Source: European Parliament
Through contributions to the World Health Organisation and health initiatives, the EU and its Member States are leading contributors to global health financing. The EU remains committed to global health, including by supporting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the fight against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and is taking a wide range of actions such as the Team Europe Initiative on SRHR in Africa and financial contributions to the United Nations Population Fund and the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria[1]. The EU will continue supporting global health in line with its commitments and available resources.
The fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a Commission priority[2]. The 2022 Global Health Strategy sets out EU’s international actions. The 2023 Council Recommendation sets recommendations to address AMR. The Commission has played an active role in reaching a preliminary agreement in recent negotiations on a Global Pandemic Agreement. This agreement includes AMR and is expected to be formally adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025. The Commission also supports the Quadripartite Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform and the AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund[3] and engages with international partners (G7, G20).
Moreover, the Commission’s proposed reform of the EU’s general pharmaceutical legislation[4] provides for incentives for the development of novel antimicrobials and contains measures for the prudent use of antimicrobials.
Building upon the Preparedness Union Strategy, the Commission will present a medical countermeasures (MCM) strategy to enhance the EU’s preparedness for health threats such as AMR by improving innovation and access to MCM, including antibiotics and AMR products. This will complement the Commission work with Member States to develop a financial incentive pilot in the form of a revenue guarantee.
- [1] https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/.
- [2] The 2024 United Nations General Assembly declaration marks a milestone of international commitments: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/world-leaders-commit-decisive-action-antimicrobial-resistance.
- [3] https://www.qjsamr.org/.
- [4] https://health.ec.europa.eu/medicinal-products/legal-framework-governing-medicinal-products-human-use-eu/reform-eu-pharmaceutical-legislation_en.