The present project (EuroTB) builds on previous developments and intends to strengthen TB surveillance capacity at Community level taking into account the enlargement to the 10 new Member States and the need to prepare the future TB surveillance activities of the new European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).Its general objectives are to enhance surveillance of TB in EU and in the third countries in Europe and to apply innovative technologies to strengthen identification of emerging TB issues in Europe, including multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB). Surveillance activities focus on the 25 Member States, EEA/EFTA and applicant countries and include as a core component the collection, validation, analysis and dissemination of data from national TB case reporting systems, based on individual case data sets. In these countries, beyond annual data collection on TB case notification, EuroTB is intended to: conduct ad hoc surveys on emerging issues in TB control and enlarge the panel of information on the characteristics and outcomes of TB control programmes; strengthen collaboration with other EU surveillance schemes (e.g. on HIV/AIDS, antimicrobial resistance) and projects (e.g. on training and on information dissemination).
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The general objective of the ENIVD project is to increase the capacity and improve the diagnostic quality to perform etiological diagnosis of encephalitis and meningo-encephalitis especially WN, TBE and SFV in nearly all the Member States.
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The main objectives of the EURO HIV project are - To supply reliable data for evidence-based EU public health policies; - To develop, improve and harmonise European HIV/AIDS surveillance methods and catalyse national efforts to improve HIV/AIDS surveillance; - To support networking and cooperation between HIV reference laboratories and to promote the use of new assays for monitoring HIV incidence;
- To prepare for the possible integration of HIV/AIDS surveillance into the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
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Objectives:
Assessing the HIV/AIDS and STD prevention, diagnostic and therapy situation in border areas. German and Polish experts recommend intervention measures in view of the EC entry of Poland and other CEE states. BORDERNET addresses regions along the former EC outer borders. 13 partners from 6 countries (Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia) will build 4 model regions in a first phase.

Goals and work plan:
- To improve the regional cross-border planning basis up to European standards
- To develop regionally situated HIV and STDs surveillance systems (local cohort)
- To carry out surveys among selected target groups regarding the needs of the pilot regions
- To establish regional cross-border networks adjusting and improving HIV/AIDS/STDs prevention services
- To improve prevention offers for groups at risk regarding to the needs of the pilot regions
- To support regional prevention campaigns regarding to the needs of the pilot regions
- To train multipliers regarding to the needs of the pilot regions
- To train multipliers in EC outer border countries inclusive Baltic States
- To improve and standardise pre- und post- counselling regarding to the needs of the pilot regions
- To improve and standardise HIV and STDs diagnostic regarding to the needs of the pilot regions

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Development of a network of the existing European P4 reference laboratories. - Improvement of laboratory diagnostic capabilities, in particular for rapid, safe and sensitive identification of viruses causing haemorrhagic fevers, emerging encephalitis, and smallpox. - Recommendation and promotion of joint research programmes oriented to therapy and prevention of diseases caused by class 4 agents. - Establishment of a co-operation agreement covering training, communication and service availability between the reference P4 laboratories and identified laboratories from all Member States to facilitate global awareness, preparedness, and response to public health threats associated with class 4 agents.
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