Secretarial News – June 2026

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COTEC Executive Committee Meetings

COTEC Executive Committee continues the monthly virtual meetings through MS Teams platform.  The next Interim Meeting is scheduled to be held in a face to face format, in Bucharest on the 10th September 2026. For agenda items or requests, please contact Vice-President Administration Ann-Marie Morrissey or COTEC Office, info@coteceurope.eu

Summary of the Profession

We are pleased to announce that the Summary of the Profession 2026 will be published in the coming days, featuring a refreshed, more reader-friendly design. This edition also incorporates the recommendations from the review conducted by Duervation, including the addition of an Executive Summary and Country Profiles. We hope you find this publication a valuable resource in supporting your advocacy efforts in the months ahead.

One-to-One Meetings with Member Associations

The COTEC Executive Committee has shortlisted a number of Member Associations to be invited to one-to-one meetings, with the aim of identifying ways in which COTEC can further support its members. To date, the Russian Association of Occupational Therapists has accepted the invitation, and the meeting was held a few weeks ago. If any of our Member Associations would like to schedule a one-to-one meeting, please contact us at info@coteceurope.eu.

Governance Day and 14th General Assembly

Our next Governance Day will be held on 11 September 2026, followed by the 14th COTEC General Assembly on 12 September 2026 in Bucharest, Romania. The venue for both events will be the Union Plaza Hotel, Bucharest. A limited number of rooms have been reserved for COTEC General Assembly Representatives at a preferential rate of €110 per night, including bed and breakfast. To book your accommodation, please contact the hotel directly at bogdan.pintea@apxhotels.ro, quoting COTEC and Union Plaza Hotel when making your reservation. The General Assembly papers, provisional agenda, and further details of the social programme will be circulated in the coming days.

COTEC on Social Media                 

COTEC has over 5,177 followers on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/COTECEurope/ 

On X (formerly known as Twitter) @COTECEurope has more than 3,282 followers.

On LinkedIn we have now reached more than 1,498 followers.

On Instagram @cotec_europe with more than 1,100 followers.

Join us and make COTEC and occupational therapy more visible in Europe.

Please also follow the websites of Occupational Therapy Europe  www.oteurope.eu , ENOTHE www.enothe.eu and ROTOS www.rotosfoundation.eu  

Editorial – June 2026

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I first joined COTEC in 2020, at a time when much of the world had slowed down and shifted online. 2020 is known for lockdowns, uncertainty, and a world that changed quickly. Yet that time also brought clarity. The pandemic reminded us how much people need connection — and how central occupational therapists are in enabling it. It strengthened my decision to give my time to a profession I believe in deeply. From my first virtual General Assembly, I saw in COTEC that same commitment to connection, purpose, and collaboration. 

There is an Irish proverb: Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine — we live in one another’s shelter. As I come to the end of my six year term, in the year COTEC celebrates its 40th anniversary, this feels especially fitting. None of us builds, leads, or grows alone. We are supported by those who came before us, work alongside those beside us, and prepare the way for those who follow. 

Serving for six years on the Executive Committee, including as Vice President Administration, has been a privilege. I have been part of one chapter in COTEC’s 40year history. The strong foundations laid over decades allow each new group of leaders to build further. We take on responsibility for a time, strengthen what we can, and then pass it on. That continuity is one of COTEC’s greatest strengths. 

What I will value most from these years is the community. The openness, the collegiality, the willingness to listen. COTEC is a place where ideas are taken seriously and where different perspectives are respected. Our impact and reach continues to grow. Connections with EuroHealthNet, the Health Technology Assessment Forum, and the Harnessing Talent Platform — alongside our involvement in European Public Health Week — ensure that occupational therapy has a clear voice in important European discussions. You can read more about this work throughout this edition. 

As COTEC marks its 40th anniversary, we celebrate the many individuals who have shaped its journey. I encourage you to contribute to our virtual memory book so we can capture reflections from across our community. 

To everyone I have had the pleasure of working with over the past six years — thank you. For your support, your commitment, and your generosity of spirit. It has been an honour to serve this organisation and to work alongside colleagues who care so deeply about our profession and its future. I step down with confidence in those who will lead next, and with pride in what we have achieved together. 

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. 

Mise le meas,

Ann‑Marie Morrissey

Vice-President Administration

Occupational Therapy Europe Register of Experts

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The Vice Presidents of COTEC, ENOTHE and ROTOS recently met to discuss the OT-Europe Expert Register and how to ensure it remains accurate, relevant, and up to date. As a result, an email has been sent to everyone currently listed in the register, asking them to submit an updated CV and provide five keywords that best describe their areas of expertise. 

