On 22 May 2026, the European Prostate Cancer Coalition – Europa Uomo held its Annual General Assembly in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. The event was followed by a half-day Masterclass on 23 May.

A total of 65 participants attended, representing 29 full member organisations, 4 associate member organisations, and 1 supporting member organisation. The gathering provided an opportunity for members to share experiences and strengthen collaboration across the Europa Uomo network.

During the Annual General Assembly, members approved the required statutory and administrative matters, including the 2025 annual accounts and the 2026 budget. The Assembly also granted discharge to the Board for its management of the organisation during the previous financial year.

Our Chair, Erik, presented the remodelling plan for Europa Uomo – The European Prostate Cancer Coalition. This work originated from a Blueprint that set out key objectives for the organisation and was further developed during two Board Retreats held in Antwerp in July 2025 and Barcelona in October 2025.

The process culminated in the development of a three-year strategic plan featuring a clearly defined vision and mission, a set of core values, and five strategic goals designed to guide the organisation’s activities and growth in the years ahead.

At this year’s AGA, the Board of Europa Uomo decided to honour Prof. H. Van Poppel and Ms. Stella Kyriakides for their contributions to prostate cancer patients.

As part of this honorary membership, they have received a certificate and a Europa Uomo scarf.

Ms. Kyriakides was unable to attend due to illness. Europa Uomo Cyprus has been requested to deliver the special certificate to her personally at a suitable time, in accordance with her availability.

The Association of Prostate Cancer Patients of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has requested the approval to change its name to Europa Uomo Bosnia and Herzegovina which was unanimously agreed.

At this AGA, one incumbent Board member, Nils Sjøholt, has completed his second three-year term and therefore steps down from the Board of Europa Uomo. Marko Koivuneva has completed his first three-year term and is standing for a second term.

In addition to Marko Koivuneva, three candidatures were received for the Board: Mr Arne Ivar Jonassen (Norway), Mr Khalil Khouidrat (France), and Mr Magnus Klang (Sweden). All four candidates were given three minutes to introduce themselves.

The Annual General Assembly elected Marko Koivuneva and Khalil Khouidrat to the Board of Europa Uomo.

Following the elections, the composition of the Europa Uomo Board and its officers is as follows:

Chairman: Erik BRIERS (Belgium)

Secretary: Igor ANTAUER (Slovenia)

Treasurer: Marko KOIVUNEVA (Finland)

1^st Vice Chairman: Kees VOS (The Netherlands)

2^nd Vice Chairman: Brian KAVANAGH (Ireland)

Board member: Tania ESTAPÉ (Spain)

Board member: Yiannakes ‘Gianos’ GEORGALLIS (Cyprus)

Board member: Khalil KHOUIDRAT (France)

Board member: Bo MADSEN (Denmark)

The Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and First Vice-Chairman will form the Executive Committee and will meet on a more regular basis.

Now that the new Board has been elected, it is time to say goodbye to Nils Petter Sjøholt. Erik Briers thanked him for his seven years on the Board (two terms of three years and an additional year during Covid) and presented him with a Europa Uomo scarf.

Next year, the AGA is expected to take place in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Board expressed its preference for Bulgaria as the host country, subject to the fulfilment of a specific condition to be met by the end of September 2026.

As committed during last year’s General Assembly, the Board undertook a comprehensive review of the association’s Statutes and Bylaws. The revision process was led by the Legal & Membership Working Group under the guidance of the Secretary, Igor Antauer.

Following presentation and discussion, the amended Statutes were approved by the Assembly and entered into force at midnight on 22 May 2026.

The Bylaws, which govern the association’s internal rules and procedures, were also reviewed to ensure their continued alignment with the amended Statutes as well as with applicable Belgian and European legislation. The revised Bylaws were subsequently approved by the Assembly.

Several Board members who chair Europa Uomo working groups provided brief updates on their activities and achievements over the past year. Reports were presented by the Scientific Working Group, the Mental Health Working Group including the CLEAR-PC initiative, and the Academy Working Group.

Marko Koivuneva presented an update on the “Living with Prostate Cancer” project. The initiative aims to develop a comprehensive “Living with Prostate Cancer” booklet, which will serve as a practical resource for patients and their families, providing information and guidance on managing life with prostate cancer.

Erik Briers reported on Europa Uomo’s involvement in PRAISE-U, PRAISE-U+ and DE-ESCALATE.

Angelina Kogur, Europa Uomo’s newly appointed Communications & Policy Officer, presented the organisation’s communication priorities for 2026. She outlined key objectives aimed at strengthening communication across the Europa Uomo network and increasing the visibility of the organisation’s activities and advocacy work.

To support these efforts, Angelina invited all member organisations to establish contact with her through their designated communications representative or another appropriate contact person within their organisation. This will help facilitate more effective information sharing, collaboration, and coordination of communication activities throughout the network.

We would like to thank all delegates for their participation in the Annual General Assembly and for their constructive contributions throughout the meeting. Their commitment, engagement, and cooperation are invaluable to the continued success of Europa Uomo and its mission.

We extend our special thanks to Europa Uomo Cyprus for hosting this year’s Annual General Assembly and Masterclass. Their excellent organisation, warm hospitality, and dedication ensured a successful and enjoyable event in the beautiful setting of Cyprus

Anja Vancauwenbergh

Executive Secretary Europa Uomo