Bold steps towards a stronger European Health Union for the future

Why a stronger European Health Union?

2020 saw the devastating effect of a global pandemic and demonstrated the absolute relevance of collective reactions. President von der Leyen called for the creation of a new “European Health Union” in her first State of the Union address in September last year, to step up the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen the EU’s response to future health emergencies.

A stronger European Health Union would allow EU countries to work together more efficiently to detect, prepare and respond collectively to future health threats. COVID-19 reminded us of the need for good-quality data, testing and contact tracing and planning preparedness at all levels, as well as adequate supplies of medicines and protective equipment. The proposed new regulation on serious cross-border threats to health will help us meet those needs.

Just as for defence, the area I was previously involved in, health has always been seen as a strictly national competence. But we are stronger together, and the European Health Union will make it easier to work as a team to protect European citizens health and well-being.

What will your role be in bringing this vision to light?

My first task will involve laying the foundations to start a new dedicated European authority to strengthen the EU’s preparedness and response capability for new and emerging cross-border threats to human health. We learned from COVID-19 that speed is of the essence and we must prepare for any future health challenge we may face.

The Commission will shortly launch a cost-benefit analysis and broad consultation of stakeholders and of the public at large on setting up an EU Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA). The aim is for this new body to be fully operational in 2023. This will be challenging of course, requiring us to act swiftly and decisively.

I am confident that this new authority will prove its worth in helping to deal with crises such as the one we are all currently facing.

What other components will help build a stronger European Health Union?

We have already put forward proposals to revamp and improve the way we tackle cross-border heath threats and to broaden mandates for two key EU agencies in health: the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Up until now, the ECDC could issue technical guidance but not provide analyses of the data it collected. ECDC's extended mandate will, among other things, allow it to issue stronger recommendations on measures to control outbreaks and to mobilise and deploy an EU Health Task Force to assist local response in Member States.

During the pandemic, the EMA’s assessments of potential treatments and vaccines were stepped up based on temporary and exceptional measures.The agency’s extended mandate would make these temporary arrangements permanent.

But the Health Union will go beyond crisis management, making health systems as a whole more resilient. The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe will ensure that patients have access to high quality, safe, effective and affordable medicines and keeping the EU’s pharmaceutical industry competitive, innovative and sustainable.

Another element will be Europe's Beating Cancer Plan to be presented by Commissioner Kyriakides on 3 February 2021.COVID-19 stole the headlines in 2020, but the burden of non-communicable diseases continues to rise. For cancer alone, 1.3 million Europeans die each year, with a negative economic impact of €100 billion annually. The EU Cancer Plan will address inequalities in cancer prevention and care, and by focusing on the same risk factors as for other major non-communicable diseases, it may help to reduce their burden as well.

One of the main priorities for public health under this Commission is to create a common European Health Data Space – EHDS - to support and strengthen health systems, and connect and empower patients with their own healthcare. It aims to create the right environment to harness this potential, built on core values like strong data protection, data security and above all: trust. Digital Europe will also have a role to play in strengthening and modernising health systems. We plan to adopt a legislative proposal and launch a pilot project linked to the digital infrastructure this year.

How would this be financed?

We will have a budget in keeping with the challenges. The EU4Health programme 2021-2027 will be the largest EU Health Programme ever, with a budget of €5.1 billion. Reinforcing the ECDC and the EMA will also entail bigger budgets. We will also rely on other EU funding programmes such as InvestEU and Horizon Europe as well as on cohesion policy funds and the new Resilience and Recover Facility.