Report on the 80th ECCO Educational Workshop in Pula
The 80th ECCO Educational Workshop took place on June 26, 2026 at the Park Plaza Histria Hotel in Pula, Croatia, as part of the 3rd Croatian IBD Congress organised by the Croatian IBD Society of the Croatian Medical Association. The workshop was organised by ECCO in collaboration with Željko Krznarić, Marko Brinar and their local team, with the support of Sophie Restellini and Triana Lobatón, members of the ECCO Education Committee (EduCom), who joined the workshop as representatives of ECCO.
The programme was designed around an interactive, case-based format, using the ECCO Guidelines and e-Guide algorithms as a practical framework for clinical decision-making. The aim was to disseminate the latest ECCO recommendations and support their translation into everyday clinical practice, contributing to more harmonised approaches to IBD management and improved patient care.
The programme included six clinical cases addressing key challenges in the management of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. The cases were presented by younger Croatian faculty members - Mislav Jelaković, Boris Brozović, Dominik Kralj, David Dohoczky, Piero Živković and Petra Ćaćić - and provided the basis for interactive discussions with the ECCO Faculty and senior local experts. Željko Krznarić and Marko Brinar chaired the Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis sessions, respectively. State-of-the-art presentations complemented the case discussions, providing further insights into current evidence and practical aspects of IBD management.
The interactive format encouraged active participation and discussion of real-world clinical challenges, with ECCO recommendations and the e-Guide providing a common framework for clinical decision-making. It also fostered knowledge exchange and networking between ECCO experts, Croatian colleagues and participants.
The workshop provided an important opportunity for Croatia and the wider Central and Southeast European region, where high-quality educational activities organised by ECCO can support harmonised clinical practice, strengthen professional networks and promote care that is aligned with contemporary European standards. The event also highlighted the expertise of the Croatian IBD community and contributed to the continued development of IBD care in the region.
We are grateful to Željko Krznarić and Marko Brinar for their leadership, commitment and warm hospitality, and to the entire local organising team for their excellent preparation and organisation. Their contribution was key to creating a welcoming environment for learning and collaboration.
The Pula workshop demonstrated once again the value of ECCO Educational Workshops in bringing together international and local expertise and supporting the practical implementation of ECCO recommendations within the IBD Community across Europe and beyond.
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