This first issue of ECHO 2026 gives us the opportunity to extend our best wishes for health, happiness, and success to you and your families.

In 2025, the Staff Association celebrated its 70th anniversary with a series of varied activities: exhibitions, conferences, shows, concerts, and many other festive moments. We were delighted to share these occasions with you and your families. Given the level of participation, we may not wait another ten years before doing it again! 

In 2025, among other things, progress was achieved through concertation on the reform of the internal justice, the revision of Operational Circular no° 11 (which governs the protection of personal data), and the ongoing of work on guaranteeing social protection (pensions and health insurance). Concertation also moved forward other topics, though without leading to an outcome ready for sharing, such as revising the Administrative Circular no° 14 (protection of members of the personnel against the financial consequences of illness, accident and incapacity for work).

2026 will be a crucial year, with the arrival of a new management team at CERN and also at the Staff Association itself. Above all, 2026 sees the start of a Five-yearly Review of our financial and social conditions, for which some Member States concerned about their low representation within CERN employed personnel, have already expressed interest. We will soon reach out to you, through a questionnaire to identify your priorities and expectations for this review. Your answers will be crucial!

We will continue to meet with you and keep you informed through public meetings, in-depth articles, and other channels. While the Five-yearly Review will be central in 2026, the work continues on other topics that must be addressed, including on the implementation of the Internal Justice reform and on several circulars.

As in previous years and for many years, the Association will once again stand by your side in this new year through the Individual Cases Commission (CAPA) to assist and advise you in managing personal situations that require specific attention.

The Association is the only statutory body that represents all members of the staff, both employed and associated (MPE and MPA), in discussions with the Management and the Member States. At its core, the Association is you, its members! Each of us play in its dynamism and its impact. Together, we can move our projects forward and defend the interests of the Organization and its staff even more effectively!