Commission hosts the G7 meeting on global health security

From 12 to 14 January, the European Commission is hosting a meeting ofthe Global Health Security Initiative (an informal network of G7 countries and organisations) in Brussels, with the aim of strengthening public health preparedness and addressing new global health risks. The meeting will discuss new and emerging health threats, as well as the group’s coordinated work on issues such as pandemic preparedness and response to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

The Initiative was established shortly after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 to improve collaboration in response to public health crises, exchange information and coordinate practices in the health sector. Since then, it has contributed to improving global health security and strengthening prevention and preparedness capabilities through greater coordination and information sharing on national surveillance, detection and response efforts. The members of the Global Health Security Initiative are the Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. The World Health Organisation provides technical advice.

Later this week, the Commission will also chair a high-level meeting of the Union’s Health Security Committee to discuss the EU’s health security agenda. Delegates will discuss the Union Preparedness Strategy, including the implementation of the Union’s crisis prevention, preparedness and response plan and the EU’s stockpiling and medical countermeasures strategies. They will also cover topics such as civil-military cooperation and zoonotic avian influenza.

With the aim of achieving a stronger European Union in the field of health, the Commission works to complement national health policies and ensures that health protection is integrated into EU policies. Ensuring a high level of health security and, therefore, active prevention, preparedness and response to potentially serious cross-border health threats is an important pillar of EU health policy. Together with our partners, the Commission always seeks to address global health challenges through dialogue and cooperation, which are essential for health security preparedness. This is why, in line with President Von der Leyen’s State of the Union address last year, the Commission is working to prepare a new Global Health Resilience Initiative to be presented later this year.

More information: European Commission