Although 2026 is already well underway, we are delighted to take a moment to look back on 2025, a truly special year dedicated to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE).

Beyond FVE itself, 2025 was also an anniversary year for several FVE Sections, each marking the occasion in their own way. We encourage you to explore their usual communication channels to discover how they celebrated this important milestone.

A Task Force for the Anniversary

Preparations for the anniversary began long ahead of 2025. In 2024, a dedicated Anniversary Task Force, chaired by Nektaria Ioannou, was established to coordinate the celebrations throughout the year.

The task force brought together: Ann Criel, Bart De Leeuw, Demetris Epaminon, Robert Huey, Nektaria Ioannou, Tjeerd Jorna, Kenelm Lewis, Lizzie Lockett, Cornelia Rossi-Broy, Ivan Zemljak and the FVE Staff: Mathilde Deville, Yael Dotan, Marina Marić, and Ulrike Tewes.

Key Steps

FVE 50th Anniversary Visual identity

The development of a special anniversary visual identity, used consistently across all anniversary-related activities and communications was key to increase the visibility of this event and attract interest.

Kicking Off the Celebrations

January: The anniversary year officially started with the release of the FVE History Video. Based on extensive archival work, this video retraces the key milestones of FVE and highlights how the organisation has evolved over five decades to represent veterinarians across Europe.

A Year of Stories and Engagement

May: FVE launched a dedicated social media campaign, with more than 20 posts published over the following months. These highlighted FVE’s history, actions, members, governance bodies, and people who have shaped the organisation.

June: During the General Assembly in Leuven, several important moments marked the celebrations:

• The celebration of Nancy De Briyne’s 25 years at FVE.

The filming of interviews that would later form the basis of dedicated anniversary videos, some were already published in other news articles but here are two short-format videos were shared on social media:

• What animal would FVE be—and why?

• What does FVE represent for you?

Community Highlights and Section Spotlights

September: FVE launched a special photo contest titled Veterinary Anniversaries – moments worth celebrating, with three winning entries selected by the Anniversary Task Force.

October: A month dedicated to the FVE Sections, with a series of social media posts showcasing their own histories, achievements, presidents, and contributions to the veterinary profession.

Anniversary Moments in Cyprus and Brussels

November: The Anniversary Celebration during the General Assembly in Cyprus was a major milestone. Thanks to the warm Cypriot welcome, this event became a memorable moment of connection and celebration for the FVE community.

December: The anniversary celebrations reached their peak with:

• The FVE Christmas Reception, featuring a dedicated History Room showcasing key moments from FVE’s past.

• The Anniversary Symposium held the following morning, celebrating veterinarians in Europe—their past, present, and future. Read the full report HERE.

2025 was a year of reflection, celebration, and collective pride. As we move forward, this anniversary reminds us not only of how far FVE has come, but also of the strong foundations on which we continue to build the future of the veterinary profession in Europe.