European Union proposes new agency for future health crises

11 November 2020, 4:17 pm

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The European Union declares a health emergency and launches moves to build a new agency and joint plan to prepare for crises like the coronavirus epidemic.

Health policy is mainly the responsibility of the bloc’s member states, but EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides says COVID-19 has shown the need for coordination.

Since the disease arrived in its cities in March, Europe has suffered at least 311,000 deaths from more than 13 million infections, and many countries have been hit by a second wave.

European officials admit that the 27 member states failed to coordinate properly during the first peak in infections in the first months of the year — allowing its rapid spread.

— AFP