The Commission welcomes the fact that the Council of the European Union has today approved the Commission’s proposal for the strengthening EU actions to combat antimicrobial resistance.

The recommendation on antimicrobial resistance, which was announced alongside the Commission’s review of medicines legislation on 26 April, contributes to the fight against antimicrobial resistance in the areas of human, animal and environmental health, in line with the ‘One Health’ approach ».

The recommendation focuses on infection prevention and control, surveillance and monitoring, innovation, availability and prudent use of effective antimicrobials, and cooperation between member states and globally.

“Today is a good day for health — not just for human health, but also for animal health and a healthy environment! Thanks to the swift work of the Swedish Presidency and the Ministers of Health, a Council Recommendation on antimicrobial resistance was issued. Our fight against antimicrobial resistance will be long, but this recommendation is an important milestone,” said Mr. Margaritis Schinas, vice-president for Promoting our European Way of Life.

A number of EU targets have been set for 2030, developed in collaboration with the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC):

-reduction of the total consumption of antibiotics by humans by 20%,
-at least 65% of the total consumption of antibiotics in humans should be effective (use of the appropriate antibiotic),
– reduction of infections from three important resistant bacteria, which will mainly concern hospitals.

“I welcome the Council’s approval, in record time, of our proposal to take stronger action against antimicrobial resistance. This clearly demonstrates our determination to urgently tackle AMR at EU level, which is vital for a strong European Health Union that protects its citizens. We now have clear targets to tackle a serious health threat which costs the lives of 35 000 people every year in the EU. I want to thank the Swedish Presidency for its efforts and attention to this important issue” pointed out Mrs Stella Kyriakidou, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

These recommended EU-level targets, which are transposed to national level, will help the EU to combat antimicrobial resistance, taking into account national specificities without compromising patient health and safety. They will also enable better monitoring of infections and antibiotic consumption in the coming years and better adaptation of policy making.

This recommendation confirms the EU’s international leadership in the area of ​​antimicrobial resistance and calls on the Commission and Member States to include antimicrobial resistance in the Pandemics Agreement currently under negotiation. It also calls for keeping antimicrobial resistance high on the agenda of the G7 and G20.

Lena Flitzani