The EPA has undergone substantial structural changes in the last few years. It currently consists of 2 councils, the council of the individual members as well as the Council of the representatives of the National Psychiatric Associations. The aims of this presentation are to highlight ongoing projects of the Council of the NPAs on one side and raise important questions for the future as to how the EPA can develop and what role the NPAs will play in European Psychiatry in general.

The Council consists of 34 Society/Association members from 30 European countries, representing 77,000 psychiatrists. The mission of the Council of NPAs is to support the general mission of the EPA and promote the highest possible quality of professionals, training and services for psychiatric patient care throughout Europe. Its aim is to initiate programs for working groups, prepare guidance papers on different relevant subjects to psychiatry and psychiatrists and furthermore, to support scientific symposia.

The aim of this symposium is to initiate a fruitful discussion on timely topics central as well as to EPA as to European psychiatry in general.