This Regulation establishes an independent European agency (the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) for the purposes of identifying, assessing, and communicating current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases. The mission of the Agency is to enhance the surveillance, preparedness, and response capacity of the EU regarding communicable diseases. Its key tasks include operating epidemiological surveillance, providing scientific advice, coordinating early warning and response to health threats, and providing technical assistance to Member States. The Centre shal be operational by 20 May 2005.
2004-04-21