Since 1 January 2025, the first six EU reference laboratories (EURLs) for public health have been operational and will now carry out activities for the next seven years. The EURLs, which bring together consortia of scientific expertise from across the EU, contribute to improving EU preparedness and ensuring a swift detection and response in case of outbreaks. They intend to strengthen the EU’s defences in the face of serious cross-border health threats.
The six EURLs cover: antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria; vector-borne viral pathogens; emerging, rodent-borne and zoonotic viral pathogens; high-risk, emerging and zoonotic bacterial pathogens; legionella; and diphtheria and pertussis. The EURLs will support national public health laboratories by ensuring data comparability and capacity strengthening on laboratory methods at the EU level. This includes efforts to align on diagnostics and testing for surveillance, notification and reporting of diseases.
These six EURLs were designated for seven years in March 2024, and are funded under the EU4Health programme. More information can be found here.
The EU’s Joint Procurement Agreement allows the 37 participating countries to procure medical countermeasures together, either as an alternative to, or in addition to national procurement. In line with its mandate on preparedness, HERA continues to collaborate closely with the participating countries to identify and implement priorities for joint procurement.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission has focused on ensuring access to medical equipment and treatments for European patients. This effort was outlined in the EU Therapeutics Strategy, which has now been advanced with a third framework agreement with Gilead to secure antiviral treatments for those in need. COVID-19 remains a challenge, and alongside vaccines, effective treatments are being made available to those who require them, as protecting public health remains a top priority.
More information can be found here.