Pre-conference: EU cooperation to strengthen preparedness and management of cross-border health threats

Wednesday 20 November, 13:30 - 17:00, Room Callelongue Gradin

Organised by:

Chafea, EUPHA and DG SANTE

Background

This session will take stock of the capacity built in EU Member States and neighbouring countries to prepare for serious cross-border health threats, discuss persisting gaps as well as strengths and opportunities through exchanging best practices for efficient collaboration between the health and other critical sectors. The discussion will focus on several specific aspects such as strengthening the implementation of the International Health Regulations in the global emergency preparedness context, improving access to medical countermeasures and rapid deployment in case of emergency, enhancing health and security interface as a contribution to the Security Union and on enhanced international cooperation for an efficient global health preparedness.

Programme

13:30 - 13:50	Welcome/Introductory remarks CHAIR: European Commission, DG SANTE – Wolfgang Philipp Policy framework for EU coordination of preparedness and response to serious cross-border health threats
13:50 - 14:10	Member State perspective France, Ministry of Health - Antoine Schwoerer Views from a Member State on the role of the EU in preparedness and response against serious cross-border threats to health
14:10 - 14:40	EU Member States and neighbouring countries preparedness & response to serious cross-border health threats Joint Action Strengthened International Health Regulations and Preparedness in the EU Coordinator, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare - Mika Salminen & Joint Action EU Healthy Gateways Coordinator, University of Thessaly - Christos Hadjichristodoulou Presentations of EU Joint Actions: (1) Strengthened International Health Regulations and Preparedness in the EU; (2) EU Healthy Gateways
14:40 - 15:00	International Health Regulations in the global emergency preparedness context WHO/Europe – Dorit Nitzan & University of Amsterdam - Anniek de Ruijter The importance of IHR implementation in a globalised world: challenges and risks of non-implementation
15:00 - 15:30	COFFEE BREAK
15:30 - 15:50	Medical countermeasures and deployment in emergencies European Commission, DG ECHO – Maarten Vergauwen & DG SANTE - Agnes Molnar The role of medical countermeasures in containing health emergencies and structures for rapid deployment at an EU and global level
15:50 - 16:10	Health and security - a contribution to the EU Security Union European Commission, DG SANTE – Agnes Molnar & ECDC - Karl Ekdahl Overview of EU Security Union and the functionalities of interfaces and collaboration between the security and health sector
16:10 - 16:50	Panel Discussion & Questions Panel: DG ECHO – Maarten Vergauwen; DG SANTE - Agnes Molnar; ECDC - Karl Ekdahl; France, Ministry of Health - Antoine Schwoerer; Joint Action EU Healthy Gateways Coordinator, University of Thessaly - Christos Hadjichristodoulou; Joint Action Strengthened International Health Regulations and Preparedness in the EU Coordinator, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare - Mika Salminen; University of Amsterdam - Anniek de Ruijter; WHO/Europe - Dorit Nitzan Moderator: European Commission, DG SANTE - Wolfgang Philipp - What constitutes health security - the value of collaboration between health and other critical sectors - The weakest link - gaps, strengths and opportunities for enhanced international cooperation for an efficient global health preparedness & response - High impact low probability events, terrorism, intentional releases, critical infrastructure protection & hybrid threats
16:50- 17:00	Closing remarks European Commission, DG SANTE – Wolfgang Philipp

Speakers from DG SANTE, DG ECHO, ECDC, WHO / Europe, JA SHARP, JA EU Health Gateways, and others. Download the full programme here.

Registration fee

The pre-conference is free of charge but registration is required. Networking lunch and refreshments are included. Number of registrations is limited.

This activity received co-funding under an operating grant from the European Union’s Health Programme (2014-2020).