Given the wide diversity within the Occupational Therapy profession, we felt that allowing members to choose their own keywords would provide a more flexible and accurate way of identifying experts for specific topics and projects. 

At present, we are focusing on updating the existing register and strengthening our network of current contacts. Due to ongoing technical issues in the website backend, we are not currently accepting new applications to join the register. These issues are being addressed, and we will inform members as soon as applications can be accepted again. 

Secretarial News – March 2026

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COTEC Executive Committee Meetings 

COTEC Executive Committee continues the monthly virtual meetings through MS Teams platform.  The next Interim Meeting is scheduled to be held in an online format on the 11-12th April 2026. For agenda items or requests, please contact Vice-President Administration Ann-Marie Morrissey or COTEC Office, info@coteceurope.eu

Summary of the Profession

We’re very happy to note that 31 Member Associations have submitted their annual Summary of the Profession Questionnaire. We’re now working on the annual publication which should be published in the next annual quarter. In the meantime, we’re also working on making the data available for online visualisations.

Governance Day and 14th General Assembly

Our next Governance Day will be held on the 11th September, 2025 with the 14th COTEC General Assembly taking place the following day, the 12th September, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania. The venue will be the Union Plaza Hotel, Bucharest. The venue has allocated some rooms for COTEC General Assembly Representatives at Eur 110 per night on bed and breakfast basis. You can book these rooms directly with the hotel – bogdan.pintea@apxhotels.ro – quoting COTEC and the name of the venue.

COTEC on Social Media                 

COTEC has over 5,148 followers on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/COTECEurope/ 

On X (formerly known as Twitter) @COTECEurope has more than 3,297 followers.

On LinkedIn we have now reached more than 1,320 followers.

On Instagram @cotec_europe with more than 1,060 followers.

Join us and make COTEC and occupational therapy more visible in Europe.

Please also follow the websites of Occupational Therapy Europe  www.oteurope.eu , ENOTHE www.enothe.eu and ROTOS www.rotosfoundation.eu  

Editorial – March 2026

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Dear colleagues, 

This first newsletter of 2026 arrives as Spring brings lighter days and the first signs of nature waking up again. Birds chirping, flowers sprouting, and the first rays of sunshine warming the skin. It is a welcome sense of renewal, not just to our work but to the everyday lives of those around us. What a great way to look ahead together, as communities start planning outdoor activities, and see what 2026 will bring within and outside our profession.  

This year, we are celebrating COTEC’s 40th anniversary, marking four decades of collaboration between National Associations and colleagues who have built a strong, recognisable voice for Occupational Therapy practitioners in Europe. COTEC’s work reaches collaborators within and beyond the Occupational Therapy profession; our networking activities – including the Memorandum of Understanding with ESLA and the attendance of the WFOT General Assembly – continue to strengthen links with partner organisations. Like clearing space in a busy home or adapting routines as the seasons change, these collaborations help create conditions in which people can carry out their daily activities with greater ease, purpose, and participation. 

To further develop practitioners’ voices and impact, Spring also brings the launch of our new COTEC CPD Award for European Occupational Therapy practitioners. The award is a practical way to acknowledge everyday professional development and encourage our colleagues to keep learning in ways that support their practice, their clients, and personal development and interests.  

That said, I wish you all a calm, reflective Spring filled with occupations and tasks that bring joy and happiness to you, your families, and your communities. 

Lisa Wetzlmair-Kephart 

Vice-President Finance, on behalf of the COTEC Executive Committee 

Secretarial News – December 2025

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Extraordinary General Assembly

The COTEC Executive Committee felt that is necessary to hold an Extraordinary General Assembly on the 7th January 2026 at 4pm CET. This will be held online. Agenda and Paper have already been circulated – please get in touch with COTEC Office should you have any questions or difficulties.

Summary of the Profession

COTEC Director of Operations and Vice-President Finance have been carrying out the last updates to the Summary of the Profession Questionnaire. This year a new platform will be used, REDCap, which will ensure better data handling and improved resources for all our Members. A pilot run was successfully implemented and the questionnaire will be sent to all Members in the coming days.

Governance Day and 14th General Assembly

Our next Governance Day will be held on the 11th September, 2025 with the 14th COTEC General Assembly taking place the following day, the 12th September, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania. More details about the venue will follow in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please save the dates in your diary – we look forward to seeing you all in Bucharest.

COTEC on Social Media                 

COTEC has over 5,130 followers on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/COTECEurope/ 

On X (formerly known as Twitter) @COTECEurope has more than 3,320 followers.

On LinkedIn we have now reached more than 1,320 followers.

