Brussels, 12/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - During a workshop organised last week at his initiative in cooperation with the European Vaccine Manufacturers, Nea Demokratia member Antonio Trakatellis stressed how important it was to create a European Center on Communicable Diseases which, he said, could better prepare Europe against new disease threats to combat the deliberate release of biological agents. Potential bioterrorism threats have added a new dimension to public health policy, notes a communiqué from Mr Trakatellis. The deputy, who was European Parliament rapporteur on the Community's public health programme for the period 2003-2008, also calls for the health aspect to be better taken into account in the future Constitution on which the European Convention is working.
During the workshop, national experiences were presented by many experts, including Mary Ramsey (UK), Donato Greco (Italy), Johan Gieseke (Sweden), José Martin Moreno (Spain), Michael Kramer (Germany) and Gilles Brücker (France). The need for effective European coordination in this field was mainly stressed by Fernand Sauer, Director at the DG Health/Consumers at the Commission (who mainly noted budgetary and human resources problems), and Kloos Van der Velden (from the European Influenza Scheme). The US point of view was expressed by James Hughes, Director of the US National Center for Infectious Diseases, and the international situation by Guenael Rodier, from the World Health Organisation. Luc Hessel, representing European Vaccine Manufacturers, was highly critical of the failings in the European surveillance system.