Welcome to the European Parliamentary Research Service podcast on cross-border threats to health.

Serious health threats do not respect borders. That's why efficient cross-border cooperation and a coordinated response are essential to prevent

the spread of diseases or contain public health emergencies. So, just how ready is the EU to do that? Stay with us.

Public health crisis such as the 2009 influenza pandemic or the 2011 E. coli outbreak in Germany

show that new infections can emerge at any time and without much warning.

Not only risking loss of life, but also causing economic pressure and upheaval.

So how well prepared is the EU for public health emergencies?

Even if the prime responsibility for health policy falls in EU member states,

the EU supports their actions and ensures that serious cross-border threats to health are monitored,

early warnings issued and helps ensure an adequate response is given. But to what kind of threat

are we referring? Well, they include threats of biological, such as communicable diseases or

bioterrorism, chemical or environmental origins, such as those derived from climate change,

or international public health

emergencies such as the Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks. And because every second counts in an emergency

situation, the EU supports a timely exchange of information between member states, as well as sharing

best practices in preparedness and response planning. So when a serious cross-border threat is detected, an alert is immediately sent through the

early warning and response system, allowing member states to share information in real

time and coordinate their response.

If the emergency is too severe and a member state feels unable to respond with its own means,

it can request assistance from other EU countries

through the EU civil protection mechanism.

By pooling civil protection capacities and capabilities together,

...