Dear EVSSAR Members, dear colleagues and friends,

we are pleased and honoured to welcome you to the next 25th EVSSAR Congress in Barcelona, a magnificent, lively and vibrant city which is the capital of Catalunya.

We would like to provide an overview of the past four years, during which many changes have taken place. After one year of break for any physical meeting caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, our annual meeting had to transition to an online format. In 2022, we successfully rescheduled the Quadrennial International Symposium on Canine and Feline Reproduction (ISCFR) in collaboration with the ISCFR International Organizing Committee. In the year 2023, we saw the launch of the first European Symposium on Animal Reproduction (ESAR), which took place in Nantes, a milestone achievement resulting from the collaborative efforts of the three main scientific societies in animal reproduction in Europe: EVSSAR, ESDAR, and ECAR.

For the first time since Berlin 2019, we are planning the 2024 Congress solely as EVSSAR society. Some might wonder if this marks a return to the past. However, this is not the case nor are our intentions! We are determined to move forward and we are maintaining our unwavering focus on the subjects that sound most close to our interests and everyday activities, both as Academics and Practitioners. All the aspects of small animal species reproduction remain the focal point of our program, as it always has been, but even more so this year. EVSSAR people are going to be the centre of our thoughts as we are building a program that is going to be the expression of the essence of this lively Society. 

In the meantime, the composition of the Board has changed and is evolving once more. For the first time, in 2023, we conducted our elections and General Assembly online rather than during our meetings. This means that in Barcelona, you will encounter a new Board along with a new President. Nonetheless, both the new and former boards are working in close collaboration to ensure that you have the best possible EVSSAR Experience during this congress!

On behalf of the EVSSAR Board, we express our gratitude to the chair of the LOC, Prof. Maria Montserrat Rivera del Alamo and her team, who are tirelessly working to create an unforgettable experience for you in Barcelona, discovering the culture and the beauty of this city.

We are grateful to the sponsors who are participating in this event and have placed their trust in us and our work. Without their support, none of this would be possible. 

In conclusion, we extend a warm invitation to you to visit this page frequently, as we are actively developing the core theme of the program, and you will discover all the relevant information here, along with practical details for abstract submission, registration and your travel arrangements.

Dear EVSSAR members, we really hope to spend some unforgettable days together in Barcelona. We can't wait to meet all of you and strive to provide the essential ingredients for a remarkable experience: great science, extensive knowledge, live discussions, oral presentations, clinical cases, poster sessions, a splendid venue, a beautiful city, warm smiles, prestigious awards, old and new friendships. There's only one missing element at the moment, and that's you! 

Come and witness the vibrant EVSSAR live congress in Barcelona, become an integral part of it, and contribute to enriching the discussions on various topics. We are excited to welcome you, again or for the first time to the EVSSAR family!

Del Carro Andrea                                                                                                                                                            Chiara Milani

EVSSAR Past President                                                                                                                                                EVSSAR President