"We must work together to strengthen Europe’s resilience," declared Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn on Thursday, following consultations with his European counterparts. The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the importance of cooperation and consultation in the EU. Germany has set itself three health-policy goals for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union:

• The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is to be strengthened, with the goal of deciding on an expansion of the institute’s authority before the end of Germany’s Presidency.
• Ensuring supplies of medical products and drugs is another concern. The European Commission has announced that it will be presenting a pharmaceutical strategy for Europe, with the goal of producing certain products in Europe again, reported Jens Spahn.
• The third priority is to promote research. A common strategy must be identified for handling health data, explained Jens Spahn. Using this data effectively could benefit everybody in the EU.

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn stressed that it is important to continue to advance these concerns. Germany’s Presidency will be followed by Portugal and Slovenia. All three countries intend to provide joint impetus and continue to follow these up. 

Find out more about the meeting of EU health ministers here.