Key takeaway
The EU's One Health Task Force has launched a new 2024–2026 action plan to address complex health threats by uniting the efforts of five key EU agencies: ECDC, ECHA, EEA, EFSA, and EMA. This plan outlines five main goals, including improved research coordination, strategic interagency communication, and capacity building, to tackle issues like zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and climate-related health risks. By fostering collaboration across human, animal, and environmental health sectors, the initiative aims to strengthen the EU's preparedness and response to health emergencies and advance sustainable public health practices.
The EU's One Health Task Force 2024–2026 action plan is a collaborative initiative between five EU agencies—ECDC, ECHA, EEA, EFSA, and EMA—to address public health threats linked to human, animal, and environmental health. The plan targets issues like zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-related health risks through integrated research, coordination, and cross-sectoral strategies.
The EU's One Health approach tackles public health threats by recognising the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. Through the combined efforts of EU agencies, this strategy aims to prevent and respond to diseases and health risks that cross these sectors, enhancing the EU’s resilience against future health emergencies.
Source basis: https://health.ec.europa.eu/one-health/overview_en
The European Union's One Health task force, composed of five EU agencies, launched a comprehensive framework for action from 2024 to 2026 to promote cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing health threats at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health.
In a unified response to growing health and environmental threats, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), European Environment Agency (EEA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have joined forces through the One Health Task Force. This cross-agency task force will focus on integrating scientific advice and collaborative efforts to address issues like zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and pollution under the One Health framework.
The newly released 2024–2026 action plan outlines five strategic objectives aimed at advancing coordinated responses to One Health challenges. These objectives underscore the need for robust interagency cooperation to improve data sharing, research coordination, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and joint action on public health and environmental issues.
The task force aims to unify its approach to One Health by fostering a transdisciplinary framework to address urgent and emerging health challenges. For instance, by harmonising risk assessment methods across sectors, agencies will create cohesive guidelines for managing zoonotic threats and AMR.
As health threats increasingly stem from environmental and chemical interactions, the task force will coordinate One Health research to identify critical knowledge gaps and drive EU funding towards impactful studies. Collaborations will include the Horizon Europe framework, with a special focus on human-animal-environmental interdependencies.
Recognising that knowledge gaps hinder effective One Health implementation, the framework prioritises training programs and the creation of accessible learning modules. By 2026, all five agencies aim to roll out joint educational initiatives to strengthen One Health competencies for professionals in human health, veterinary, and environmental sectors.
Communication and outreach efforts are integral to the task force’s goals. EU agencies will establish consistent dialogues with stakeholders, including industry leaders, policymakers, and the public, to foster transparency and engagement in One Health initiatives. This will help amplify the impact of policies addressing cross-sectoral health threats.
Aiming to pool resources and expertise, the task force will develop cross-agency projects and propose joint funding mechanisms. These partnerships are expected to facilitate cohesive responses to public health emergencies and foster resilience in addressing climate-related health impacts.
The EU’s One Health Task Force's proactive approach reflects a commitment to pre-emptively address interconnected health risks. With the support of the European Commission, these strategic actions are set to build a resilient public health framework that reduces future health threats while promoting sustainable development across Europe.
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