INTERNATIONAL
& EU AFFAIRS

EU politics and international guidelines have a growing impact on healthcare in Europe and in particular the field of medical imaging. The ESR closely monitors EU legislation and initiatives and has successfully built relations with relevant EU institutions, international organisations and other stakeholders. The main aim of the ESR is to be acknowledged as a major stakeholder in EU health policies and involved in consultation processes for new legislative initiatives in this field.

In order to achieve this, the ESR has adopted a proactive approach making European and International affairs a regular agenda item within the ESR Board of Directors and assigning experts that are dedicated to various European political dossiers in close collaboration with the ESR Board of Directors and supported by the ESR’s European and International Affairs Department.

An overview of current European and international issues related to the radiology profession and related advocacy efforts is offered below.

Advocating a communal approach to Radiology.

Radiology is not a solitary endeavour; it thrives on the synergy of minds and perspectives coming together. The ESR recognises this and champions the power of a communal approach, where radiologists, researchers, technologists, and healthcare professionals collaborate seamlessly. This approach fosters the exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices, leading to improved patient outcomes and advancements in the field.

Policy Topics

ESR represents radiologists’ interests on key issues at the EU level, read all about the key policy topics here →

News

about the ESR regarding the EU & International affairs.

Find older articles
in our archive here.

Must read

European & International Alliances

BioMed Alliance

Effective collaboration in medical research and healthcare is essential for proactive readiness to tackle future challenges and to ensure Europe’s continued prominence in the realm of medical science. The Biomedical Alliance effectively comprises these efforts through a network of leading European medical societies that together include more than 400,000 researchers and health professionals.

The European Society of Radiology (ESR) actively participates in the Alliance’s diverse array of initiatives, dedicated to promoting the advancement of medical excellence and elevating patient care standards across Europe.

European Cancer Organisation

The European Society of Radiology (ESR) and the European Cancer Organisation share a mission of dynamic partnership, facilitating scientific collaboration and exchange within the cancer domain. As a not-for-profit federation of member organisations working in cancer at European level, the Organisation convenes oncology professionals and patients for a united voice of the European cancer community.

Together, we advocate for impactful changes that will enhance cancer care, promote research, and improve patient outcomes.

HERCA

The Heads of the European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities (HERCA) is a voluntary association of Europe’s national radiation protection authorities established in 2007. HERCA has a Working Group on Medical Applications (WG MA) dedicated to issues such as justification of medical exposures, cooperation with CT manufacturers, or the implementation of the EURATOM Basic Safety Standards Directive.

The ESR cooperates with HERCA on the issue of justification through its multi-stakeholder meetings, developing and implementing self-commitments to improve justification processes in radiology, and regularly contributing to discussion or position papers.

ICRP

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), an independent international organisation established in 1928, has developed, maintained, and elaborated the International System of Radiological Protection used world-wide as the common basis for radiological protection standards, legislation, guidelines, programmes, and practice.

The ESR is an ICRP Special Liaison Organisation and is considered a key stakeholder related to medical radiation protection.

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IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an international organisation working to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. The IAEA’s medical programme is led by its Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging (NMDI) section while the Radiation Protection of Patients (RPOP) unit is dedicated to helping professionals achieve safer use of ionising radiation for patients. In addition to providing information to professionals and the public, each year a number of IAEA conferences and technical meetings bring together experts from all over the world to discuss issues relevant to radiology.

The Bonn Call for Action, issued by the IAEA and the WHO in 2012, sets out the international agenda for radiation protection, and forms the basis of the ESR EuroSafe Imaging Call for Action. The ESR is working closely with the RPOP unit in this context.

WHO

The World Health Organization is the United Nations organisation dedicated to promoting health around the world. The ESR works with the WHO in areas like radiation protection, patient safety and education. The WHO has a dedicated programme for ionising radiation including medical radiation exposure.

The International Society of Radiology, of which the ESR is a member, is a non-state actor in official relations with the WHO and regularly participates in meetings at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

European Commission Groups

European Commission eHealth Stakeholder Group

The ESR has been a member of the European Commission eHealth Stakeholder Group since its establishment in 2012. The group is composed of up to 40 European umbrella organisations and associations representing health data users (patients, professionals, providers, payers etc), industry, research, and standardisation bodies.

