The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) have signed an administrative arrangement aimed at strengthening cooperation in preventing, preparing for, and responding to serious cross-border public health threats. The agreement was signed in Santa Marta, Colombia, by PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa and HERA Director-General Florika Fink-Hooijer, with European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib in attendance. It establishes a framework for collaboration on medical countermeasures (MCMs) such as vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and other essential health technologies between the European Union and the Americas.
The signing coincided with the EU–CELAC Summit in Colombia, underscoring the strategic importance of bi-regional cooperation in health security. The arrangement emphasizes joint action to improve preparedness and response capabilities, reflecting a shared commitment to protecting populations from emerging health threats.
Key areas of cooperation include the exchange of information on medical countermeasure priorities and procurement practices, strengthening laboratory capacities through a One Health approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health, and collaboration on procurement mechanisms and innovative contracting. The agreement also covers preparedness and stockpiling strategies to support coordinated responses during health emergencies.
Dr. Barbosa highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in health emergency preparedness, noting that the arrangement will enhance the exchange of information, technology, and expertise between the regions. Commissioner Lahbib emphasized that the partnership exemplifies solidarity and shared responsibility, ensuring that no region is left unprepared during crises.
The arrangement will support joint technical activities, including training, preparedness exercises, and participation in regional and international health forums. It is set to remain in effect for five years, providing a structured framework for sustained collaboration on health emergency preparedness and response between the EU and the Americas.
