HELAS is a stroke of luck for helio- and asteroseismology in Europe. For the first time, a project devoted to the investigation of the solar interior and generally to the seismic probing of the structure of stars receives substantial funding from the European Commission for a period of four years (2006-2010). Based on this funding and the established work programme, HELAS offers a unique chance to advance helio- and asteroseismology further, and to proceed with the future steps in a well prepared manner. HELAS comes quite timely. Exciting projects and space missions are about to become operational, delivering overwhelming amounts of data about the Sun and the stars. Researchers in Europe must be in a position to process the data well prepared and with high efficiency.

Many researches in Europe will have the opportunity to exchange their knowledge and their experience within the frame offered by HELAS. They will be able to coordinate efforts and to share resources. We consider HELAS a unique opportunity for helio- and asteroseismology research groups all over Europe to achieve a leading position in stellar seismology.

• Germany
  Oskar von der Lühe
  Laurent Gizon

• Spain
  Pere L. Pallé

• U.K.
  Michael J. Thompson

• Denmark
  Jörgen Christensen-Dalsgaard

• Portugal
  Mário João Monteiro

• Italy
  Maria Pia Di Mauro

• Belgium
  Conny Aerts

• Poland
  Jadwiga Daszynska-Daszkiewicz

• France
  Thierry Corbard