30.4.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 142/1 I (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 851/2004 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 April 2004 establishing a European centre for disease prevention and control THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 152(4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (2), Whereas: (1) The Community is committed as a priority to protect and to improve human health by prevention of human disease, in particular communicable diseases, and to counter poten- tial threats to health with a view to ensuring a high level of protection of health of European citizens. Effective response to disease outbreaks requires a coherent approach among Member States and input from experienced public health experts, coordinated at Community level. (2)  The Community should address European citizens’ con- cerns about public health threats in a coordinated and coherent way. As the protection of health can mean vari- ous actions ranging from preparedness and control mea- sures to prevention of human diseases, the scope of actions should be kept broad. The danger of deliberate release of agents also requires a coherent Community response. (3)  Member States must provide information on communi- cable diseases through the appropriate designated struc- tures and/or authorities, in accordance with Article 4 of Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and 0] C 32, 5.2.2004, p. 57. Opinion of the European Parliament of 10 February 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 30 March 2004. AA N = 8) 0) of the Council of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of com- municable diseases in the Community (3), which requires timely scientific analysis in order for effective Community action to be undertaken. Decision No 2119/98EC expressly calls for the improve- ment of the coverage and effectiveness of existing dedi- cated networks between Member States for the surveillance of communicable diseases on which Community actions should be built and the need to foster cooperation with third countries and international organisations competent in the field of public health, and in particular to pursue closer collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control should therefore establish clear procedures for cooperation with the WHO. An independent agency, named the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control should serve as a Commu- nity source of independent scientific advice, assistance and expertise from trained medical, scientific and epidemio- logical staff from its own resources or from those of rec- ognised competent bodies acting on behalf of Member States’ authorities responsible for human health. This Regulation does not confer any regulatory powers on the Centre. The Centre’s mission should be to identify, assess and com- municate current and emerging threats to human health from communicable diseases. In the case of outbreaks of illness of unknown origin which may spread within or to the Community, the Centre should be empowered to act on its own initiative until the source of the outbreak is known and then in cooperation with the relevant compe- tent authorities at national or Community level as appropriate. In this way, the Centre will enhance the capacity of the sci- entific expertise in the European Community and support OJ L 268, 3.10.1998, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 (O] L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).