On Monday 14 April, the Council of the EU adopted without debate a decision authorising the European Commission to negotiate agreements with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein on health emergency measures.
On 28 September 2024, the Commission had adopted a recommendation for an EU Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations with these third countries.
These agreements concern health emergency measures in the field of medical countermeasures insofar as they do not fall within the scope of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA).
The aim of the agreement is to guarantee the availability of medical countermeasures adapted to crisis situations in the event of a public health emergency, for the following reasons: - health emergency situations increasingly have a cross-border nature and impact; - access to medical countermeasures plays a key role in ensuring a timely and effective response to a health threat; - a coordinated approach between EU Member States and EEA EFTA (European Free Trade Association) States is needed to ensure timely access to these countermeasures and the necessary homogeneity of health protection. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)