The overall objective is to create a European joint programme (EJP) to deal with zoonotic diseases with a main emphasis on zoonotic foodborne microbial infection and intoxication, including natural toxins and the risks associated with domestic and wild life animal reservoirs and their exposure routes towards human infection, including those posed by possible illegal imports of animal products, in order to improve preparedness against future One Health risks. Related emerging threats such as antimicrobial resistance will be addressed. The aim is to build a sustainable frame for an integrated community of research groups including Reference laboratories and existing zoonoses networks of institutes in the domains of life sciences, medicine, veterinary medicine, animal sciences and environmental sciences, including joint programming and execution of research and other joint integrative activities such as information dissemination, education and training including knowledge management, access to strains collections, biobanks, experimental facilities and databases, including also harmonisation, standardisation, proficiency tests, training, short-term missions, workshops and summer schools. All the agents involved including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, prions and nucleotide sequences/genetic material conferring antimicrobial resistance are within the scope. A consortium of 34 full members and 5 link third parties is set up. The basis of the structure is to include one “Med” institute and one “Vet” institute in the consortium from each Member State, all of them dealing with national, European or international reference mandates in the field of foodborne zoonoses. The relevant ministries (programme owners) of each participating country have appointed the research organizations (programme managers) to take part to EJP activities as beneficiaries. In fact, the Med Vet EJP consortium is a pre-established European network (NoE, FP6), it has been enlarged by introducing 25 new partners. National mirror groups are set up at the national level with a primarily role to share information. The management is not based on open external calls for proposals. The consortium set up an internal procedure dedicated to topics selection instead of projects selection. Different working group experts will merge in 2016 to prepare the strategic research agenda (SRA) and to identify the priority topics in the three domains identified: foodborne zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and emerging threats. The management board, the Scientific Steering Board, the Programme Managers Committee will join in 2016 to discuss the work-programme. The specific work-package dedicated to science to policy translation will discuss with the two main stakeholders EFSA and ECDC, to prepare the actions. The present grant will cover the fees of the expert groups meetings in May and September 2016.