Public health: network for epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the European Community EWRS

In its amended proposal, the Commission took over 12 of the 17 amendments adopted at Parliament's first reading, of which five were adopted in full. These amendments sought to: - emphasize the need for a Community network for epidemiological surveillance; - guarantee protection of the public in the event of emergencies by means of a system for the rapid communication of data and useful information in the Member States; - encourage international cooperation in the field through a joint plan of action with the United States aimed at establishing a worldwide early-warning system on communicable diseases; - adapt the commitology procedure with particular regard to the amendment of the Annex on controlled and monitored communicable diseases). However, the Commission took over neither the amendments on the creation of an early-warning system for communicable diseases nor those on a European surveillance centre to coordinate European information in the field. Amendments were included on: - epidemiological surveillance: data concerning communicable diseases should be comparable and compatible; - protection measures to be taken: appropriate measures should be taken at all of the Community's external frontiers (not only at airports); - communication: the Community network must transmit to the relevant authorities all information on emergencies resulting from the reappearance or outbreak of communicable diseases in the Community or in third countries ; - evaluation: the network should be reviewed every five years, a report should be submitted to the Council and to Parliament on its activities. �