The Country Liaison (CL) Sub-Committee continues to play a central role within EULAR | EMEUNET, acting as the key interface between the EMEUNET Committee and its national representatives across EULAR member countries. In 2025, the Sub-Committee has further expanded its mission, activities, and strategic projects to strengthen engagement, visibility, and impact at national and international levels.
Our mission
The Country Liaison Sub-Committee is composed of an international team of early-career rheumatologists and researchers representing a wide range of EULAR member countries. This diversity ensures that national perspectives, healthcare systems, and training environments are effectively reflected within EMEUNET’s activities and strategic planning.
Together, the Sub-Committee supports a growing and increasingly active Country Liaison (CL) Network, which in 2025 comprises:
• 41 Country Liaisons (CLs) representing EULAR countries, including 23 newly appointed CLs, bringing fresh perspectives, energy, and renewed engagement at national level
• 5 Advisory Country Liaisons (ACLs), providing continuity, experience, and mentorship based on prior CL or Sub-Committee involvement
• First-time CL representation for Iceland and Cyprus
Country Liaison Topics Webinar Series
The Country Liaison Topics Webinar Series remains a flagship educational initiative designed to translate national expertise into high-quality international education. A defining feature of the series is the central role of Country Liaisons (CLs), who lead topic selection, moderate sessions, and invite senior national experts, ensuring relevance, scientific quality, and strong national ownership.
In 2025, the series has continued with webinars moderated by Muriel Elhai (Switzerland), Marc Scherlinger (France), Annika Podewski (Germany), and Nikolaos Vlachogiannis (Greece). The topics focused on recognition and management of Ehlers–Danlos syndromes, CAR T cells and T-cell engagers in autoimmune diseases, gender-specific differences in rheumatic diseases, and chronic and opportunistic infections in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
All webinars follow a consistent 45-minute format and are recorded and made available via the EULAR School of Rheumatology (ESOR) platform, ensuring broad accessibility and lasting educational value. The CL Topics Webinar series exemplifies how Country Liaison leadership, national expertise, and EULAR educational infrastructure can be effectively integrated to deliver impactful, inclusive, and sustainable education for the EMEUNET community.
EMEUNET Country Liaison Meeting at EULAR 2025
The EMEUNET Country Liaison Meeting at the EULAR Congress remains a key annual forum for connection, alignment, and strategic discussion within the Country Liaison network. The meeting brings together Country Liaisons, Advisory CLs, Sub-Committee members, and EMEUNET representatives to review ongoing activities, share national experiences, and discuss challenges and best practices.
In addition to providing updates on core initiatives—such as education, research engagement, RheumaVision, and ENTRI—the meeting offers an important space for two-way dialogue, allowing CLs to provide feedback, raise questions, and contribute ideas for new projects. The session also serves to reinforce the role of Country Liaisons within the broader EMEUNET structure, fostering a sense of community, shared purpose, and collaboration across countries
RheumaVision – What’s New in 2026
RheumaVision, the EULAR | EMEUNET rheumatology knowledge transfer contest, continues to expand as a flagship initiative aimed at promoting innovative, accessible, and high-quality dissemination of rheumatology knowledge. The contest encourages early-career rheumatologists and researchers to translate complex scientific concepts into short, engaging video formats, fostering creativity, communication skills, and public engagement.
Following national selection, six finalists are chosen by the EULAR Congress Committee jury. Finalists present their work during the live finals, where the winner is determined through a combination of jury assessment and audience voting, reinforcing transparency and engagement. The new 2026 edition also benefits from expanded EULAR faculty involvement, further enhancing scientific quality, visibility, and educational impact.
Beyond coordination, CLs play a crucial role in promoting the RheumaVision call through national societies, social media platforms, and young rheumatology networks, ensuring strong outreach and participation. RheumaVision exemplifies how Country Liaison leadership, cross-committee collaboration, and innovative formats can be combined to advance knowledge transfer and engagement across the EMEUNET community.
The EMEUNET Country Liaison sub-committees contribution to ENTRI
The EMEUNET Country Liaison Sub-Committee actively supports the EULAR Network of Trial Centres (ENTRI), an initiative of the EULAR Research Centre aimed at strengthening clinical trial capacity across Europe. ENTRI seeks to connect experienced trial centres with investigators and sponsors, facilitating collaboration, accelerating high-quality research, and ultimately improving outcomes for patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
Through the Country Liaison network, we encourage national trial centres and researchers to apply for ENTRI membership, raising awareness of opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and professional development. In addition, we promote ENTRI’s clinical trial toolkits and training resources within our national communities, helping to empower early-career investigators and support the development of future clinical trial leaders. Collectively, these efforts contribute to broadening and strengthening RMD research across Europe, in line with EMEUNET’s mission to support young rheumatologists, researchers, and allied health professionals.
Country Liaison engagement at National Congresses
Country Liaisons continue to strengthen EMEUNET’s visibility and engagement at national rheumatology congresses, connecting early-career rheumatologists with educational, research, and networking opportunities.
In Serbia, Jelena Čolić represented EMEUNET at the Serbian Annual Congress of Rheumatology 2025 with a dedicated session on Artificial Intelligence in scientific writing, co-delivered with Diego Benavent (EMEUNET Chair), reaching around 30 young rheumatologists. In Bulgaria, Daliya Pencheva presented EMEUNET activities at the Bulgarian National Conference of Rheumatology in Plovdiv, highlighting initiatives such as RheumaVision and ensuring strong visibility through the EMEUNET booth. In Türkiye, an EMEUNET Introduction Session was held during the national rheumatology congress, led by Tugba Izci Duran with contributions from Ertugrul Cagri Bolek, Mert Oztas, and Gizem Ayan, engaging approximately 30 early-career rheumatologists. These activities highlight the key ambassadorial role of Country Liaisons in embedding EMEUNET within national scientific meetings and supporting the next generation of rheumatology professionals.
New and future projects
The Country Liaison Sub-Committee is developing several initiatives for 2026 and beyond to further strengthen engagement, visibility, and professional development within EMEUNET:
• New Country Liaison Topics Webinars planned for Portugal, Norway, and Italy in 2026, expanding nationally led educational activities
• Country Liaison Survey (“The role and reach of EMEUNET Country Liaisons: needs, impact & opportunities”) to better understand CL roles in practice, assess national impact, and identify areas for improved support and collaboration
• CONNECT-RHEUM, a pan-European clinical and research mobility pathway for early-career rheumatologists, led by Country Liaisons and integrated into MyEULAR
• Country Liaison Recognition Award – “Most Active CL of the Year”, formally acknowledging outstanding engagement and contribution within the CL network
Looking ahead
Through sustained collaboration, innovation, and engagement, the Country Liaison Sub-Committee continues to strengthen EMEUNET’s presence across Europe and beyond. By empowering CLs, fostering research and education, and promoting international mobility, we aim to ensure that EMEUNET remains a vibrant, inclusive, and impactful community for young rheumatology professionals.
Written by Cristiana Sieiro Santos