EOQ: No "Q" Without You

Since taking office as President of EOQ, Paulo Sampaio has been guided by one clear conviction: a strong EOQ can only be built through strong relationships with its members.

Under the banner "EOQ: No 'Q' Without You", Paulo has placed personal dialogue, mutual understanding, and active engagement with our National Representatives and partners at the very heart of EOQ's priorities. Understanding the ambitions, expectations, challenges, and objectives of our members is not merely important; it is essential for shaping the future of our organization.

As part of this commitment, Paulo and Katelijne have already undertaken several member visits across Europe.

In preparation for the EOQ Congress 2026 in Kosovo, we had the pleasure of visiting our National Representative, Quality Kosovo, where we were warmly welcomed by president Edmond Hajrizi and his team. The discussions not only strengthened our collaboration around the upcoming congress but also provided valuable insights into the needs and aspirations of the quality community in the region. 

More recently, we visited DGQ in Frankfurt, where we received a very warm welcome from managing director Claudia Welker. During our discussions, we gained a deeper understanding of DGQ's rich history, its current activities, and its strategic role within the European quality landscape. When Thomas Votsmeier, director of standardisation and certification, joined the meeting, it became even more evident how important DGQ's contribution is to EOQ's representation within our network of liaison partners. At the same time, DGQ reaffirmed the importance of maintaining a close relationship with EOQ, particularly in view of the certification schemes owned by EOQ and especially the recently updated CosCS 9000 framework.

Our visit to AEC in Madrid once again demonstrated how highly personal contact is valued, not only by EOQ but also by our members. We had the pleasure of meeting Beatriz López, who, in addition to her role as Managing Director of Unilabs, has taken on the presidency of AEC. It was equally a pleasure to meet again with Enrique González, whom we have known and worked with for many years. As Director of Personnel Certification (CERPER), his experience, insights and longstanding commitment made a valuable contribution to our engaging and productive discussions.While several challenging topics and some disappointments were openly discussed, the meeting ultimately resulted in a positive path forward and a renewed commitment to cooperation, although in a different format than before. It was a clear reminder that honest dialogue, mutual respect, and face-to-face conversations often create opportunities that would otherwise remain hidden.

Without these visits, and without Paulo's sincere ambition to shape EOQ into an organization that truly listens to its members, the outcome could have been very different.

The future EOQ that we are building together is an organization that promotes:

• Knowledge sharing and inspiration on quality and management;
• Training and educational opportunities;
• Stronger collaboration between national EOQ members;
• Greater international visibility and representation of EOQ;
• Joint international projects, events and initiatives;
• Support in building partnerships beyond national borders; and
• A shared European vision that strengthens the relevance of quality throughout Europe.

Looking ahead, Paulo's vision for EOQ is firmly centred on the concept of "The Big Q." EOQ believes in a broader quality ecosystem that extends far beyond certification and standardization alone. Our ambition is to further develop EOQ as a vibrant international network where professionals and organizations exchange knowledge, discuss emerging challenges, learn from one another, and collectively strengthen the role of quality throughout Europe.

This direction reflects many of the expectations and aspirations that our members have shared with us over recent years. It is therefore no coincidence that listening has become one of EOQ's most important commitments.

Because the future of EOQ is not something we build for our members. It is something we build with our members.

EOQ - No "Q" Without You.

Listening to your voice. Shaping our future together.