Representing the midpoint in my CED Presidency mandate, 2023 was marked by a consolidation of our strategy on prioritising the interests of the dental profession at the core of all our activities. The CED continues to strive to ensure that the current and future workforce is prepared and ready to respond to new challenges. In light of this, we continued to build on our existing policy work around topics such as digital health (specifically the European Health Data Space), education and professional qualifications, corporate dentistry and workforce aspects.
We also focused on strengthening our advocacy activities, encouraging further collaboration between our members at the national and the European level through various lobby actions and surveys on topics such as eHealth, recognition of dental qualifications, dental diplomas, to name a few. In my role as President, I also attended conferences and meetings organised by our member associations and relevant stakeholders in the Netherlands, Ireland, Lithuania, the UK.
The CED continued prioritising our relationships with external stakeholders as well, through joint activities with partners such as the Standing Committee of European Doctors and through participation in EU-level working structures such as the Medical Device Coordination Group. We also boosted our communication with Members of the European Parliament through meetings and exchanges. Our collaboration with the European Regional Organisation of the World Dental Federation also continued, in relation to the EU Manual of Dental Practice and to topics such as corporate dentistry. We also continued engaging with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in light of our role as eligible organisation, by attending meetings and trainings of relevance to the CED.
The year 2023 in my view represents a stepping stone for the CED – a year of change and challenges, but also a year of opportunity to lay the foundations for our future priorities. As we now look towards 2024 and the upcoming changes set to take place in EU institutional leadership, I am confident that the CED and its members remain committed and dedicated to delivering on the vision of successful and engaged dentistry in Europe.
Dr. Freddie Sloth-Lisbjerg
President (Denmark)
