Time to strengthen capacity in infectious disease control at the European level

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the European Commission revaluate its role in member states health systems. In response, the European Union is planning to significantly increase investment to tackle cross-border health threats. The European Centre for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control is well positioned to capitalise upon this increased investment by designing and implementing a renewed European strategy for infection disease control. To secure meaningful and sustainable improvements, the European Centre for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control needs to be strengthened with more resources, an expanded geographical scope and legislative change.