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Subject: Invitation to nominate experts to join the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment (PHEPA) missions under Article 8 of the Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 on serious cross-border threats to health1. Dear National Focal Point for Preparedness and Response, In continuation of our previous invitation, we are pleased to invite you to nominate country experts for the ECDC's Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessments (PHEPAs) in 2025. Following is a list of the upcoming country visits throughout the year:

- Norway: February 3-7, 2025 - Portugal: March 3-7, 2025 - Latvia: March 17-21, 2025 - Iceland: June 2-6, 2025 - France: June 23-27, 2025 - Croatia: September 1-5, 2025 - Lithuania: September 15-19, 2025 - Slovakia: September 29 - October 3, 2025 - Italy: October 20-24, 2025 - Germany: November 10-14, 2025 - Cyprus: December 1-5, 2025 - Greece: December 8-12, 2025

As per the Regulation 2022/2371, the ECDC is mandated to assess the status of prevention, preparedness, and response planning in EU/EEA countries every three years, in cooperation with relevant Union agencies and bodies. Additionally, these assessments aim to identify gaps at national level and provide tailored recommendations for improvement enhancing coordination between Member States and EU structures and strengthening global health security. To fulfil this requirement, ECDC has established a standard procedure for assessments across all 30 EU/EEA countries, with English as the working language and the self-assessment report from the respective country under Article 7 of the Regulation will serve as basis. The first cycle of assessment 2024-2026 has commenced in May 2024, and the assessment will consist of four-phases: - Phase 1: desk review, - Phase 2: country visit, - Phase 3: ECDC assessment report, and - Phase 4: (if applicable) Country Action Plan. Throughout this process, all 16 capacities defined in the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/18082 of the Commission regarding Article 7 of the Regulation will be assessed.

1 OJ L 314, 6.12.2022, p. 26–63 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2371/oj 2 OJ L 234, 22.9.2023, p. 105–141 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/1808/oj

Stockholm, 10 October 2024

ECDC Ref: CS0004233

Following the agreement with the assessed country, one country expert from another EU/EEA country will be able to join the assessment team to support the process. This option is offered with the objectives of broadening the expertise of the team, providing mutual learning, and strengthening cross-border collaboration, as well as adding a national perspective to the assessment. The country expert will join the assessment process as a member of the assessment team. The country expert is expected to participate actively in the desk review, country visit, and the drafting of the assessment report. Their involvement will be requested in assessing one or more capacities relevant to their area of expertise. We kindly request your nomination of a maximum of two experts from your country with the necessary expertise to contribute to the assessment process. Nominated experts are kindly requested to inform us of the following:

- Their availability to participate in the missions detailed above. - The capacities where the expert has sufficient expertise and would like to support with the

assessment (please, see the list of capacities in the attached document). - Language proficiency in the official language(s) of the country - Share with us an updated CV.

We would be grateful if you could send nominations at your earliest convenience, no later than 31 October to [email protected]. Further information will be shared with the selected experts for these missions. In accordance with the Rules of Reimbursement at ECDC, all expenses related to travel, accommodation, and daily subsistence allowance for the selected country experts during the assessment missions will be covered by ECDC. We appreciate your consideration of this invitation and look forward to your participation in advancing emergency preparedness efforts in the European Union. Yours sincerely,

Thomas Hofmann Head of Emergency Preparedness and Response Support (EPRS) European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Encl.: List of capacities included in the assessment process

Table. Capacities establishing standards for the assesmment of Prevention, Preparedness and Response Planning

Capacity 1. IHR implementation and coordination

Capacity 1a. Policy, legal and normative instruments to implement IHR

Capacity 1b. IHR Coordination, National IHR Focal Point functions and advocacy (SPAR)

Capacity 2. Financing

Capacity 3. Laboratory

Capacity 4. Surveillance

Capacity 5. Human resources

Capacity 6. Health emergency management

Capacity 6a. Management of health emergency response

Capacity 6b. Emergency logistics and supply chain management

Capacity 7. Health service provision

Capacity 8. Risk communications and community engagement (RCCE)

Capacity 9. Points of Entry (PoEs) and border health

Capacity 10. Zoonotic diseases and threats of environmental origin, including those due to the climate

Capacity 11. Chemical events

Capacity 12. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

Capacity 12a. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Capacity 12b. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

Capacity 13. Union level coordination and support functions

Capacity 14. Research development and evaluations to inform and accelerate emergency preparedness

Capacity 15. Recovery elements

Capacity 16. Actions taken to improve gaps found in the implementation of prevention, preparedness and response plans

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Subject: Invitation to nominate experts to join the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment (PHEPA) missions under Article 8 of the Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 on serious cross-border threats to health1. Dear National Focal Point for Preparedness and Response, In continuation of our previous invitation, we are pleased to invite you to nominate country experts for the ECDC's Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessments (PHEPAs) in 2025. Following is a list of the upcoming country visits throughout the year:

- Norway: February 3-7, 2025 - Portugal: March 3-7, 2025 - Latvia: March 17-21, 2025 - Iceland: June 2-6, 2025 - France: June 23-27, 2025 - Croatia: September 1-5, 2025 - Lithuania: September 15-19, 2025 - Slovakia: September 29 - October 3, 2025 - Italy: October 20-24, 2025 - Germany: November 10-14, 2025 - Cyprus: December 1-5, 2025 - Greece: December 8-12, 2025

As per the Regulation 2022/2371, the ECDC is mandated to assess the status of prevention, preparedness, and response planning in EU/EEA countries every three years, in cooperation with relevant Union agencies and bodies. Additionally, these assessments aim to identify gaps at national level and provide tailored recommendations for improvement enhancing coordination between Member States and EU structures and strengthening global health security. To fulfil this requirement, ECDC has established a standard procedure for assessments across all 30 EU/EEA countries, with English as the working language and the self-assessment report from the respective country under Article 7 of the Regulation will serve as basis. The first cycle of assessment 2024-2026 has commenced in May 2024, and the assessment will consist of four-phases: - Phase 1: desk review, - Phase 2: country visit, - Phase 3: ECDC assessment report, and - Phase 4: (if applicable) Country Action Plan. Throughout this process, all 16 capacities defined in the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/18082 of the Commission regarding Article 7 of the Regulation will be assessed.

1 OJ L 314, 6.12.2022, p. 26–63 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2371/oj 2 OJ L 234, 22.9.2023, p. 105–141 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/1808/oj

Stockholm, 10 October 2024

ECDC Ref: CS0004233

Following the agreement with the assessed country, one country expert from another EU/EEA country will be able to join the assessment team to support the process. This option is offered with the objectives of broadening the expertise of the team, providing mutual learning, and strengthening cross-border collaboration, as well as adding a national perspective to the assessment. The country expert will join the assessment process as a member of the assessment team. The country expert is expected to participate actively in the desk review, country visit, and the drafting of the assessment report. Their involvement will be requested in assessing one or more capacities relevant to their area of expertise. We kindly request your nomination of a maximum of two experts from your country with the necessary expertise to contribute to the assessment process. Nominated experts are kindly requested to inform us of the following:

- Their availability to participate in the missions detailed above. - The capacities where the expert has sufficient expertise and would like to support with the

assessment (please, see the list of capacities in the attached document). - Language proficiency in the official language(s) of the country - Share with us an updated CV.

We would be grateful if you could send nominations at your earliest convenience, no later than 31 October to [email protected]. Further information will be shared with the selected experts for these missions. In accordance with the Rules of Reimbursement at ECDC, all expenses related to travel, accommodation, and daily subsistence allowance for the selected country experts during the assessment missions will be covered by ECDC. We appreciate your consideration of this invitation and look forward to your participation in advancing emergency preparedness efforts in the European Union. Yours sincerely,

Thomas Hofmann Head of Emergency Preparedness and Response Support (EPRS) European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Encl.: List of capacities included in the assessment process

Table. Capacities establishing standards for the assesmment of Prevention, Preparedness and Response Planning

Capacity 1. IHR implementation and coordination

Capacity 1a. Policy, legal and normative instruments to implement IHR

Capacity 1b. IHR Coordination, National IHR Focal Point functions and advocacy (SPAR)

Capacity 2. Financing

Capacity 3. Laboratory

Capacity 4. Surveillance

Capacity 5. Human resources

Capacity 6. Health emergency management

Capacity 6a. Management of health emergency response

Capacity 6b. Emergency logistics and supply chain management

Capacity 7. Health service provision

Capacity 8. Risk communications and community engagement (RCCE)

Capacity 9. Points of Entry (PoEs) and border health

Capacity 10. Zoonotic diseases and threats of environmental origin, including those due to the climate

Capacity 11. Chemical events

Capacity 12. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

Capacity 12a. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Capacity 12b. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

Capacity 13. Union level coordination and support functions

Capacity 14. Research development and evaluations to inform and accelerate emergency preparedness

Capacity 15. Recovery elements

Capacity 16. Actions taken to improve gaps found in the implementation of prevention, preparedness and response plans