Nov 04, 2025
3 min read
Each member state must update its national program against antimicrobial resistance
Antibiotic resistance has not yet been discovered, but it is increasing. According to the European Commission for Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Commission (ECDC), it affects more than 35,000 people every year in the European Union and the European Economic Area, causing an estimated annual economic impact of eliminating medical costs and productivity.century is one of the major global disasters.
Europeans have decided to respond to an approach that goes beyond the borders of traditional medicine: one health, a model that recognizes the relationship between people, animals and environmental health.The common thread of many scientific and political events every year, on October 3, find the discovery in the health day. It is not a real guest, but an opportunity to return the need to do antimicrobial work (AMR) and the correct use of antibiotics.
2023 Council Recommendations 2023 (2023/C 220/01). In humans, reduce total antibiotic consumption by 20% and reduce blood infection by 20% and reduce blood infection by third-generation cephalosporin E. (-10%) and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (-5%).
“The wise use of antimicrobials must become an integral part of every health policy,” recalled the European Commission in a message issued on the occasion of One Health Day.
European Plan
Each Member State is required to update its national plan to combat antimicrobial resistance, fully integrate the One Health approach and ensure dedicated resources.Italy is currently revising the National Plan to Combat AMR (PNCAR) following observations from the Commission, which highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation between health, agriculture and the environment.
The European plan is based on three pillars:
- integrated surveillance, which aims to unite the collection and analysis of data on infections and antibiotic consumption in human, veterinary and environmental areas, as well as waste and agricultural land;
Careful use that ensures strict control over prescriptions, digital transformation of veterinary records, collection of unnecessary drugs and necessary training for health workers and farmers.
- Innovation, instead aims to promote research on new molecules, vaccines and diagnostics, to overcome the economic model that uses antibiotics.
To support these operationsBrussels is mobilizing the EU4Health and Horizon Europe projects with support from the European Investment Bank.The principle is that prevention is less expensive than seeking an emergency.According to WHO estimates, investment in farm biosecurity will require less than 1% of spending to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, but thousands of drug-resistant infections will be avoided every year.
An animal and environmental link in the antimicrobial chain
Europe's antibiotic policy is not limited to human health. The goal of the farm-to-fork strategy and zero pollution action plan is to reduce the number of antibiotics by 2030. Reduce the total sales of antimicrobials to farm animals and aquaculture by 50%.
The use of antibiotics has been common practice on farms for many years.Today, Brussels proposes to focus on vaccinations, biogas, animal density and proper waste management.
The community has fully entered the control network.The water is modified and the court network says places to check the presence of antibiotics while the complaints of the members of the assembly are seen as a reference point to the latter, where the drugs are found in the right conditions for the selection of preventive problems.
The health of the soil, water and animals are part of the same chain that reaches the hospital ward.For the first time, Europe operates a coordinated cooperation between health, health and culture, through a system of data collection.
Europe is investing ten years and €253 million in One Health research.
On September 23, 2025, the European Commission presented a European Health Partnership against Antimicrobial Resistance (OHAMR), a €253 million program that will coordinate research and innovation for the next decade.Funded by Horizon Europe to the tune of $75 million and coordinated by the Swedish Research Council, the partnership involves 53 organizations from 30 countries.
“Europe is ready to lead the global fight against antimicrobial resistance,” said Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva."This partnership demonstrates our commitment to innovation and protecting the foundation of modern medicine."
The Joint Program Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) has funded €180 million in research projects since 2011. However, the new Alliance aims to create a sustainable system of cooperation: joint tenders, transnational projects, data exchange and national policy support.The aim is to provide neutral tools - rapid diagnostic tests, prevention protocols, new antibiotics and vaccines - to ensure that these results reach public policy.
Cooperation is part of the European parace strategy, with the aim of making the competition healthier.
