By Ana-Marija Vidjak
EATA General Secretary
The Council, composed of delegates representing national associations, is the key governance gathering of EATA and has traditionally taken place in early July, just before the summer break.
Following a decision by the delegates last year, the 2026 Council will be held from 10 to 12 October, marking a modest but meaningful shift in timing.
One of the main motivations for this change is sustainability, including financial considerations. Moving away from the peak holiday season helps reduce overall costs and supports a more responsible use of resources. In addition, recent summers have brought increasingly extreme temperatures in many locations, and October offers a more comfortable environment for focused in-person exchange.
The nesw timing also allows participants to engage with a clearer and more complete picture of the financial year, supporting better-informed discussion and decision-making at Council level.
We are aware that there have been different preferences within the membership, with some valuing the long-standing July timing and others welcoming the move into autumn. As with any change in established practice, this adjustment naturally comes with a range of perspectives. We will pay attention to how it works in practice, including both its advantages and its challenges, and remain open to learning from the experience as we move forward. And like many things in life, it may feel slightly unfamiliar at first, and then quietly turn out to make a lot of sense.
Ana-Marija Vidjak, EATA General Secretary
Prague 2026: A Council meeting at the heart of Europe
By Radmila Pikorová, Jan Šimek and
Kristýna Tomanová – The CATA Board
This year’s EATA Council meeting will take place in Prague, and on behalf of the Czech Association for Transactional Analysis (CATA), we are delighted to welcome you to the heart of Europe and to the City of a Hundred Spires.
As Ana-Marija has already announced, the Council meeting has moved to a new date. Alongside this change, we have also decided to experiment with a slightly different hosting format. While previous Councils were traditionally held in hotels that combined accommodation and meeting facilities, this year we felt it was time to try something new.
For this special anniversary year, we have chosen a meeting venue located in the very centre of Prague and invited Council members to arrange their own accommodation according to their preferences and budget. We hope this approach will offer greater flexibility and perhaps create additional opportunities to experience the city itself. Whether that means a morning walk through the historic centre, discovering a hidden café between meetings, or simply enjoying Prague’s unique atmosphere on the way to and from the venue.
Of course, the primary purpose of the Council remains the important work we do together. Yet we also hope that being situated in the heart of the city will allow those who wish to do so to combine their Council experience with a small taste of Prague’s beauty, history and everyday life.
Hosting this Council is a special honour for CATA, not only because it coincides with EATA’s 50th anniversary, but also because it marks a moment of transition for our own association. After eight years of service, the current CATA Board: Radka, Honza and Kristýna, is coming to the end of its term.
At the same time, Kristýna Tomanová will be concluding her role as Chair of the Communications Committee. Although one chapter is closing, she will remain part of the Communications Committee family as Social Media Manager, continuing to contribute her energy and creativity to EATA’s communication and outreach.
Yet every ending carries the seed of a new beginning. We are especially pleased that Honza Šimek will continue his journey within EATA as the new Czech Delegate, helping to build on the work of previous years and contribute to the next chapter of cooperation between CATA and the wider EATA community.
For us, this Council will be more than a meeting. It will be a celebration of fifty years of shared history, a moment to honour friendships and achievements, and an opportunity to look ahead to what comes next.
We look forward to welcoming you to Prague, sharing with you the beauty and atmosphere of our city, and celebrating this remarkable milestone together beneath its hundred spires.
See you in Prague!
The CATA Board: Radka, Honza & Kristýna