Dear Friends, 

We are just about to start the EPA Annual Conference on equitable access to quality, inclusive education in Europe. This will be the main internal event of the EPA Year of Equitable Access to Education, hopefully to be followed by other events, especially the European Day of Parents and Schools in October.

This is also my last EPA event, so it is time to say goodbye to you in my current position. The past few years have been a fantastic learning journey for me and I am grateful I could serve parents in Europe. We had plans to continue the work started by Johannes Theiner, my predecessor as the EU is facing a crucial time with the next European elections just round the corner and the new budgetary framework for the post-2020 period being drafted. There are European tools in the pipeline that will greatly affect the lives of parents and children, and to have a chance to influence policy makers to ensure the interest of hundereds of millions the new team will need to work very hard and with a great expertise. 

EPA is also saying goodbye to its whole staff. I haven't seen an EPA without Brigitte Haider, my main support and co-worker. EPA will surely not be the same without her. Let me take this opportunity to thank her (and all others) for her support and work that made it possible for EPA to operate the way we have been used to. 

For me May will bring the start of a new section of a fascinating journey. Having heard about your decision in February, I received offers and new pathways have opened. It will be great to have a new start, to leave certain tiresome burdens behind and be offered further learning and professional challenges. I am sure it is not the last time we hear from each other in the case of many of you. For the challenges ahead of EPA I can only wish good luck. 
 

Eszter Salamon
President