Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 establishing a European Centre for disease prevention and control

Summary:

Legislative initiative tabled by the European Commission on 11 November 2020, introducing a number of amendments to Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 establishing a European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC).

Further information:

Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 establishes the ECDC, sets out its mission and lays down its structure, bodies and working arrangements.

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic revealed shortcomings in the mechanisms of the European Union (EU) for managing health threats. This proposal aims to reinforce the mandate of the ECDC to address surveillance, preparedness, early warning and response under a strengthened EU health security framework. The review of such framework requires the introduction of amendments to the founding ECDC Regulation.

The draft law was tabled by the European Commission on 11 November 2020, alongside a Communication setting out the first elements of a European Health Union. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach on 23 July 2021.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

German Institute of International and Security Affairs: SWP Comment No 11, 29/01/2021: Strengthening Health Systems Worldwide https://www.swp-berlin.org/en/publication/ecdc-strengthening-health-systems-worldwide

EPHA: News, 27/04/2021: EPHA joins calls to extend the mandate of the ECDC for an integrated public health approach https://epha.org/epha-joins-calls-to-extend-the-mandate-of-the-ecdc-for-an-integrated-public-health-approach/

FEAM: Statement, 14/05/2021: The reinforcement of the mandate of the European Centre for Prevention and Disease Control (ECDC) and a new EU Regulation on serious cross-border health threats https://www.feam.eu/a-european-health-union-requires-a-stronger-european-centre-for-disease-prevention-and-control/

IIEA: Video, 18/05/2021: Strengthening Crisis Preparedness and Response to Disease https://www.iiea.com/video/strengthening-crisis-preparedness-and-response-to-disease

EUObserver: Opinion, 04/06/2021: Covid-19 pandemic - why was the ECDC so ineffective? https://euobserver.com/opinion/152036

EIPA: Briefing, June 2021: Health Crises and the Growth of EU Agencies: The Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic https://www.eipa.eu/health-crises-and-the-growth-of-eu-agencies-the-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 23/07/2021: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and cross-border threats to health: Council agrees negotiating position https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/07/23/european-centre-for-disease-prevention-and-control-and-cross-border-threats-to-health-council-agrees-negotiating-position/

EPRS: At a Glance, September 2021: Strengthening the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2021)696199

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News

RTÉ News, 09/02/2021: ECDC 'hampered' by problems when pandemic hit https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0208/1195887-ecdc-pandemic-report/

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Official

European Commission: Priorities 2019-2024: European Health Union https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/promoting-our-european-way-life/european-health-union_en

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (2020/0320(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2020/0320(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Extension of the mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-promoting-our-european-way-of-life/file-ecdc-mandate-extension

European Commission: Press Release, 11/11/2020: Building a European Health Union: Stronger crisis preparedness and response for Europe https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2041

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Building a European Health Union: Stronger crisis preparedness and response for Europe (11 November 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_2042

European Commission: Remarks by Commissioner Stella Kyriakides at the press conference on Building a European Health Union (11 November 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_20_2090

EU ECDC: News, 12/05/2021: ECDC Director discusses agency’s mandate on “European Health Union Now!” podcast https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/ecdc-director-discusses-agencys-mandate-european-health-union-now-podcast

European Parliament: Press Release, 29/06/2021: Enhancing EU’s disease prevention and control capacity https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210625IPR07001/

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