Welcome to the ERN-EYE 2026 General Annual Meeting
We are pleased to invite you to the ERN-EYE 2026 Annual Meeting that will be held on 13th and 14th April 2026 in Helsinki, Finland.
Hosted by our Finnish colleagues, Dr. Joni Turunen and his team, this 2026 Annual Meeting will be dedicated to the ERN-EYE governance board (obligatory for all full members, HCP representatives, and ad hoc representatives) and to a review of the activities carried out within the Network, as well as updates in the European projects landscape.
ABOUT THIS EVENT
Venue
ERN-EYE 2026 General Annual Meeting preview
The 2026 ERN-EYE General Annual Meeting is scheduled to take place over two days at the Auditorium of Tammisairaala, A-Tower, 2nd floor, Paciuksenkatu 8, Helsinki.
On Monday, following the General Annual Meeting, participants will be invited to a 30-minute guided visit of Oak Hospital. Opened in May 2025 in the Meilahti Hospital area of Helsinki, Oak Hospital provides expert ophthalmological care to patients from across Finland, including those with rare and severe eye conditions.
By bringing all ophthalmology units under one roof, Oak Hospital fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation in patient care, addressing the growing demand for specialized treatment.
Designed with accessibility at its heart, Oak Hospital offers an inclusive, patient-centered environnment tailored to the needs of visually impaired patients.
Dinner / restaurants
To conclude the first day of the ERN-EYE 2026 General Annual Meeting, a dinner will be hosted on Monday, 13 April at Meiccu restaurant.
For those wishing to discover local cuisine during their stay, two additional traditional restaurants, Kuu and Elite, have been recommended.
Meiccu
Kuu
Elite
Hotels
Two hotels located near Oak Hospital have been identified.
Valo Hotel
The VALO Hotel & Work is located approximatively 23 minutes by public transport from the central station, and about 15 minutes by public transport or 30 minutes by foot from Oak Hospital.
A 20% discount on the daily accommodation rates is available when booking through the hotel’s website using the code PROERNEYE (enter the code in the “Enter Code” field). This code is valid for room reservations from 11 to 15 April 2026.
Scandic Meilahti Hotel
The Scandic Meilahti Hotel is located approximatively 15 minutes by public transport from the central station and about 10 minutes by foot from Oak Hospital.
A discount is available when booking through the hotel’s website using the code CGRO (enter the code in the “Enter Code” field). Please note that the Scandic Meilahti Hotel uses dynamic pricing, so rates may vary and specific prices cannot be guaranteed.
How to reach Helsinki Central Station from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
How do I get from the airport to Helsinki city center?
Helsinki Region Transport (HSL), the public transport provider for Helsinki, has divided the metropolitan area into 4 zones, identified by the letters A, B, C, and D, spreading out from the center of Helsinki.
The airport is located in zone C and the Helsinki Central Railway Station is in zone A. To reach Helsinki city center from the airport, you will need an ABC ticket.
Before buying the ticket, verify the zones on your route and select a ticket that is valid for all of them.
Where is the Airport Train Station located?
Helsinki Airport is served by I and P trains, which run between the airport and Helsinki city center every 10 minutes from Monday to Saturday and every 15 minutes on Sundays.
The train station is located directly beneath the airport terminal and can be accessed via lift or escalator from both the arrivals and departures halls.
How to reach Oak Hospital from Helsinki Central Station
By tram
From Helsinki Central Station, a 3 minutes walk leads to the “Lasipalatsi” tram stop. Tram line 4 “Munkkiniemi via Meilahti” should then be taken in the direction of Meilahdentie. The ride from the city center to Meilahdentie lasts approximately 11 minutes, with a fare of around €3.
Upon arrival at Meilahdentie, Oak Hospital is located a further 3-minute walk away.
By bus
From Helsinki Central Station, a walk of approximately 5 minutes leads to the “Elielinaukio” bus stop. From there, bus 510 toward Meilahdentie can be taken. The ride lasts about 10-12 minutes and costs around €3.
