From 16 to 17 May 2025, the EUROGEO Annual Conference (https://www.eurogeography.eu/conferences/) brought together geography academics, researchers, and educators in Skopje, North Macedonia, for three inspiring days of exchange and collaboration — all hosted by the Institute of Geography at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia. On 18 May, participants enjoyed an amazing field trip to Matka Canyon, taking in the stunning lake views, exploring a remarkable cave, and soaking up the region’s rich natural and cultural heritage. The European Journal of Geography, represented by our Associate Editor Dr. Alexandros Bartzokas-Tsiompras, proudly joined a panel with editors from three other society-run journals — the Journal of the Bulgarian Geographical Society (Editor: Dr. Hristina Prodanova), Journal of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA (Editors: Dr. Ana Milanović Pešić & Dr. Suzana Lović Obradović), and Geographical Reviews (North Macedonia) (Editor: Dr. Vladimir Zlatanoski). All editors reaffirmed their commitment to open publishing: no author fees, just free, high-quality geography research for all. Our discussion also tackled major challenges facing scholarly publishing today, from finding reliable reviewers and dealing with journal rankings, to navigating the ethical questions raised by AI and predatory journals. These issues are crucial for maintaining open, rigorous, and trustworthy geography research. Looking ahead, the next EUROGEO Conference will take place in 2026 at Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Tilburg, Netherlands — another fantastic opportunity to connect and share geographical research across Europe and beyond.