European Health Union: EU steps up the fight against antimicrobial resistance

The Commission welcomes today’s adoption by the Council of the European Union of the Commission’s proposal to strengthen EU action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Announced together with the Commission’s revision of the pharmaceutical legislation on 26 April, the AMR Recommendation helps combat AMR in the fields of human, animal and environmental health, following the so-called One Health approach.

The Recommendation focusses on infection prevention and control, surveillance and monitoring, innovation and availability of efficient antimicrobials, prudent use and cooperation among Member States and globally.

Several EU targets, developed with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), are set for 2030:

• a 20% reduction of the total consumption of antibiotics in humans;
  at least 65% of the total consumption of antibiotics in humans should be effective (use of the right antibiotic);
• a reduction of infections of three key antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which will apply mainly to hospitals.