21/03/2019 (Agence Europe) – In response to the written question tabled by MEP Frédérique Ries (ALDE, Belgium), the Commission stresses that the European Union has not been ignoring the European Parliament's requests with regard to Lyme disease. Ms Ries asked the Commission about the follow-up to the resolution adopted at the November plenary session (see EUROPE 12138/10). In its reply dated 21 March, the Commission states that Lyme neuroborreliosis is subject to mandatory EU monitoring, in accordance with Implementing Decision 2018/945. Member States must send the initial data to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) by the end of May 2019. "Preliminary analysis of the data will help to identify current weaknesses in national surveillance and promote more specific strategies to support Member States and strengthen their collaboration in Lyme disease surveillance and control", the Commission notes. (SPj)