Policy areas of interest to the ESR include the European Cancer Imaging Initiative and the implementation of the European Health Data Space. The purpose of the group is to discuss and actively contribute to the development of EU eHealth policy in a multidisciplinary approach. In particular, it will contribute to the development of the proposal for a Regulation on the European Health Data Space, and support transparency with regard to the Commission eHealth actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU Health Policy Platform

The EU Health Policy Platform is the European Commission’s online platform to facilitate its contacts with health stakeholders. In addition to hosting formal EU expert groups like the eHealth Stakeholder Group (eHSG) or the Expert Group on Cancer Control, on which the ESR is represented, the HPP also serves as an open forum for health stakeholders.

Each year, stakeholder organisations are given the opportunity to propose and lead thematic networks on healthcare issues. The thematic networks produce joint statements in cooperation with interested stakeholder organisations that are submitted to the European Commission and evaluated for potential follow-up actions to better reflect stakeholder priorities in EU policy.

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European Medicines Agency Healthcare Professionals’ Working Party (EMA HCPWP)

The ESR is a member of the European Medicines Agency Healthcare Professionals’ WorkingParty that provides recommendations to EMA and its Human Scientific Committees on matters of direct or indirect interest to healthcare professionals in relation to medicines for human use and monitors the overall interactions between EMA and healthcare professionals.

ESR's online library of data on medical imaging

The Imaging Observatory is an online library of quantitative imaging data. It collects data on imaging from across Europe and beyond and presents it in an easily accessible format, providing links to sources, reports and databases. The Imaging Observatory’s aim is to raise awareness about the status of imaging with a focus on Europe and provide a central access point for imaging data.

Become A Member Today!

You will have access to a wide range of benefits that can help you advance your career and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field of radiology. These benefits include access to educational resources, networking opportunities with other professionals in the field, opportunities to participate in research projects and clinical trials, and access to the latest technologies and techniques. 

Check out our different membership options.

If you don’t find a fitting membership send us an email here.

Membership

for radiologists, radiology residents, professionals of allied sciences (including radiographers/radiological technologists, nuclear medicine physicians, medical physicists, and data scientists) & professionals of allied sciences in training residing within the boundaries of Europe

  • Reduced registration fees for ECR 1
  • Reduced fees for the European School of Radiology (ESOR) 2
  • Option to participate in the European Diploma. 3
  • Free electronic access to the journal European Radiology 
  • Content e-mails for all ESR journals4
  • Updates on offers & events through our newsletters
  • Exclusive access to the ESR feed in Juisci

€ 11 /year

Yes! That is less than €1 per month.

Free membership

for radiologists, radiology residents or professionals of allied sciences engaged in practice, teaching or research residing outside Europe as well as individual qualified professionals with an interest in radiology and medical imaging who do not fulfil individual or all requirements for any other ESR membership category & former full members who have retired from all clinical practice
  • Reduced registration fees for ECR 1
  • Option to participate in the European Diploma. 3
  • Free electronic access to the journal European Radiology
  • Content e-mails for all ESR journals 4
  • Updates on offers & events through our newsletters
  • Exclusive access to the ESR feed in Juisci

€ 0

The best things in life are free.

ESR Friends

For students, company representatives or hospital managers etc.

  • Content e-mails for all 3 ESR journals 4
  • Updates on offers & events through our newsletters

€ 0

Friendship doesn’t cost a thing.

The membership type best fitting for you will be selected automatically during the application process.

Footnotes:

01

Reduced registration fees for ECR 2025:
Provided that ESR 2024 membership is activated and approved by August 31, 2024.

Reduced registration fees for ECR 2026:
Provided that ESR 2025 membership is activated and approved by August 31, 2025.

02
Not all activities included
03
Examination based on the ESR European Training Curriculum (radiologists or radiology residents).
04
European Radiology, Insights into Imaging, European Radiology Experimental.