The European Biosafety Network was established following the adoption of the new European Directive on Sharps Injuries with a commitment to improve the safety of patients and healthcare and non-healthcare workers. The founding partners of the Network are the Spanish General Council of Nursing and the British public services union UNISON.

The Network will be an inclusive organisation made up of all those national and European professional institutions, representative associations, unions and other interested parties committed to the prevention and elimination of sharps injuries throughout the European Union. The Network will focus on promoting and encouraging the early legislative implementation of the Directive in Member States by raising awareness, providing guidance, the dissemination of information and effective reporting and monitoring.

The Network hosted the 1st European Biosafety Summit in Madrid between 1-2 June 2010 which coincided with the publication of the European Directive in the Official European Journal on 1 June.