GSCT is a project aiming at: - Developing generic scenarios describing the release of chemicals by terrorists. - Applying and adaptating the list of chemicals developed by the Global Health Security Initiative (GHSI) and its Action Group (GHSAG), to the European Union. - Developing a pilot alert system for chemical attacks.
- Developing core training models for the public health management of terrorist chemical releases.
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The general objective of the project was to improve the epidemiological information on invasive meningococcal and Haemophilus influenzae disease within the European Union and the laboratory capacity to accurately characterise the isolates of H. influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis. In addition, the project was also aiming at evaluating the impact of vaccination with conjugate vaccines on the epidemiology of H. influenzae and N. meningitidis, and compare the impact of vaccination with conjugate vaccines produced by different manufacturers and according to different schedules.
Finally, EU-IBIS was also intended to form a focus for wider collaboration with non European Union countries and candidate European Union countries.
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As a complement to the theoretical training that most epidemiologists receive in academic settings in EU, EPIET fellows undergo a two year field assignment devoted to practical (in service, learning by doing) epidemiological training. It is closely supervised by senior epidemiologists at national European Public Health Institutes in charge of the surveillance and control of communicable diseases. Each fellow is sent to an host institute of an EU member state different from its country of origin.

The aims of the programme are:
- to strengthen the surveillance and control of communicable diseases in EU Member States and at Community level through the training of suitable scientists;
- to develop response capacity at national, European Community and global level to meet communicable disease threats through rapid and effective field investigation and response;
- to develop an expanding European network of public health epidemiologists, using standard methods, and sharing common objectives;
- to contribute to the continued professional development of senior epidemiologists who act as coordinators or field supervisors within the EPIET programme
- to establish a pool of experts available to respond to public health threats in and beyond EU.

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EARSS collects and provides information on the prevalence and spread of invasive pathogens with clinically and epidemiologically relevant antimicrobial resistance for public health initiatives. Taking into account laboratory methods as well as denominator data, EARSS monitors variation in antimicrobial resistance over time and place and aims to disseminate timely information on the emergence of bacterial clones of particular public health importance in terms of epidemic potential and resistance. The EARSS network and database shall provide the basis for policy decisions as well as rapid response and may be used to assess the effectiveness of interventions. EARSS gives interactive electronic feedback, provides basic data to stimulate specific studies and assesses the role of antibiotic consumption and other risk factors in partnership with ESAC and other DG SANCO funded networks, with the aim to facilitate guidelines for antibiotic usage.
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