Overview   Threat assessment

A word from DG HERA

The European Commission launched the Union Prevention, Preparedness and Response Plan for Health Crises, a key pillar of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy. Developed in close cooperation with Member States and EU agencies, the plan provides a comprehensive framework for managing cross-border health crises, ranging from pandemics and biological threats to environmental hazards and cyber risks. The plan strengthens EU crisis governance and coordination through an all-hazards and whole-of-government approach, ensuring Europe can act earlier, coordinate better and respond faster to emerging threats.

The European Commission published the "Comprehensive health threat prioritisation assessment", the first major deliverable under the EU Medical Countermeasures Strategy. The assessment identified the most serious cross-border health threats facing the EU and provided an evidence base to guide preparedness and response planning. It highlighted priority areas including respiratory viruses with pandemic potential, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and threats linked to conflict or CBRN risks. The assessment supports coordinated EU action to ensure timely access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and protective equipment.

In a world shaped by global health crises and socio-economic transformations, health remains a fundamental pillar of prosperity and social stability. In this interview, Martin Seychell, Deputy Director-General of INTPA, shares his insights on why maintaining global health at the forefront of international priorities is more important than ever. From investing in regional manufacturing capacities to preparing for future pandemics, Seychell highlights the initiatives and strategies the European Union is implementing to strengthen global health security and promote a more equitable and resilient development.

At Expo Osaka, DG HERA, DG Research & Innovation and the EU Delegation to Japan showcased advances in wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) via GLOWACON. WES complements clinical surveillance by detecting early signals of disease circulation, enabling faster responses. By expanding monitoring to pathogens such as Zika, mpox, H5N1 and chikungunya, and applying metagenomic analysis, DG HERA and partners are building a smarter, connected early-warning system — a cornerstone of One Health, One World.

Editorial

The second and last meeting of the HERA CSF was held on 8 October in-person, with presentations on HERA actions on mpox, HERA priorities for 2025, clinical trials coordination mechanism, threats prioritisation, and Working Group 2 (WG2) on health threats.