The Health Ministers of the EU27, meeting on Tuesday 14 June in Luxembourg at the ‘Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs’ Council (EPSCO), had an exploratory and consensual exchange of views on the priorities of the EU’s future global health strategy and the geopolitical challenges of a leading role for the Union (see EUROPE 12963/4).
They all want to better respond to future health challenges through a coordinated multilateral response, with the WHO at its centre, and to strengthen the EU’s ‘leadership’ role, including “speaking with one voice” in Geneva in the ongoing negotiation of the international agreement on pandemics to be concluded in 2024, and by forging strategic partnerships with regions.
By inviting them to this exchange on the revision of the current EU strategy, which dates back to 2010, the French Presidency of the EU Council wanted to identify avenues as a ministerial contribution to the revision process launched in May by the Commission.
“The debate allowed us to develop a common vision of solidarity-based action in global health, at a time when the world political order has never seemed so uncertain”, said the new French Minister of Health, Brigitte Bourguignon, who chaired the session.
According to her, the ministers outlined the EU strategy “and the associated coordination mechanisms of the EU and its Member States”.
It will be necessary to further define strategic priorities before the concept of global health, to maintain the EU’s leadership role, to maximise the impact of funding, to help the countries that need it most, to mobilise funding to translate these priorities into effective results, she explained.
According to the EU Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, “Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine have shown that global cooperation is a necessity and new health threats, such as monkeypox, show how interconnected health is. This is why we need a clear global health strategy, now”.
It should speak with one voice and reflect the response to these challenges, she added.
This updated strategy will be presented by the end of the year, together with a first response plan, the Commissioner announced.
It will be based on “effective multilateralism, with a strong health regulation and international agreement on pandemic preparedness, prevention and response, partnerships that help those most in need, and adequate funding flows to support priorities”.
Ms Kyriakides reiterated her belief that vaccination is the best response to pandemics and that the EU will continue to provide vaccines to vaccinate the world’s population, especially in low and middle income countries. “Covax has enough vaccines”, she said.
Vlastimil Válek, the Czech Minister of Health, who will take over the Presidency of the EPSCO Council in July, is on the same page. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)