EUNetPaS seeks to establish an umbrella network to improve cooperation among Member States in the field of patient safety, particular with respect to culture, reporting and learning systems, and education, and thus avoid overlap and duplication of efforts.

Safety of health care services is valued highly by European citizens. According to the Eurobarometer survey published in January 2006, almost four in five European Union citizens (78%) consider medical errors as an important problem in their country. Every tenth patient in EU hospitals suffers from an adverse event. A substantial number of these adverse events are preventable, and effective interventions can reduce their impact on morbidity and mortality.

EUNetPaS will provide a platform for collaboration and networking between Member States, international organisations and stakeholders so that they can identify and exchange good practices. Different levels of involvement will be proposed:
- Supervisory involvement in horizontal Work Packages to facilitate active participation of MS in the project and promote its achievements at both the EU and national levels:
a. Coordination of national network and participation in Steering Committee meetings;
b. Collection of information to complete mapping exercise via interviews of national stakeholders;
c. Dissemination via conferences or integration of EUNetPaS materials in national campaigns;
d. Impact assessment using EUNetPaS indicators.
- Involvement in the medication safety pilot scheme (coordination in the field at MS level).
- Proactive involvement: experts sharing experience in a mapping exercise, address barriers (e.g. legal) to dissemination of concepts, and prepare/propose a catalogue of intervention strategies.

- Integration of MS knowledge, experiences and expertise in order to develop patient safety programmes at MS level and establish a communality of shared principles.
- More efficient use of resources and support to countries less advanced in the field of patient safety.
- A European rapid response mechanism for sharing high priority patient safety issues or solutions among MS.
- Development of an EU community of healthcare organisations and national institutions involved in patient safety through a pilot scheme for medication error prevention.
- Production of guides for healthcare professionals on core competencies and the development of curricula for medical doctors and nurses to acquire competency.
- Support for raising awareness and developing a patient safety culture in the MS.
- Establishment, beyond the contract duration, of a sustainable network of patient safety involving all MS.