Decision No. 2119/98/EC for setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the European Community stated that ‘bacterial meningitis’ was a priority. Invasive disease due to Neisseria meningitidis comes within this priority. Building on the surveillance networks already in existence within Europe (the European Monitoring Group on Meningococci (EMGM), and a network for surveillance of bacterial meningitis in Europe), a DG SANCO surveillance network for N. meningitidis disease was established in all 15 EU countries and 2 non-EU countries for 2000-2001.