The potential for a concerted system for the rapid monitoring of excess mortality throughout Europe.

We present the results of a survey conducted in the context of the project European Monitoring of Excess Mortality for Public Health Action (EuroMOMO), which is being conducted to develop a routine public health mortality monitoring system for the timely detection of excess deaths related to public health threats in Europe. The survey was conducted in 32 European countries using two questionnaires on: i) the existing and planned mortality monitoring systems, and ii) the routine collection of mortality data. Nine existing mortality monitoring systems were identified in seven countries (Belgium, Germany, France (two systems), Italy (two systems), Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland), as well as several systems that were in a pilot or planning state. Each system is described in detail. The results will be used for the subsequent phases of EuroMOMO, in particular for identifying the minimum requirements for the planned European system and for selecting countries to be included in the project's pilot phase.