2025 is the final year of the EU Health Security Initiative, in which the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) together with partner countries strengthened regional cooperation and workforce capacity to combat communicable diseases[1][2][8]. The main activities included epidemiology training, epidemic intelligence workshops and professional capacity building in the EU's neighborhood policy partner countries[1][2]. The initiative focuses on the prevention and control of cross-border health threats caused by communicable diseases[8]. 2025 also saw the major European scientific conference ESCAIDE, which brought together epidemiology and public health experts to exchange knowledge and best practices[5][6]. ECDC continued to expand cooperation in the field of health security to improve preparedness and response to health threats within the expanding EU and its neighbours[1][8]. The overall emphasis was placed on strengthening health systems and access to health care, as well as disease prevention, including immunization[3]. The initiative has contributed to the improvement of regional coordination and expertise in the field of public health in Europe and its neighbourhood[1][8].