Editorial

International cooperations and exchange play an ever increasing, integral role in day-to-day activities of psychologists, both in academia and in practice. Multinational research projects, international multi-center studies and test developments are growing in number and impact, as are multinational programs of graduate and continuing education in psychology. At the same time and reaching beyond traditional applications in the school, work, and health sectors, psychology today has become a key source science and a key resource of professional expertise in managing problems of social and societal development. In a scenario of new challenges, the changing Europe offers a manifold of new possibilities and opportunities also for psychological scientists and practitioners, and it defines new responsibilities and new demands on psychological science. Building on developments of the past fifty years, the new European environment is creating a new sense of European psychological community, through established and new psychological societies and associations, new research projects, congresses, practice exchanges, and journals.

The European Psychologist, the English language voice of psychology in Europe, integrates across specializations in the discipline and provides a general platform for communication and cooperation among psychologists throughout Europe and worldwide. Devoted to psychology in its full breadth, as a science and a practical profession, the journal provides reviews of specific fields, original articles, and reports written to address the international psychological community at large. Articles published in the European Psychologist all go through an international peer-review procedure. This inaugural issue of the European Psychologist already conveys the profile that the journal will continue to pursue in the future. I am pleased that Pieter Drenth is introducing the journal with a paper based upon his Aristotle Prize lecture at last year's IV European Congress of Psychology. Contributions to the Report section inform about organizations of psychology in Europe, about research programs in progress, research facilities or major professional issues, and provide European "country-profiles" on national development of psychology. Additional News and Calendar sections offer information on forthcoming psychological meetings and congresses across Europe, on important legal or administrative events affecting psychology, on new European research opportunities, summer schools and job openings suitable for cross-national announcement. In later issues an International Book Review section and a Commentaries section for publication of short notes will also be featured.

The need for a new psychological information platform at a truly European level has been recognized for years. Yet starting a journal to fulfill this profile is no little challenge in itself. I am grateful, both personally and as Editor-in-Chief, that colleagues of high experience in their respective fields and internationally, accepted to join the Editorial Board as Associate Editors. They will actively solicit contributions from their region of residence and field of competence; their guidance will help shaping the journal profile. And I am pleased that the European Federation of Professional Psychologist's Associations (EFPPA) has agreed to closely cooperate in the publication of the journal. I am grateful to Ingrid Lunt, President of EFPPA, for continuous support. I am sure this joining of forces and experience will be productive in serving psychology in Europe. And I appreciate the active backing by many national and topical European associations and societies of psychology and by individual colleagues throughout Europe. The Editorial Board is looking forward to learning from the advice of all those who agreed to serve the journal as Editorial Consultants. And I thank Hogrefe and Huber Publishers for their readiness to engage in this important publishing venture.

The agenda of international psychology is one that extends well beyond a single continent. More than aware of this still broader perspective we shall try to develop the European Psychologist in this very frame of mind. As one step in this direction, I am glad that Raymond Fowler, Chief Executive Officer of the American Psychological Association and Editor of the American Psychologist, has agreed to join the EP Board of Editors, Our mutual editorial roles in both journals should prove helpful in promoting exchange also across the Atlantic, Internationalizing means of publication in psychology, at the level of authors and of editors, is a priority goal of mine also as President of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS). The European Psychologista new initiative in this important direction.

I invite fellow psychologists from all over Europe and from abroad to contribute to this new journal of psychology and to share with us their ideas and expectations on the development of a European psychological community.