The laboratory cooperation activities and microbiology projects of ECDC are based on collaborations with the EU and EEA countries, other EU institutions and international organisations working in the field of public health.

ECDC works with the EU and EEA countries through the National Microbiology Focal Points – experts designated by the Member States to advise by providing knowledge of the technical, scientific and administrative structures of the national public health microbiology system.

ECDC also cooperates with leading European learnt societies in medical microbiology and infectious diseases, such as the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), European Society for Clinical Virology (ESCV), European Society of Pediatric Infectious Disease (ESPID), European Federation of Parasitologists (EFP).