HEALTH COUNCIL : HEALTH SECURITY: NEW COMMUNICATION DUE IN 2010.

• Position: Brief article

Globalisation, the increase in international travel and climate change are the main factors that contribute to the spread of bacteria that cause diseases in the European Union, say the conclusions of the Health Council on health security, adopted on 16 December.

Since major cross-border health threats have increased in recent years, the ministers "invite" member states to strengthen their coordination in facing public health emergencies of international concern within the EU. They should as well continue with measures to "ensure better coordination of communication on any matter relating to public health emergencies" that involve more than one member state.

Furthermore, member states should ensure that protection of the EU population against health threats is "well integrated in all Community policies" and take the "intersectoral dimension into account in any public health emergency involving more than one member state". Coordination with the...