The top four reporting reasons were: 66 messages (33.8%) were posted because of factors indicating potential for international propagation; 35 messages (17,.9%) to enquire whether epidemiologically linked cases of the same disease had been detected or reported recently in another country; 26 (13.3%) to find out whether the source of an outbreak was suspected to be a food product or any other goods that had been imported from or exported to other countries; and 23 (11.8%) because the event attracted or was likely to attract a high degree of international media or political attention.

The SIRENE Bureau shall draw the national users’ attention to the problems which may arise where only one of the numbers has been compared. A positive response does not automatically mean that there is a hit; and a negative response does not mean that there is not an alert on the vehicle.

The SIRENE Bureau shall draw the national users’ attention to the problems which may arise where only one of the numbers has been compared. A positive response does not automatically mean that there is a hit; and a negative response does not mean that there is not an alert on the vehicle.

The problems reported are not universal and it would be wrong to devalue the considerable efforts that have been made. However the issues regularly brought to the Commission’s attention constitute a major source of actual and potential distortion.

the authorising officer by delegation has to carry out additional verifications following information coming to his attention alerting him that expenditure in a certified statement of expenditure is linked to a serious irregularity which has not been corrected.

In order to reduce the waiting times of persons enjoying the Community right of free movement, separate lanes, indicated by uniform signs in all Member States, should, where circumstances allow, be provided at border crossing points.