September 26th, 2024
Advancing European Pandemic Preparedness: The BE READY Network Steering Committee Drives Progress Towards a Stronger EU Health Response
Madrid, 26 September 2024 – the Be Ready Network Steering Committee (NSC), organised by ANRS MIE / INSERM with support from INSERM TRANSFERT and hosted by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), took place on 24-25 September 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Representatives from the European Commission, including DG RTD, HERA, and project partners gathered to discuss the progress of the Be Ready project and evaluate future steps to ensure that the project remains on track to achieve its ambitious goals for Pandemic Preparedness across Europe.
The CSA BE READY is a proactive initiative contributing to a stronger Europe in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With 2 million euros in funding from the European Commission, it brings together 25 partners and affiliates from 16 countries, including 13 European Member States, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. The initiative addresses gaps revealed during the global health crisis, and seeks to establish a European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness (BE READY NOW). A key element is the development of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of BE READY NOW, which aims to shape Europe's pandemic preparedness strategy through enhanced collaboration and coordination.
Progress and Achievements
The two-day meeting featured discussions on several key activities central to the BE READY project. The agenda covered project management, partnership development, and coordination with key European and international initiatives, with special emphasis on the strategic role of the future Partnership within the European building blocks for pandemic preparedness.
Key Discussion Highlights
The following key areas were addressed during the meeting:
• Development of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA): Updates on the SRIA were shared, focusing on how it aligns with pandemic preparedness goals across Europe.
• Collaboration between Member States: The meeting explored ongoing efforts to enhance coordination among EU member states for a more integrated response to health crises.
• Synergies with EU and International Organisations: Discussion of the partnerships formed between BE READY and other European and international bodies to ensure coherent and aligned efforts in pandemic preparedness.
• Preparation of the Future Partnership Pandemic Preparedness: Exchanges among BE READY partners, member states, and associated countries on creating a robust framework for the upcoming partnership. In this context, the Draghi Report, presented to the European Parliament on 17/09/2024, was identified by the NSC as a cornerstone of future EU priorities to be considered for the partnership.
• Finalisation of the SRIA and Public Consultation: The SRIA’s final stages were discussed, including plans for an upcoming public consultation in autumn 2024.
Key Outcomes of the Meeting
Throughout the two days, work packages addressing research, biotech innovation, cooperation with HERA, and communication and outreach were presented and discussed. These discussions reinforced the alignment of BE READY with the broader EU Global Health Strategy, ensuring that its outcomes remain focused on strengthening Europe’s pandemic preparedness. There were also discussions on efforts to share research priorities between BE READY partners, particularly in the context of the mpox outbreak.
The NSC meeting concluded with valuable input from the project’s external advisory board, alongside commitments from the project partners to continue driving forward the development of the partnership proposal and ensuring continued engagement with relevant stakeholders. The public consultation on the SRIA will begin in autumn 2024, marking an important milestone for the project.
Looking Forward
The next steps for BE READY will involve consolidating the SRIA, fostering further collaboration between European and international stakeholders, and continuing to prepare the groundwork for the future European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness. This partnership will be essential for enabling the EU to efficiently respond to cross-border health threats and protect public health across the region.
The Pandemic Preparedness Partnership will make a significant contribution to reducing the health burden of diseases in the EU and worldwide. Its unique contribution lies in its ability to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders including EU institutions, Member States, public health authorities, the research community, industry, and academia under a coordinated, long-term framework. This unified approach ensures that efforts to understand, prevent, and respond to health threats are aligned, coordinated, and focused on shared goals, enhancing the overall impact of pandemic preparedness and response.
The Partnership is structured to strengthen research across all phases of preparedness and response, including “understand and prepare,” “prevent and anticipate,” and “respond and control.” These phases encompass the entirety of the research and implementation process, ensuring a holistic and integrated approach to health threats.
Contact Information:
More about BE READY: www.beready4pandemics.eu
PRESS CONTACTS:
Project Coordination:
ANRS | Emerging Infectious Diseases: information@anrs.fr
www.anrs.fr
BE READY Team:
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA) under the powers delegated by the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.