Improving pandemic preparedness and management

Scientific evidence suggests that epidemics and pandemics will become more frequent with a growing, urbanised and mobile world population. Especially transmission of infectious diseases from animals to humans is expected to become more likely, as climate change and human societies impact ecosystems.

The European Union and its Member States need to become better at preventing and preparing for future outbreaks of new infectious diseases.

The Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) and the Special advisor to the Commission President on the response to COVID-19, Professor Peter Piot, recommend:

Support and coordinate research on prevention, biomedical interventions and societal resilience, during and in between outbreaks.
Improve collaboration across EU countries and at the global level for knowledge sharing and coordination.
Strengthen systems for preparedness and management, including healthcare, resource sharing, education and communication systems.
Uphold highest standards of fundamental rights and liberties during crises and let them guide prevention and response strategies.
Find solidarity-based and sustainable ways of living to lower the risk of epidemics and pandemics and mitigate their impact in the future.

Delivered on
11 November 2020

Origin
Requested by the European Commission

Core advice

The European Group on Ethics gave advice in the form of an Opinion, including policy recommendations. More about how we develop our advice >

Supporting work

To support the Group in its work, the EGE secretariat provided an analysis of the policy landscape. More about our knowledge-gathering >

News and events

News 11 November 2020

Coronavirus: Advisors provide joint opinion on pandemic preparedness and management

Today the European Commission’s independent Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA), the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) and Peter Piot, special advisor to the President Ursula von der Leyen on the response to COVID-19, published a joint Opinion on Improving pandemic preparedness and management.

News 5 November 2020

EC advisors jointly provide recommendations on pandemic preparedness and management

Today the European Commission’s independent Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) and Peter Piot, special advisor to the President of the European Commission on COVID-19, communicated joint recommendations providing guidance on how to improve pandemic preparedness and management in Europe and beyond.