European Donation Day 2025 - European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare

HOST COUNTRY – GREECE

European Donation Day (EDD) 2025 will be celebrated from 10 to 12 October and hosted by Greece, in collaboration with the Hellenic Transplant Organization. This red-letter day will unfold through a series of special events in Kalamata and in Athens, under the slogan:

Organ donation, more life.

United in purpose. Stronger together.

These events will begin with the annual plenary meeting of the European Committee on Organ Transplantation (CD-P-TO), the intergovernmental committee that oversees and co-ordinates the Council of Europe’s work in the field, on 9 and 10 October in Kalamata.

The EDD opening ceremony will take place on the evening of Friday 10 October, with the participation of representatives from government ministries, European Union and national health bodies, local and regional authorities, and patient and healthcare professional associations.

A local awareness campaign will take place in Kalamata on 10 October, featuring educational initiatives targeting young people in Kalamata’s schools, together with public events and information stands. The following day, the celebrations will continue in Athens, culminating with 5- and 10-kilometer running events on Sunday 12 October to promote public awareness. To further mark the occasion, several prominent, historical buildings in both cities will be illuminated in green – the EDD colour.

An international scientific conference will be held in Kalamata on Saturday 11 October, enabling participants to discuss the global and national transplantation landscape, ethical perspectives and donor-recipient stories, as well as strategies to increase awareness and participation.