Communicable disease control might be one of the oldest and most central functions of government, but it is also one in transition. The European Union has become a major part of the public health infrastructure of the continent, influencing the chances and courses of illness with its policies and agencies. Like much of EU policy, this happened with few specific decisions and only a weak legal basis. But its influence is dramatic, and little-studied or even noted. This conference brings together academics and practitioners from the EU and U.S. to understand how communicable disease control is becoming a strength of the EU and what its consequences might be. The conference is convened by Scott L. Greer, assistant professor of health management and policy, with a welcome by Ken Kollman, professor of political science and acting vice-provost for international affairs. Conference participants include: Bernard Merkel, European Union Delegation, Washington, DC; Jacques A. Drucker, Embassy of France, Washington, DC; Scott L. Greer, Heather Elliott, David Kline Jones, and Howard Markel, U-M; Marco Liverani, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, UK; Margitta Mätzke, University of Göttingen, Germany; Tamara K. Hervey, University of Sheffield, UK; Monika Steffen, IEP Grenoble, France; Louise G. Trubek and Thomas R. Oliver, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Wyn Grant, University of Warwick, UK; and Daniel M. Fox, Milbank Memorial Fund. Contributions to the conference were also made by Robyn Martin, Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire, UK; Ralf Reintjes, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences; and Rosemary C.R. Taylor, Associate Professor of Sociology and Community Health, Tufts University. This conference is a European Commission sponsored project. SPONSORS: European Union Center of Excellence, Center for Global Health, International Institute, Michigan Center for Public Health Preparedness, and School of Public Health.