Article 1 
The objective of this Decision is to set up a network at Community level to promote cooperation and coordination between the Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, with a view to improving the prevention and control, in the Community, of the categories of communicable diseases specified in the Annex. This network shall be used for: — the epidemiological surveillance of these diseases, and — an early warning and response system for the prevention and control of these diseases. As regards epidemiological surveillance, the network shall be established by bringing into permanent communication with one another, through all appropriate technical means, the Commission and those structures and/or authorities which, at the level of each Member State and under the responsibility of that Member State, are competent at national level and are charged with collecting information relating to the epidemiological surveillance of communicable diseases, and by establishing procedures for the dissemination of the relevant surveillance data at Community level. As regards the early warning and response system, this network shall be formed by bringing into permanent communication with one another, through appropriate means, the Commission and the competent public health authorities in each Member State responsible for determining the measures which may be required to protect public health. The Commission shall provide for the coordination of the network in collaboration with the Member States.
Article 2 
For the purpose of this Decision, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 1. ‘epidemiological surveillance’: the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of health data, including epidemiological studies, concerning the categories of communicable diseases set out in the Annex, in particular relating to the pattern of spread of such diseases over time and space and analysis of the risk factors for contracting such diseases, for the purpose of enabling appropriate preventive measures and counter-measures to be taken; 2. ‘prevention and control of communicable diseases’: the range of measures, including epidemiological investigations, taken by the competent public health authorities in the Member States to prevent and stop the spread of communicable diseases; 3. ‘Community network’: network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases, namely the system by which the necessary information for carrying out the activities referred to in points 1 and 2 is exchanged.
Article 3 
With a view to the effective operation of the Community network with regard to epidemiological surveillance and to achieving uniform information within this framework, the following shall be adopted by the Commission: (a) the communicable diseases to be progressively covered by the Community network; (b) the criteria for selection of these diseases, having regard to the categories set out in the Annex and the existing collaborative networks for disease surveillance that can be built on; (c) case definitions, in particular clinical and microbiological characteristics; (d) the nature and type of data and information to be collected and transmitted by the structures and/or authorities referred to in the second paragraph of Article 1 in the field of epidemiological surveillance and the ways in which such data are to be made comparable and compatible; (e) epidemiological and microbiological surveillance methods; (f) guidelines on the protective measures to be taken, in particular at external frontiers of the Member States, notably in emergency situations; (g) guidelines on information and guides to good practice for the public; (h) the appropriate technical means and the procedures by which the data will be disseminated and analysed at Community level. The measures referred to in points (a), (b) and (e), designed to amend non-essential elements of this Decision, inter alia , by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 7(3). On imperative grounds of urgency, the Commission may have recourse to the urgency procedure referred to in Article 7(4). The measures referred to in points (c), (d), (f), (g) and (h) shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 7(2).
Article 4 
Each structure and/or authority referred to in the second paragraph or in the third paragraph, whichever is appropriate of Article 1 shall communicate to the Community network: (a) information regarding the appearance or resurgence of cases of communicable diseases as referred to in Article 3(a) in the Member State to which the structure and/or authority belongs, together with information on control measures applied; (b) any relevant information concerning the progression of epidemic situations for which it has responsibility for information collection; (c) information on unusual epidemic phenomena or new communicable diseases of unknown origin; (d) any relevant information in its possession: — on cases of communicable diseases covered by the categories set out in the Annex, — on new communicable diseases of unknown origin in non-member countries; (d) any relevant information in its possession: — on cases of communicable diseases covered by the categories set out in the Annex, — on new communicable diseases of unknown origin in non-member countries; (e) information concerning existing and proposed mechanisms and procedures for the prevention and control of communicable diseases, in particular in emergency situations; (f) any relevant considerations which could help Member States to coordinate their efforts for the prevention and control of communicable diseases, including any counter-measures implemented.
Article 5 
The Commission shall make available the information referred to in Article 3 to all the structures and authorities referred to in Article 1. Each structure/authority shall ensure that the information which they communicate to the network, pursuant to Article 4, is promptly forwarded to all other participating structures/authorities and the Commission.
Article 6 
1. Member States shall, on the basis of the information available through the Community network, consult each other in liaison with the Commission with a view to coordinating their efforts for the prevention and control of communicable diseases. 2. Where a Member State intends to adopt measures for the control of communicable diseases, it shall, before adopting those measures, inform the other Member States and the Commission on the nature and scope of those measures, through the Community network. The Member State in question shall also consult other Member States and the Commission through the Community network on the nature and scope of intended measures unless the need to protect public health is so urgent that consultation proves impossible. 3. Where a Member State has to adopt, as a matter of urgency, control measures in response to the appearance or resurgence of communicable diseases, it shall, as soon as possible, inform through the Community network the other Member States and the Commission. In duly justified specific cases, appropriate prevention and protection measures, adopted by mutual agreement among Member States in conjunction with the Commission, may be taken by the Member States which so desire. 4. Member States shall, on the basis of their consultations and the information provided, coordinate among themselves in liaison with the Commission with regard to the measures which they have adopted, or intend to adopt at national level. 5. Procedures concerning the information and consultation referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 and procedures concerning the coordination referred to in paragraphs 1 and 4 shall be established in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 7(2).
Article 7 
1. For the purposes of implementing this Decision, the Commission shall be assisted by a committee. 2. Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC ( 14 ) shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof. The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months. 3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof. 4. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1), (2), (4) and (6) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
Article 8 
The Annex may be amended or supplemented by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Decision, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 7(3). On imperative grounds of urgency, the Commission may have recourse to the urgency procedure referred to in Article 7(4).
Article 9 
Each Member State shall designate, within six months of the entry into force of this Decision, the structures and/or authorities referred to in the second and third paragraphs of Article 1 and shall notify the Commission and the other Member States thereof. The structures and/or authorities which have been so designated shall be described in public by the Member States as forming part of the Community network established by this Decision.
Article 10 
For the purposes of this Decision, the competent authorities of the Member States and the Commission shall foster cooperation with non-member countries and international organisations competent in the field of public health, in particular the World Health Organisation.
Article 11 
This Decision shall apply without prejudice to Directives 92/117/EEC and 95/46/EC.
Article 12 
1. This Decision shall not affect the right of the Member States to maintain or introduce other arrangements, procedures and measures for their national systems for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases. 2. This Decision shall not affect Member States' rights and obligations deriving from existing or future bilateral or multilateral agreements or conventions in the field covered by this Decision.
Article 13 
The Commission, with the help of the Member States, shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between this Decision and the relevant Community programmes and initiatives, including those in the context of public health action as well as, in particular, the framework programme for statistical information, projects in the field of telematic interchange of data between administrations and the framework programme for research and technological development, especially the telematics applications of the latter programme.
Article 14 
1. The Commission shall submit regular reports evaluating the operation of the Community network to the European Parliament and the Council. 2. The first report, which shall be submitted within three years after the entry into force of this Decision shall, in particular, identify those elements of the Community network which should be improved or adapted. It shall also include any proposal that the Commission considers necessary for the amendment or adaptation of this Decision. 3. The Commission shall conduct an evaluation of the Community network every five years thereafter, paying particular attention to its structural capacity and effective use of resources, and shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council.
Article 15 
This Decision shall enter into force on 3 January 1999.
Article 16 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.