EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL (ECDC)

The European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was established in 2005. It is an EU agency with aim to strengthen Europe's defences against infectious diseases. It is seated in Stockholm, Sweden.

Mission

ECDC's mission is to identify, assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases.

In order to achieve this mission, ECDC works in partnership with national health protection bodies across Europe to strengthen and develop continent-wide disease surveillance and early warning systems. By working with experts throughout Europe, ECDC pools Europe's health knowledge, so as to develop authoritative scientific opinions about the risks posed by current and emerging infectious diseases.

ECDC in its relations with the Member States cooperates with the competent bodies operating in the technical field of ECDC, in particular in the area of surveillance, responses to health threats, scientific opinions, scientific and technical assistance, collection of data and identification of emerging health threats and public information campaigns.

Since 2012, a system is in place with a designated Coordinating Competent Body (CCB) in each Member State. Interactions between ECDC and the CCBs work at three levels based on a chain of delegations:

1. High-level relational and coordination interactions between ECDC and the CCBs works at the level of a National Coordinator.
2. Strategic and overarching interactions related to a specific disease group or public health function works at the level of National Focal Points.
3. Technical and operational interactions related to specific area within the domains of a disease group or public health function works at the level of the Operational Contact Points.

Each Member State decides to which level it will delegate the interactions.