Statutory plant pests and diseases can cause serious economic and environmental damage in Europe. Although the legislation that underpins phytosanitary (plant health) policy for these statutory pests and diseases is determined at the EU level, the research that supports policy development and implementation is primarily done at the national level and is currently uncoordinated.

EUPHRESCO is a European Research Area - Network (ERA-NET) project for research policy development and implementation in the field of statutory and emerging plant pests, diseases and invasive species (but not: GMO's).

The project is fully supported by the EU Council Working Party of Chief Officers for Plant Health Services (COPHS), The European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection (DG SANCO), the European Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), all of which have European plant health responsibilities.

EUPHRESCO will draw together national research programmes to better serve the needs of EU phytosanitary science and policy. Its 24 Partners represent all of the key national phytosanitary research funders from 17 European countries. Additionally, there are Observers from Government Bodies in 6 Member States that currently do not have definable phytosanitary research programmes.

EUPHRESCO will achieve its objectives through an ambitious step-wise approach, as follows:

• Map information on national phytosanitary research programmes.
• Establish instruments for trans-national phytosanitary research activities.
• Develop common research agendas based on shared priorities.
• Establish a long-term, sustainable network that will strategically facilitate joint trans-national activities to underpin EU phytosanitary policy and science capacity.