"The general objectives of PROMISE are:PROMISE strives for multidimensional networking thus fostering integrationThe primary strategic objective of PROMISE is to improve and increase the integration, collaboration and knowledge transfer between the new member states, old member states (EU15) and candidate countries through a collaborative workplan of exchange of expertise and regional training and dissemination actions, to tackle common food safety threats.PROMISE strives for sustainability through involvement of risk communicatorsA further strategic objective is to integrate stakeholders like public health authorities and national food safety authorities from the old and new member countries in order to ensure the exploitation of research results into standardisation and harmonisation efforts.PROMISE will enhance the knowledge on pathogen transmissionWhile legal imports are well monitored for contamination and alerts are registered through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF; http://www.efet.gr/docs/rasff/report2008_en.pdf)notification systems, ”gates” into the EU-27 could exist where food supply chains are not controllled. These uncontrolled imports present the risk that new strains of traditional pathogens will be transferred from third countries into the European Union. Analysing, assessing and interpreting this risk of introducing new strains of pathogens is one of the main objectives of PROMISE."