Through Ebola epidemics in Zaire and Gabon, introduction of West-Nile virus into the Americas, SARS, Chikungunya, and Avian Influenza over the past years, we all became aware that dangerous infections could be imported into Europe in a very short time. Because of such emerging problems and due to the great number of viral pathogens it is necessary to establish a European network of collaboration in this field. The improvement of diagnostics of these "imported" and emerging virus infections is the most important step in detecting the pathogens and dealing with them. Therefore a European collaboration in the area of diagnostics of these virus infections is necessary.
In sixteen meetings scientists from laboratories working in the field of diagnostics of "imported" viral diseases in Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom have build up a network to improve the diagnostics of "imported" viral infections and have worked out objectives to be addressed in this collaboration:

1.	Maintain a network of European laboratories working on diagnostics of "imported", rare and emerging viral infections of European Interest. Provide mutual help in the exchange of diagnostic samples, i.e. sera, viruses, methods, and information in order to improve diagnostics.
2.	Identify those viral infections more likely to be imported and co-ordinate the objectives and identify laboratories, capable and willing to perform the rapid diagnostics (<24h) of an acute case, suspected to be infected with a viral haemorrhagic fever.
3.	Work out recommendations for standardisation, biosafety requirements and quality control in diagnostics laboratories involved in the diagnostics of such diseases.
4.	Identify and operate standard assays according to defined quality control criteria.
5.	Optimise limited resources by exchanging reagents, methodologies, and expertise.
6.	Encourage regular contact within the network through meetings, exchange and training of personnel in biosafety and new laboratory techniques.
7.	Open the network for members of other European laboratories.
8.	Organise and co-ordinate international activities with the national or international organisations like ECDC, WHO, and CDC.