European Public Health News

Abstract

In this European public health news, the focus is in the first place on EUPHA itself. In his last column as EUPHA President, Ricciardi reiterates EUPHA’s commitment in working for European public health and bringing together public health professionals at its annual conference. Zeegers shows light on what it is to work for EUPHA Office. On a European perspective, Jakab explains what remains to be done to intensify the control of communicable diseases. Finally, Testori Coggi writes about measures by the European Commission to improve the patient safety situation in Europe. # President’s Column—Working for European Public Health {#article-title-2} Alas, my last column as EUPHA president. It has been an absolute privilege and honour to be EUPHA president for two consecutive terms (and not forgetting one term before that). In my last column, I would like to highlight the two most important features of EUPHA. The first one is working for European public health. EUPHA is at the heart of European public health in all its activities. The conference is the meeting place for public health professionals in Europe and beyond. It is where we meet the researchers, policymakers, practitioners and trainers that can make a difference. It is where EUPHA meets its national public health associations, institutional members and partners. This is where European public health is created, encouraged and further developed. The European Journal of Public Health is the European publication where public health research is presented, where viewpoints are defended and commentaries discussed. The EUPHA sections are the active theme-specific networks that put European public health in general and EUPHA in particular on the agenda. The second one is the EUPHA family feeling. Created by dedicated and renowned public health professionals, EUPHA is the home of European public health and—as the saying goes—home is where the heart is. The interaction in our network has always …