Prevention, Preparedness and Response of Health Crises –  the European Commission unveils new plan

Prevention, Preparedness and Response of Health Crises –  the European Commission unveils new plan

On 28 November 2025, the European Commission unveiled the Union prevention, preparedness and response plan for health crises to complement the EU Preparedness Union Strategy.

The Union plan, which focuses on health crises, promotes an effective and coordinated response and synergies at EU level. It is a tool that will work together with the national prevention, preparedness and response plans.

The current document is the first version of the first ever Union plan to prevent, prepare for and respond to serious cross-border threats to health. As such, it will be important to test that the Union plan is ‘fit for purpose’ through simulation exercises, the first of which is planned for 2026. These exercises will test whether the plan promotes an effective and coordinated response in the EU/EEA to a specific threat scenario focusing on the joint arrangements for governance, capacities and resources. It will also be important to adapt it in accordance with EU-level developments in relevant policy areas, in particular following the implementation of relevant actions announced in the Preparedness Union Strategy, the EU Strategy to support medical countermeasures against public health threats (that supports the development of medical countermeasures such as vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other medical devices like personal protective equipment) and the EU Stockpiling Strategy (to secure essential goods  – such as food, water, oil, fuel, and medicines – in the event of a crisis).

More information on the Union Prevention, Preparedness and Response Plan for Health Crises available here.