During their informal meeting by videoconference, on Friday 5 June, European health ministers agreed that the Ebola epidemic in Central Africa poses a low risk to the European Union, but agreed to continue to monitor the situation closely and to maintain a high level of coordination between the Member States, European institutions and international organisations.
On 17 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to classify the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a “health emergency of international concern”.
According to the Cypriot Minister of Health, Neophytos Charalambides, who chaired the discussions and spoke at the closing press conference, this situation is a reminder that “infectious diseases require coordinated action” and that health threats can rapidly take on an international dimension.
To this end, the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council has activated the EU Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements from 1 June. The aim is to monitor the situation and complement the work of the Health Security Committee, the European Commission and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in particular to facilitate the exchange of information between Member States.
More vigilance, but no additional restrictions. The discussions also provided an opportunity for ministers to present their national assessments and the preparatory measures already underway. According to Neophytos Charalambides, there was a broad consensus that information should continue to be shared, that the development of the epidemic should be closely monitored and that close cooperation with the WHO and the ECDC should be maintained.
The ministers also agreed that the international response should be stepped up in the affected regions to contain the disease as close as possible to its source.
Also at the press conference, the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, pointed out that the European Union was now better prepared to respond to this type of health threat thanks to the reforms undertaken after the Covid-19 pandemic. He also pointed out that the mandates of the European Medicines Agency, the ECDC and the Health Security Committee had been strengthened.
It was also stated that the European Commission was currently coordinating the assessment work through the Health Security Committee, which on 22 May adopted recommendations on issues such as information for travellers, exit checks in the affected areas, infection prevention protocols, preparation of health infrastructures and training for the professionals involved.
The European Union has already mobilised €15 million in emergency aid and is continuing its support for African health systems through wider regional programmes.
Olivér Várhelyi also indicated that work was underway with the European Medicines Agency and several international partners to speed up research into a vaccine against the strain currently in circulation.
Asked about a recent letter sent by the United States to Member States on the subject of possible additional measures concerning travel, European officials reiterated their confidence in the recommendations of the WHO and the ECDC. Neophytos Charalambides pointed out that current recommendations do not call for travel restrictions.
Olivér Várhelyi added that the pre-boarding checks carried out in the affected countries were sufficient to prevent the virus from spreading to Europe.
A further update is expected at the EPSCO Council (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs) to be held in Luxembourg on 16 June. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)