A Week of Regional Health Collaboration in Bilbao
From 27 to 29 May 2026, EUREGHA’s members convened in Bilbao for the for the association’s Annual General Assembly 2026, an occasion to deepen connections, align on strategic priorities and share expertise. Hosted by our member region Euskadi, Basque Country, the Assembly brought together regional and local health leaders from across Europe. This year’s programme addressed some of the most urgent health challenges confronting European regions, while underscoring the essential role of innovation, integrated care and regional cooperation in shaping the future of healthcare systems.
Day 1: Welcome to the Basque Country
The Assembly opened in Bilbao with a warm welcome from Eusko Jaurlaritza – Gobierno Vasco, who provided participants with valuable insights into the region’s health and innovation ecosystem (Osakidetza Debabarrena ESI and IIS Biobizaia). Members later went to site visits, from a hospital to a museum, connecting policy, practice and place. The opening day offered an excellent opportunity for members to reconnect, share experiences and explore regional approaches to health research, innovation and service delivery. Discussions highlighted the important role of regional authorities in driving transformation and building resilience across European health systems.
Day 2: General Assembly, Governance and Strategic Direction
The second day centred on the formal General Assembly meeting, where members reviewed the network’s achievements, approved key governance and financial documents, and engaged in discussions on EUREGHA’s future strategic direction. Members acknowledged elected representatives’ changes and conducted interim elections, resulting in the following Executive Board composition, which will remain in place until the regular biannual elections at GA 2027:
- Iñaki Gutiérrez-Ibarluzea (Director of Health Research and Innovation, Ministry for Health – Basque Government) – EUREGHA Chair
- Elisabeth Bräutigam (Board Member, Health Agency of Lower Austria & Responsible for the Healthacross Initiative – Lower Austria) – EUREGHA Vice-Chair
- Marilo Robberechts (Policy Officer, International Policy, Department of Care – Flemish Government) – EUREGHA Treasurer
- Lisa Wise (Deputy Director, Healthier Futures Division – Welsh Government) – EUREGHA Board Member
- David Ring (Senior Strategist – Region Östergötland) – EUREGHA Board Member
- Annamaria Gentili (Head of Innovation Department for Health and Social Services – Regione Emilia-Romagna) – EUREGHA Board Member
- Ramon Maspons (Chief Health Innovation Strategist – Catalonia) – EUREGHA Board Member
- Giovanni Gorgoni (Director-General – ASL Asti) – EUREGHA Board Member
A major highlight of the AGA was the continued expansion of the EUREGHA network: members approved the entry of two new full members, three associate members and one observer member:
- EGTC GO – European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation Gorizia (IT), Nova Gorica (SI) and Šempeter-Vrtojba (SI) – Full Member
- Ostrobothnia Wellbeing County (FI) – Full Member
- AGENAS – Agenzia Nazionale per i Servizi Sanitari Regionali (IT) – Associate Member
- JOGG – Jongeren Op Gezond Gewicht (NL) – Associate Member
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto – IOV (IT) – Associate Member
- Cantabria / IDIVAL – Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (ES) – Observer Member
The General Assembly presented the Annual Activity Report, shared with members the achievements of 2025 and discussed the EUREGHA 2026 workplan.
The afternoon workshop sessions covered a range of topics including local health system innovation (Aarhus Kommune), crisis leadership and training (VAMK), community-based prevention (JOGG), project HACK-IT-NET (Lower Austria, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, PROMIS), and an upcoming EUREGHA collection on regional mental health practices. The workshops offered an interactive space for peer learning and experience-sharing, reaffirming EUREGHA’s values as a platform for practical regional cooperation.
Day 3: Looking Ahead Together
The final day sustained the momentum built throughout the Assembly, with bilateral discussions, networking opportunities and planning for future collaborations. Members explored avenues for cooperation in EU-funded projects and policy initiatives and thematic activities, reinforcing EUREGHA’s role as a trusted platform for regional health collaboration in Europe.
The record participation, growing membership and rich exchanges throughout the week highlighted the strength and value of the EUREGHA community and its shared commitment to improving health and care systems across Europe!
Thank You, Bilbao!
A sincere thank you to our Basque colleagues for hosting an outstanding AGA and to all members and partners who contributed to its success. Members’ active participation, exchanges and contributions once again demonstrated the strength of the growing EUREGHA network.
Together, we continue to build stronger partnerships, share innovative solutions and advance healthier, more resilient regions across Europe.
