BRUSSELS -- The European Union Wednesday unveiled plans to create a central disease-fighting unit to combat serious epidemics and possible terrorist biochemical attacks.

But Health Commissioner David Byrne insisted that there was no wish to trespass on the competences of member states of the EU, shortly to expand to include 25 members, AFP reported.

"In terms of communicable diseases, we find ourselves with 19th century instruments to deal with threats of the 21st century," he told reporters.

The plan adopted by the European Commission suggests is for a European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) to issue scientific advice on serious health threats and recommend measures to be taken at an EU level. It would rely on expert advice from existing national centers. Byrne said that restrictions of movement of EU citizens would "remain strictly of the competence of member states."

"It is not intended that ECDC takes over at EU level any of the member states competences," he said. "This is not an attempt by the commission to add a further layer of bureaucracy." The idea of a EU-wide center was put forward by the commission in May at the height of the SARS (Serious Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic in East Asia, which had little impact in Europe but, according to Byrne, had been a "wakeup call."

The commission hopes that the center will be operational by 2005 with a staff of about 100 people. By contrast the United States Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, the original model for Byrne's idea, employs some 8,000 staff.