The Country Liaison Sub-Committee is a vital link between the EULAR|EMEUNET Committee and our Country Liaisons (CLs), who represent EMEUNET at the national level. Building on our past achievements, we have broadened our scope to ensure greater engagement and visibility.
Promote and Encourage Active Involvement in EULAR|EMEUNET
By consistently providing guidance and support to our Country Liaisons (CLs), we empower them to reach young rheumatologists, researchers, and allied health professionals within their local contexts. CLs are instrumental in spreading awareness of EMEUNET’s resources and events—from educational courses to networking platforms—and in encouraging broader participation. Active participation is central to our mission, and this year, we have expanded our collaborative projects and introduced new initiatives that position CLs as key contributors within EMEUNET’s working groups.
The Country Liaison Network
We remain committed to establishing and maintaining an active, dynamic CL network. This involves seamless communication with CLs and providing them with targeted support and resources for their national- and regional-level tasks. Regular teleconferences, an open-door approach to feedback, and prompt sharing of materials and updates have proven pivotal. We continue to refine these channels to foster closer connections among CLs.
EMEUNET Booth
Country Liaisons (CLs) actively contribute to and support promotional efforts within their local organizations, helping to raise awareness of EMEUNET’s mission and initiatives. In partnership with the EULAR office, we provide logistical support—including the official EMEUNET booth and accompanying promotional materials like flyers—while continuously updating these resources based on CL feedback. By working closely with the EULAR office to deliver the EMEUNET|EULAR booth and materials where needed, we aim to enhance EMEUNET’s visibility, foster engagement at the local level, and encourage broader participation in our activities.
Country Liaison Topics Webinar Series
In collaboration with the EULAR Education Committee, we have been continuing the Country Liaison Topics Webinar Series, highlighting the pivotal role of EMEUNET Country Liaisons (CLs). Each webinar is moderated by a CL, who not only guides the discussion but also contributes to topic selection, extends invitations to expert speakers, and shapes the overall content. These experts—senior representatives from the same country—ensure high-quality, practice-oriented insights for attendees.
Feedback from the first four webinars, featuring participants from France, Switzerland, Serbia, Turkey, Italy, the UK, Poland, and Greece, has been overwhelmingly positive, with 79 attendees in total and 91% rating the sessions as “excellent” or “good.” Recognizing the importance of ongoing educational access, all webinar recordings are available for later viewing on the EULAR School of Rheumatology (ESOR) website. This initiative is a testament to the value of harnessing local expertise and leadership and underscores the impact of collaborative efforts in advancing rheumatology education.
The EMEUNET Country Liaison sub-committees Contribution to ENTRI
As the EMEUNET Country Liaison Sub-Committee, we actively support the EULAR Network of Trial Centres (ENTRI) initiative from the EULAR Research Centre. ENTRI’s mission is to establish a network of experienced clinical trial centers across Europe, facilitating broader collaboration and improved patient outcomes in RMD research. We encourage local centers and researchers to apply, promoting the network’s valuable opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and professional development. This also includes endorsing ENTRI’s clinical trial toolkits and training resources to our national networks to empower early career investigators. Through this collective effort, we help broaden and strengthen the scope of RMD research, aligning with EMEUNET’s mission to engage and support young rheumatologists, researchers, and allied health professionals.
EMEUNET Research Speed-Dating Event (RSDE) at EULAR conference
The EMEUNET Research Speed-Dating event is a structured networking activity where young rheumatologists and researchers engage in brief conversations in small groups—two to four participants—to identify potential research collaborations. As the Country Liaison Sub-Committee (in coordination with the social media subcommittee), we help coordinate and promote this event, ensuring widespread participation and facilitating local networking through our extensive CL network. Over the past few years, it has led to numerous successful collaborations, laying the groundwork for continued growth and shared academic pursuits within the EMEUNET community.
Here, you can read more information about the semi-finals.
Written by Ertrugul Cagri Bolek