Stronger EU health powers not enough, warns top adviser

Peter Piot says Europe “lacks biosecurity strategy”, as EU agrees stance on China Covid threat

The EU has not done enough to protect itself against health threats even after strengthening its anticipation and response systems based on shortcomings around Covid-19, according to the bloc’s chief adviser on the pandemic.

Peter Piot (pictured), a world-renowned virologist and special adviser on Covid to the European Commission president, delivered his warning last month in a keynote speech at an event marking a year since the creation of the EU’s European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority.