The Swedish Red Cross initiative to organize a workshop to exchange experience on vulnerability and capacity assessment in Europe and discuss the feasibility of conducting the assessment in a consistent manner was sparked by the report of the Working Group on the Implementation of the Strategic Work Plan for Europe (formed at the Fourth European Regional Conference in The Hague, in May 1992), which recommends that the European National Societies proceed with identifying vulnerable groups in their respective countries and initiate a discussion on future cooperation on vulnerability and capacity assessment.