The Covid-19 pandemic has shown European governments were not properly prepared for such a public health emergency affecting all our countries and with deep health, social and economic consequences. Public health and other essential public services had been depleted through years of austerity [1]. This winter the world faces a series of existential threats which require leadership and action from our public health community, advising and supporting national and international efforts to protect and maintain the health of people and the planet (1. Wong B, Delgrange M, Nathan NL, Luevano CD, Martin-Moreno JM, Otok R, et al. The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region Statement on the Erosion of Public Health Systems. Public Health Rev (2021) 42:1604112. doi:10.3389/phrs.2021.1604112).