The joint annual influenza surveillance meeting by ECDC and the WHO Regional Office for Europe took place on 6 - 8 June 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Invited participants were epidemiological and virological surveillance experts nominated by national health authorities as well as representatives from international institutions, covering the 53 countries of the EU/EEA and the WHO European region. The meeting was by invitation only.

The annual regional influenza surveillance meeting is for influenza surveillance focal points to be provided with an update on regional and global developments and exchange information.

The third annual joint influenza surveillance meeting was held in Istanbul. The meeting focused on virological and epidemiological aspects of influenza surveillance, influenza vaccination, and new developments in the field of influenza prevention and control.

WHO/Europe has been holding annual influenza surveillance meetings jointly with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) since 2011. This meeting brought together epidemiologists and virologists – the national influenza surveillance focal points – from 50 Member States to discuss national, regional and global surveillance related to seasonal influenza and novel influenza viruses, such as avian influenza A(H7N9).

​​The WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) were jointly organising the annual influenza surveillance meeting.