On Instagram @cotec_europe with more than 1,010 followers.

Join us and make COTEC and occupational therapy more visible in Europe.

Please also follow the websites of Occupational Therapy Europe  www.oteurope.eu , ENOTHE www.enothe.eu and ROTOS www.rotosfoundation.eu  

Editorial – December 2025

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It’s time for the last newsletter of the year, thank you for taking the time to read it. 

During the year, we have strengthened our cooperation with other organisations and professional associations and also increased the opportunities for our Members to network and learn from each other. During 2025, representatives of our Member Associations have had the opportunity to meet each other in discussions at the virtual Coffee with COTEC events and this newsletter reports on the latest discussions. 

As COTEC representative, I have signed three memorandums of understanding with our European partners this year. These formalise our joint commitment to promote the availability and visibility of occupational therapy services in Europe and to identify areas where joining forces and resources will strengthen our voice in advocacy.  

In November, we worked to ensure that Occupational Therapy’s role in health promotion and public health is better recognised. COTEC represented and participated together with the Finnish Association of Occupational Therapists at the European Public Health Conference EPH 2025 in Helsinki. As an exhibitor, we had the opportunity to discuss with a number of congress delegates and bring our core message on how meaningful occupations impact the health and well being of individuals to the attention of other public health professionals and researchers. We found many opportunities for collaboration and created new relationships both nationally and internationally. Elsewhere in this newsletter, you can read about our Memorandum of Understanding with EUPHA, the European Public Health Association, and find out how our social media challenge for meaningful practitioners was received. 

We have also continued our collaboration in EU-organised networks and members of the Executive Committee have represented our profession at network meetings. You can also read about these in this newsletter. 

Next year will mark the 40th Anniversary of the founding of COTEC. We will be celebrating this throughout the year and also marking the milestone on social media. Until then – I wish everyone a peaceful start to the New Year- May the festive season bring everyone rest and meaningful occupations in the right proportion! 

Merry Christmas! 

Anu Söderström
COTEC President

Secretarial News – October 2025

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COTEC Executive Committee

In order to support the Executive Committee Members in their work and ensure that all communication within the organisation and beyond is strong and sustainable, we have now moved towards a Microsoft Online subscription whereby all official COTEC email addresses are now supported by a Microsoft 365 license. The monthly virtual meetings are now being held through Teams. For agenda items or requests, please contact Vice-President Administration Ann-Marie Morrissey or COTEC Office, info@coteceurope.eu

Signing of New Contract with Director of Operations

During our Interim Meeting in Berlin, a new contract was signed with Shawn Abela Tabone, to extend his services as Director of Operations through 2026.

Governance Day and 14th General Assembly

Our next face-to-face meetings will take place in September/October 2026 in Bucharest, Romania. The exact dates and venue will be announced shortly.

COTEC on Social Media                 

COTEC has over 5,020 followers on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/COTECEurope/ 

On X (formerly known as Twitter) @COTECEurope has more than 3,340 followers.

On LinkedIn we have now reached more than 1,200 followers.

On Instagram @cotec_europe with more than 895 followers.

Join us and make COTEC and occupational therapy more visible in Europe.

Please also follow the websites of Occupational Therapy Europe  www.oteurope.eu , ENOTHE www.enothe.eu and ROTOS www.rotosfoundation.eu  

OT-Europe Update: October 2025

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Occupational Therapy Europe, OT-Europe, Executive consists of the Presidents/Chairs and Vice Presidents/Vice Chairs of the three branches – COTEC, ENOTHE and ROTOS. The Executive has an on-line meeting every month. 

Important agenda items in the past months have been the preparing of the second Strategic Plan for the five-year period 2026 – 2030. This was recently presented to COTEC GA representatives during the Governance day and representatives had the opportunity to comment and ask questions on OT-Europe work.

Another current topic is the planning of the 2nd OT-Europe Congress and the location and dates will be published later in the year.

OT-Europe has for years had a representative in the European Forum for Primary Care, EFPC, Advisory Board. The previous representative, Sandra Rowan from the UK, left the position this year and Klaus Gasperl-Krachler was proposed as her replacement, and  was elected at the EFPC Annual meeting in September. Klaus is an Occupational Therapist and lecturer from Austria.On behalf of OT-Europe Sandra and Klaus prepared a workshop that was held by Klaus at the EFPC conference.  COTEC Vice President Yara Peterko supported Sandra and Klaus in the workshop planning phase. The title was Integrating Occupational Therapy into Primary Care: Unlocking Interdisciplinary Potential. They reported that especially general practitioners attended the workshop, all leaving with a plan on how to integrate Occupational Therapists in primary care initiatives.