ECP 2025

Paphos, Cyprus – July 4, 2025 – From July 1–4, the scenic coastal city of Paphos hosted the 19th European Congress of Psychology (ECP 2025), gathering more than 1,100 attendees—including academics, early-career researchers, practitioners, and students—from 73 countries. Held under the theme “Transforming Psychological Science: the 2030 Agenda,” the Congress showcased psychology’s vital role in addressing global challenges while strengthening its position in European policy and practice.

During the opening ceremony, Conference Chair Dr Eleni Karayianni encouraged the congress to “be a space to innovate, collaborate and translate our work in ways that meet the demands of a fast-changing world,” while EFPA President Prof. Dr. Christoph Steinebach called for “a psychological science that is based on a clear, rational, evidence-based understanding of reality.”

A Dynamic Programme Aligning with ECP & EFPA Goals

The ECP 2025 featured a robust programme with seven main thematic tracks addressing psychological science, historical and conceptual issues in psychology; human development and education; psychology and the social world; psychology and the governance of society; psychology and human functioning; psychology in the service of health and well-being; and supporting developing psychologists. Professor Ioulia Papageorgi, Scientific Committee Chair, praised the diversity and quality of the presentations, stating, “We were deeply impressed by the scope of submissions.” Specifically, the ECP 2025 focused on:

• Advancing Science & Practice: Featuring 51 sessions—including main-stage events on psychology in European policy, Open Science, and UNICEF’s symposium on Children’s Mental Health—the Congress showcased cutting-edge research with real-world impact.
• Tackling Societal Issues: The Psychology Fora on Climate Change, Digitalization, and Mental Health reflected EFPA’s commitment to addressing key societal challenges and encouraged cross-disciplinary dialogue.
• Fostering Collaboration & Inclusivity: With contributions from 73 countries and strong student engagement, the event reinforced ECP’s dedication to diversity and emerging professional development.

Building on reflections on peace, resilience, and wisdom, ECP 2025 highlighted areas such as

• Cultivating resilience & positive emotions, where keynotes and other presentations emphasized disciplines like virtual reality training and environmental psychology to advance individuals’ psychological resources.
• Nurturing wisdom for societal impact, addressing how personal insight and reflective thinking underpin community resilience.
• Practicing Mindfulness and Gratitude
  Workshops on mindfulness, gratitude, and inner peace underscored their roles in enhancing life satisfaction and mental strength, reinforced by research linking mindfulness, wisdom, and resilience.

Academic Highlights

• Keynotes included:
  • Prof. Marios Avraamides: Virtual reality for cognitive skills
  • Prof. Giuseppe Carrus: Environmental psychology and ecological crises
  • Prof. Eirini Flouri: Contextual child development
  • Dr. Maria João Forjaz: Psychology in epidemiology & public health
  • Prof. Maria Karekla: Digital healthcare innovations
• Awards:
  • Aristotle Prize 2025: Lars Bäckman, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at the Karolinska Institute (Sweden)
  • Robert Roe Memorial Award 2025: Polli Hagenaars, Centre for Counselling and Cross-Cultural Communication (Netherlands)
  • Student Research Prize 2025: Evgenia-Charikleia Lazari, PhD Candidate, Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences

Building a Strong Community Spirit around Culture

True to its motto – “New knowledge through memorable experiences” and beyond the academic programme, participants enjoyed a rich social programme including networking receptions with Mediterranean views, traditional Cypriot dinners, and cultural excursions—experiencing the heritage and community values central to psychology’s human impact.

Acknowledgments, Appreciation & Support

Heartfelt thanks to our sponsors—Hogrefe Publishing, Wiley, and Bloomsbury Academic—and supporting partners including WHO Europe, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Psychiatric Association, the European Commission’s European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), UNICEF Europe and Central Asia, the UN Geneva’s Beyond Lab, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the European Research Council (ERC), GAMIAN-Europe, the European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness (EUFAMI), the European Partnership for Health, Equity and Wellbeing (EuroHealthNet), the International Association of Applied Psychology, the International Union of Psychological Science, and the American Psychological Association.

Logistics were expertly handled by EasyConferences, ensuring seamless online registration, abstract submission, and on-site coordination.

We would also like to extend our thanks to our exhibitors: Cambridge University Press, Palgrave Macmillan, PESI Canada, ECP 2027, ICAP 2026 & IAAP, ICP 2028, the Lebanese Psychological Association, and Sona Systems.

The Congress was hosted by the Cyprus Psychologists’ Association (CYPSA), under the auspices of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA). It took place at the Coral Beach Hotel & Resort.

The European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) is the umbrella organization for national psychologists’ associations across Europe, representing associations from 37 countries, including all 27 EU member states. The Cyprus Psychologists’ Association (CYPSA) is a scientific and professional organization founded in 1980 to promote the science and profession of psychology in Cyprus.

Looking Ahead

As ECP 2025 concludes, it leaves behind a legacy of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity. Participants depart with renewed commitment to integrating psychological science in work, academic, and professional settings, and in policy. We look forward to continuing this journey at ECP 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia—building resilient minds, communities, and societies by responding to challenges of technology and humanity (human society)!