Division 3.2.1.2 Setting up mechanisms for preventing and responding to health threats through preparedness (Annex — point 1.1.3 and 1.1.1)

Preparedness requires a level of coordination beyond countries, institutions and procedures at EU level taking into account the international environment. This can be done through strengthening the consistency between EU legislation and international requirements and the exchange of information for crisis management, focusing in particular on good practices, in order to face and control major public health problems such as pandemics. Contact tracing is one priority raised by recent international events which needs to be addressed by common and agreed procedures.

The expected outcomes of the 2008 actions are to clarify in an operational way the articulation between the International Health Regulations^f1 and Early Warning and Response System (EWRS)^f2 and to develop a framework to identify and exchange good practice in all preparedness activities, including their transferability and procedures for travel related contact tracing.

• Support for implementation of International Health Regulations in the EU, including a comparative analysis of the legal provisions of the IHR with the Community acquis [Financing mechanism: Workshops and Call for tender]

• Support health system preparedness planning and crisis management in accession and neighbouring (ENP) countries [Financing mechanism: Direct grant agreement with WHO].

• Monitoring information exchange mechanisms for crisis management and linking with international exchange tools [Financing mechanism: Administrative agreement with the Joint Research Centre]

• Developing procedures for travel related contact tracing [financing mechanism: workshops]

• Activities resulting from the green paper on biopreparedness^f3 and replies to the public consultation [Financing mechanism: Workshops]

• Diffusion to EU Member States of key actions identified within the Global Health Security Initiative^f4 [Financing mechanism: Workshops and call for proposals]

• EU wide exercises and training — to draft specific exercises from a fixed scenario and to plan, conduct and evaluate exercises in the field of public health. Five targeted deliverables will be: case studies, table top exercises, command post exercises, field exercises, and specific staff training. [Financing mechanism: Calls for tender]