UEMO participation to the UEMS Council meeting in Tunis,

UEMO Secretary-General Catarina Matias attended the UEMS Council meeting in Tunis, Tunisia, on 24-25 April. She participated in a roundtable discussion with representatives from other EMOs (“How can EMOs promote their work and strengthen their influence at European and international level?”) and pointed out that EMOs strengthen their influence not by speaking louder, but by speaking earlier, together and with evidence. EMOs should move beyond representing professional interests and instead present themselves as part of the solution to systemic challenges. We also need to invest in structured advocacy, including professional lobbying capacity, whether internal or shared by EMOs to maintain regular contact with institutions, monitor agendas, and follow up on opportunities. We also must be present where decisions are shaped – upstream. This includes expert groups, consultations, and policy platforms. EMOs would also benefit from using their platforms more strategically through targeted institutional communication