory
• SPS4: What powers AXPs and SGRs?
• SPS5: Minor merging as a driver of galaxy evolution
• SPS6: Space Projects
• SPS7: The Missing Baryons and the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium: Current State and Future Prospects
• SPS8: Astronomy Education and Public Outreach in Europe
• SPS9: Amateur & Professional Astronomers in Europe
• SPS10: European Astronomy: Moving Forward

Special Sessions

SPS1: Close Binaries with Compact Components

Conveners: Dmitry Bisikalo (Institute of Astronomy RAS, Moscow, Russia), Klaus Werner (U. Tubingen, Germany).

SPS2: Massive Stars Formation

Conveners: Igor Zinchenko, (Appl. Phys. Inst., Russia), Malcolm Walmsley, (Arcetri Astrophys. Obs. Italy).

SPS3: Science with the Virtual Observatory

Conveners: Oleg Malkov (Institute of Astronomy, Moscow, Russia), Areg Mickaelian (Byurakan Astrophys. Obs. Armenia), Christophe Arviset (ESA)

SPS4: What powers AXPs and SGRs?

Conveners: Nick Kylafis (U. Crete, Greece), Joachim Trümper (MPE, Garching, Germany).

SPS5: Minor merging as a driver of galaxy evolution,

Conveners: Olga Sil’chenko, (Sternberg Astron. Inst. Russia), Francoise Combes, (Obs.Paris, LERMA, France).

SPS6: Space Projects

Conveners: Lev Zelenyi (Space Res .Inst. Russia), Arvind Parmar (ESTEC)

SPS7: The Missing Baryons and the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium: Current State and Future Prospects,

Conveners: Fabrizio Nicastro (INAF-OAR, Italy), Martin Elvis (SAO, USA)

SPS8: Astronomy Education and Public Outreach in Europe

Conveners: I. Robson (Edinburgh, UK), Pedro Russo (Leiden, NL), M. Stavinschi (Bucharest, Romania), Rosa Maria Ros (Barcelona, Spain) and Olga Dluzhnevskaya (Russia)

SPS9: Amateur and professional astronomers in Europe

Convener: Nikolai Samus (Euro-Asian Astron. Soc.), Pedro Russo (IAU): J.-L. Dighaye (EAS), Vladimir Surdin (Sternberg Astron. Inst. Russia), Ivan Andronov (U. Odessa, Ukraine)

   
SPS10: European Astronomy: Moving Forward

With ESO, Europe possesses the world’s most powerful optical observatory today, the Very Large Telescope, and ESA operates several first-rank space missions (XMM, Herschel, Planck). Even larger European and/or global facilities are planned or under way. European astronomy regards its future with confidence.