Letters from the ECCO President

Dear ECCO family, As the final weeks of 2025 unfold, it is a pleasure to welcome you to this last issue of the year on the ECCO website. This time of year naturally invites reflection: on what we have accomplished together and on the shared commitment that continues to drive our community forward.

Dear ECCO Family, It was such a pleasure to see so many of you during the UEG Week, a fantastic opportunity to reconnect, share ideas, and celebrate the ongoing advances in IBD research and care. As we step into a new season, we are delighted to share with you the latest issue of ECCO News, featuring inspiring contributions, updates, and interviews from across the ECCO network.

Dear ECCO Family, Now that we have settled into the rhythm of the year, excitement is already mounting over the 21st Congress of ECCO, which will take place in Stockholm from 18 to 21 February 2026.

Dear Colleagues, Dear ECCO Family, As we look back on the 20th Congress of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO), held in Berlin from February 19 to 22, 2025, I am deeply grateful and proud for all that we have accomplished together. Centred around the theme "Sustainability in IBD and beyond", the Congress underscored our shared commitment to fostering long-term strategies in IBD care.

As the year 2024 draws to a close, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the final edition of ECCO News for this year—marking not just a reflection on an exciting year, but also my last foreword as President of ECCO. How time flies!

It was truly a pleasure to meet so many of you at UEG Week in Vienna, and now the excitement is building as we prepare for the next ECCO Congress 2025 in Berlin!

Summer is coming and Berlin is getting ready – not yet for the next ECCO Congress, but for the European Soccer Championship! Leading up to the summer break, everyone has been very active, which is reflected in this issue of ECCO News...

Dear ECCO Friends, Spring is here and I am reflecting on the wonderful congress we had in Stockholm! The new ECCO strategy – “E” element of REACH strategy – was not only fully launched but also already addressed in all our committee meetings. The focus of this year’s congress was the letter “E” – Equitable access to IBD to care”, – expanding the outreach and inclusivity of ECCO initiatives across the globe. With 99 different countries represented at the congress and many multi-national exchanges throughout the programme, such as the Global Forum, it shows the growing network, with more plan

Dear ECCO Friends, This is the final edition of ECCO News for 2023. It is an appropriate time to reflect on past activities and look forward to ECCO 2024 “Crossing Boarders” in Stockholm. It is worth noting that at the end of 2023, ECCO has reached a new record number of 4596 members!

It is autumn already, many us have attended the UEG Week in Copenhagen and we are already preparing for the next ECCO Congress 2024 in Stockholm!

As winter has turned first into spring and then into summer, a lot of activities have been taking place within ECCO and it is therefore good to have a new issue of ECCO News to keep ECCO Members up to date with the latest developments.

Dear ECCO Friends, It was not only wonderful to meet all members of the ECCO family in Copenhagen, but also to have a personal exchange again. Without a doubt, all the committees and workshops have also benefited from this "traditional – in person" format, as we will see in a moment from the summary of the many activities of the Congress in this issue. First of all, however, I am delighted to have taken over the presidency from Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet and to be able to lead, strengthen and develop the ECCO family with all its activities over the next two years!