Letter from the ECCO President

Dear ECCO Family,

Now that we have settled into the rhythm of the year, excitement is already mounting the 21^st Congress of ECCO, which will take place in Stockholm from 18 to 21 February 2026. This congress will highlight the importance of comprehensive, patient-centered management of IBD. The scientific programme features a robust and varied line-up, with sessions covering topics such as patient-focused treatment strategies, multidisciplinary team care, paediatric IBD and surgical approaches. I am also pleased to highlight a joint session with ESGE, entitled “Looking Through the Endoscope”. Taken together, the topics to be addressed reflect ECCO’s continued commitment to an integrated, evidence-based model of IBD care that remains responsive to the real-life experiences of our patients.

In keeping with this spirit of collaboration, I am pleased to announce that the Council of National Representatives Meeting will return in October 2025. This year’s meeting will focus on several key areas: we will share updates on ECCO Initiatives and progress across multiple fronts, including the work of multidisciplinary teams, differences in quality of care standards across European regions and the latest developments in ECCO Education and the e-Guide. In addition, we will present the latest updates on UR-CARE and ECCO Guidelines, offering participants a comprehensive overview of the organisation’s recent and ongoing activities.

I am also proud to share the release of the new ESPGHAN-ECCO Guidelines on Ulcerative Colitis in Children, which reflect the latest research and clinical insights for this specific patient population. At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Pierre Ellul and Bram Verstockt to GuiCom, and Natália Queiroz, Brigida Barberio and Richard Pollok to EpiCom. We extend our sincere gratitude to the outgoing committee members for their dedication, and we look forward to the fresh energy, perspectives and expertise that our new colleagues will bring to these roles. The Y-ECCO Committee remains engaged in supporting education and career development for young professionals in IBD. I am pleased to highlight an upcoming initiative: a joint webinar with EULAR, designed to bridge perspectives and foster interdisciplinary collaboration between gastroenterology and rheumatology.

As we move forward together in delivering ECCO’s Strategic Vision—ensuring equitable access, high-quality care and integrated, holistic management of IBD—I invite you all to stay actively engaged with the many initiatives unfolding across our organisation.

Thank you for being part of this vibrant and growing community. I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming months and, of course, in Stockholm in 2026!

With warm regards,

Fernando Magro
President, European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO)