Vigenin: Preparedness for health crises is an integral part of Europe's security

“Recent crises have shown that Europe’s security is no longer determined only by conventional military threats. Preparedness to respond to health crises, resilient health systems and the ability to develop and produce medical countermeasures are now an integral part of our collective security.” This was stated by Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats during the hearing of Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee, in the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), dedicated to the Irish Presidency’s priorities in security and defence.

The European Parliament’s position

Vigenin recalled that the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health has already raised this issue in its opinion on the European Competitiveness Fund, calling for ring-fenced funding for strategic measures such as medical countermeasures, vaccine production and antimicrobial medicines.

“Does your Presidency consider ring-fenced funding a sensible approach in the next Multiannual Financial Framework? And would it support separate financial envelopes for these strategic health preparedness measures?” Vigenin asked.

The Irish Presidency’s response

In response, Minister McEntee stressed that it is indeed important to look at security in a broad sense, including not only military capabilities but also pandemic preparedness, food security and other emerging threats. She said that in the coming months the Irish Presidency will hold intensive consultations with the Member States on the next Multiannual Financial Framework, including on priorities and the allocation of funds. McEntee said that security and defence require a more comprehensive approach, not only a traditional understanding of defence investment, and that decisions must be taken together with the Member States.