Brussels: May 13th, 2026
Faced with COVID-19 and today the Hantavirus, the European Union is in need for an enhanced coordination within the EU on global health. The‘Global Health Resilience Initiative’, adopted by the Commission on May 13th, aims to enhance coordination, while building upon and consolidating the European Health Union, the Preparedness Union, the EU Global Health Strategy, the Global Gateway and Team Europe.
This initiative has been adopted to scale up global prevention, preparedness and response to future health threats and to address resilience gaps in health systems. The EU is trying to reinforce its competitiveness and its European influence at the international level by being less dependent on others and by strengthening its alliances.
The initiative places strong emphasis on strengthening health systems by reinforcing societies, countries and the global health architecture as a whole. This approach will enable the EU to better withstand future health crises, maintain essential functions during shocks and recover rapidly.
Five priorities have been established, supported by a total of nine flagship initiatives:
| The five Global Health Resilience Initiative priorities | The nine flagship initiatives |
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1
Promote a more effective and coordinated global health architecture
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2
Diversify global supply chains and manufacturing of key health products
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3
Reinforce prevention, preparedness and response to global health threats
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4
Support resilient, country-led health systems
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5
Bolster societal resilience by fostering trust in science and countering health dis/misinformation
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Through this initiative, the EU aims to demonstrate that health is a strategic priority, strengthening its ability to remain competitive in an increasingly complex global landscape shaped by world-leading powers. Fostering coordination based on strong multilateral system and on cooperation with partners in the health sector will demonstrate the EU’s strength on the international stage.
Context:
European Health Union: EU countries prepare for and respond to health crises together by pooling their efforts and resources.
Preparedness Union: the EU established a strategy to anticipate, prevent, and respond to these threats.
EU Global Health Strategy: adopted in November 2022, it represents a new way of address health challenges at the global level, in a changing world.
Global Gateway: an investment tool to boost smart, clean and secure links in the digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.
Team Europe: an approach aiming at organising work in collaboration, pooling resources and expertise to deliver more effectiveness and greater impact between the European Union, the EU Member States — including their implementing agencies and public development banks —, as well as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
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