Upon arrival at Meilahdentie, Oak Hospital is located a further 3-minute walk away.
By taxi
Taxis are available directly outside Helsinki Central Station. Services are provided by Taksi Helsinki, which can be book by telephone at 0100 0700 or via their website.
The distance to Oak Hospital is approximately 3-4 km, and typically takes 6-10 minutes. The usual fare ranges from €10 to €15, depending on traffic conditions.
Ticket for buses, trains, trams and ferries may be purchased via the HSL App or on the HSL Ticket Store.
Expenses Q&A
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
All ERN-EYE full members, affiliated and supporting partners as well as ePAGs are welcome to attend our ERN-EYE General Annual Meeting. Please, remember to register for the event.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO BE REIMBURSED?
Only one attendee of each ERN-EYE full member organisation is eligible for reimbursement for participating in ERN-EYE events, in addition to ERN-EYE WG/TWG leaders, and invited speakers. All other participants from full member, affiliated, or supporting partner organizations are responsible for covering their own expenses.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE TO THE GOVERNANCE BOARD?
Only the Representative (or declared Substitute) of each full member’s HCP can participate to the Governance Board.
WHICH COSTS ARE COVERED?
Travel, accommodation, and meals are reimbursed in accordance with EC reimbursement rules (Commission Decision C(2023) 4928).
Please note:
- The number of reimbursable nights cannot exceed the number of meeting days +1.
- Ensure that you submit the travel claim form along with all supporting documents (receipts and official bank statement) within 30 calendar days after the meeting ends.
- Remember to sign the attendance sheet on each day of the meeting.
HOW IS TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT CALCULATED?
You will be entitled to reimbursement of your travel expenses between your place of work or residence and the address used on the invitation to the meeting’s location.
Reimbursement maximum amount for travel under 400 km are country based (both for intra and inter Member State travels), reimbursement maximum amount for travel over 400 km are distance based. The kilometer distance has to be calculated via the website provided by the European Commission accessible at the following link: Unit costs for eligible travel.
The maximum amounts for return trip for the different categories are available for consultation at the following link: Commission Decision C(2023) 4928.
The reimbursement will be paid on actual cost basis up to a maximum calculated following the EC Unit Cost for travel reimbursement rules once you have presented the relevant proofs of payment.
WHAT ARE THE LIMITS FOR ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS?
The accommodation will be reimbursed on actual cost basis, up to the maximum amount reimbursable, once you have presented the relevant supporting documents. Reimbursement maximum amount for accommodation will depend on the country of the meeting following the EC Unit Cost for travel reimbursement rules. The maximum amount for accommodation in Helsinki is: €146/night.
Meals and local transport (bus, tram, metro, taxi…) are reimbursed to a daily maximum amount. Its amount will depend on the country of the meeting and is calculated on a 24h period base in case meals are not provided in the frame of the meeting. Meals and local transport will be reimbursed once you have presented the relevant supporting documents. The maximum amount for subsistence in Helsinki is: €113/night.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR REIMBURSEMENT?
After the event, the completed Travel Claim Form, along with all supporting documents (receipts, transport and accommodation invoices, and official bank document in PDF format) must be sent within 30 days to: ern.eye.reimb@chru-strasbourg.fr.
To ensure your reimbursement is processed correctly, please carefully follow these submission guidelines:
• Complete all sections of the travel claim form. Incomplete forms cannot be processed.
• Sign the form by hand. Digital signatures are not accepted.
• Attach an official bank statement (RIB/IBAN) showing: your full name, personal address, bank name, bank address, and all relevant banking details (IBAN, BIC/SWIFT). Missing or incorrect information will delay reimbursement.
• Include original receipts (scanned and clearly visible). Bank statements or extracts cannot replace receipts.
Please ensure that all information provided is accurate, as any errors may cause delays in processing your request.