AEP is an organization based on individual membership of those working in the field of mental health care and research in Europe. The role of AEP is changing hand in hand with the harmonization process in European policy including the mental health. The activity of the association as well as the participation of its individual members representing different parts of Europe is to some extent parallel and complementary to the official programs on mental health (WHO a EC projects, STAKES, IMPHA etc.). In addition, there is a significant overlap with such programs, which will be briefly summarized in the forum.