The European Union and the US are stepping up cooperation. It's all about health

Strengthening cooperation within the European Cancer Plan and the U.S. Cancer Moonshot program 

The EU and the US share a common priority to improve cancer prevention, detection and treatment for all people affected by the disease. To this end, the Task Force has established two expert working groups on childhood and adolescent cancer and lung cancer under the European Cancer Plan and the U.S. Cancer Moonshot program. The collaboration aims to enhance mutual learning, share good practices and advise on developing possible joint initiatives to improve cancer outcomes worldwide. The goal is to establish a new structured dialogue on cancer, encompassing both cancer policy and research collaboration. This can be achieved by finding common ground between the U.S. Cancer Moonshot initiative and the European Cancer Plan, the EU Cancer Mission and the U.S. Cancer Plan.

On May 10, the first virtual meeting of the chairs of the working groups on childhood and adolescent cancer and lung cancer from the EU and the US took place.

Strengthen cooperation on global health threats and global health security infrastructure 

Today's discussions also focused on existing and new health threats, such as avian influenza, Marburg disease and antimicrobial resistance. Both sides also stressed the importance of better understanding post-pandemic COVID-19 conditions and their impact on health, societies and economies.

They also discussed cooperation between the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and the U.S. Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), secure supply chains and vaccination programs. Both sides stressed that the world needs to become better prepared to respond to future pandemics, as the COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated.

We pledged to work together for the success of the pandemic agreement currently under negotiation at WHO, and a shared vision for arrangements that will make the world a healthier, safer and fairer place for all people. Both sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to achieving a successful outcome of the negotiations on the pandemic agreement and changes to the International Health Regulations by May 2024. Both sides agreed that comprehensive commitments are needed to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness and response systems that will yield tangible results in practice and ensure a level playing field.

Both sides support concrete efforts to establish sustainable global mechanisms for access to medical countermeasures for health emergencies that will underpin pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. This work is an important part of the negotiations for a pandemic agreement and must build on lessons learned in operating the ACT Accelerator global mechanism. Both sides noted that an ambitious agreement is possible, but will require political will, creativity and a focus on practical solutions.

The EU and the US are pleased with the success of the first pandemic fund call, calling for an expansion of its donor base so that the fund can continue to successfully help fill gaps in prevention and preparedness.

Addressing the health problems of girls, women and the most vulnerable 

Both sides stressed that strong women's rights are core values of democracy. They are an achievement to be cherished and to be proud of. The EU and the U.S. remain committed to promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, confronting the specific health problems facing women, and making a tangible contribution to making up for the loss of the Sustainable Development Goals, as highlighted in the EU's Global Health Strategy.

Source: press mat.