Ministers agree on need for EU action on health threats

Agreement over health emergencies agency with R&D powers and need for autonomy on medicines

Health ministers from EU member states have agreed on the need for a European body capable of responding to all health threats, backing Commission moves to bolster the bloc’s resilience to pandemic events.

In September, the European Commission launched the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, at a cost of €6 billion over six years, to respond to major health threats such as the Covid-19 pandemic. One of Hera’s tasks is to promote R&D on medical countermeasures, both in preparation for and during health crises.