ECDC Director

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) aims to strengthen Europe’s defenses against infectious diseases. The ECDC’s mission is to identify, assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases, special disease issues and outbreaks of unknown origin.

To achieve this mission, the ECDC works in partnership with the European Commission and with national health protection bodies across Europe to strengthen and develop continent-wide disease surveillance and early warning systems. By working with experts throughout Europe, the ECDC pools Europe’s health knowledge to develop authoritative, robust and independent scientific opinions about the risks posed by current and emerging infectious diseases, special health issues and outbreaks of unknown origin.

Within the field of its mission, the ECDC shall:

a) search for, collect, collate, evaluate and disseminate relevant scientific and technical data;

b) provide scientific opinions and scientific and technical assistance including training;

c) provide timely information to the Commission, the Member States, Community agencies and international organizations active within the field of public health;

d) coordinate the European networking of bodies operating in the fields within the Centre’s mission, including networks that emerge from public health activities supported by the Commission and operating the dedicated surveillance networks;

e) exchange information, expertise and best practices, and facilitate the development and implementation of joint actions.

A description of the ECDC’s mission and tasks can be found in the Regulation establishing the centre. Further information can be found on the ECDC’s website https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en.

The function of Director of the ECDC.

The Director is the legal representative and public face of the ECDC and is accountable to the ECDC Management Board. She/he will lead and manage the ECDC and take overall responsibility for its operations ensuring the achievement of the ECDC’s objectives. In 2023, the ECDC’s budget amounted to approximately EUR 86 million with a total staff of 370.

The Director’s responsibilities include:

• the day-to-day administration of the ECDC in line with applicable legislation in force and with the decisions of its Management Board,
• responsibility for managing the ECDC’s staff, fostering team spirit and a good working environment,
• drawing up a proposal for the ECDC’s Strategy and Work Programmes in consultation with the Commission, and reporting on their implementation to the Management Board,
• ensuring that the ECDC carries out its tasks in accordance with the legal requirements and that all requests from its users are addressed with services of adequate level and in line with the expected timelines,
• responsibility for the overall performance of the tasks assigned to the ECDC including supervising the quality of its internal control and management systems,
• preparing and executing the ECDC’s budget and ensuring that it is managed efficiently and in accordance with the principle of sound financial management,
• responsibility for the financial matters of the ECDC including, inter alia, final accounts and financing decisions,
• representing the ECDC and engaging with the range of stakeholders and the public in relation to all matters within its mission,
• ensuring cooperation between the ECDC, the Commission, the European Parliament, the EU agencies, the Member States as well as with the relevant actors at international level,
• ensuring the coordination of the European networking of bodies operating in the fields within the Centre’s mission, including networks arising from public health activities supported by the Commission and operating the dedicated surveillance networks,

A full description of the responsibilities of the Director is provided in Article 16 of the ECDC’s Founding Regulation.

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