First steps taken towards a European Health Union

The European Commission is taking the first steps towards building the European Health Union announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address.

The Commission is putting forward a set of proposals to strengthen the EU’s health security framework, and to reinforce the crisis preparedness and response role of key EU agencies.

Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Our aim is to protect the health of all European citizens. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for more coordination in the EU, more resilient health systems, and better preparation for future crises. We are changing the way we address cross-border health threats. Today, we start building a European Health Union, to protect citizens with high quality care in a crisis, and equip the Union and its Member States to prevent and manage health emergencies that affect the whole of Europe.” 

Today’s proposals focus on revamping the existing legal framework for serious cross-border threats to health, as well as reinforcing the crisis preparedness and response role of key EU agencies, namely the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The Commission is also setting out the main elements of the future Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA). Such a structure would be an important new element to support a better EU level response to cross-border health threats, according to a Commission press release.