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Crisis Management in the EU
Infectious diseases, chemical threats, or environmental disasters can spread rapidly and overwhelm national capacities. The EU’s role is to coordinate crisis response, while national governments remain responsible for specific health measures, depending on their epidemiological and healthcare situation.
The Commission works with EU countries via the Health Security Committee (HSC) to ensure coherent responses and can mobilise instruments such as joint procurement.
Examples:
Recognition of a Public Health Emergency
The European Commission may recognise a public health emergency at Union level, based on expert advice (e.g. ECDC, EMA, or the Advisory Committee under Regulation (EU) 2022/2371).
Recognition can trigger:
The Commission liaises with the World Health Organization (WHO) when recognising emergencies.
Health Security Committee (HSC)
The HSC coordinates EU responses to cross-border health threats.
🔎 More info:
Risk and Crisis CommunicationEffective communication to the public and health professionals is essential. The EU ensures coordination, but Member States adapt messages to their needs.
Technical Working Group on COVID-19 Diagnostic TestsSet up by the HSC in May 2021, this group includes experts from all EU countries, Norway, the European Commission (DG SANTE), the Joint Research Centre, and the ECDC.
It reviews proposals for inclusion in the EU common list of COVID-19 antigen tests. Tests on this list are eligible for issuing EU Digital COVID Certificates.
The Commission works with EU countries via the Health Security Committee (HSC) to ensure coherent responses and can mobilise instruments such as joint procurement.
Examples:
- COVID-19 pandemic – required extensive EU coordination.
- Ebola outbreak in West Africa – previous case of EU coordination.
Recognition of a Public Health Emergency
The European Commission may recognise a public health emergency at Union level, based on expert advice (e.g. ECDC, EMA, or the Advisory Committee under Regulation (EU) 2022/2371).
Recognition can trigger:
- Measures on medicinal products and devices under Regulation (EU) 2022/123 (reinforced EMA role).
- EU monitoring, procurement, and deployment of medical countermeasures.
- Activation of ECDC Health Task Force.
- Activation of the Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) mechanism.
The Commission liaises with the World Health Organization (WHO) when recognising emergencies.
Health Security Committee (HSC)
The HSC coordinates EU responses to cross-border health threats.
- Meets regularly, chaired by the Commission.
- Includes representatives from EU/EEA health authorities, with observers from candidate countries, Western Balkans and Ukraine during COVID-19.
- Strengthened under Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 to adopt opinions, guidance, and recommendations on surveillance, preparedness, communication, and crisis response.
- Works in liaison with the Commission on:
- Prevention, preparedness, and response planning.
- Risk and crisis communication.
- Coordinated national measures.
- Support to the Union Civil Protection Mechanism if capacities are overwhelmed.
🔎 More info:
Risk and Crisis CommunicationEffective communication to the public and health professionals is essential. The EU ensures coordination, but Member States adapt messages to their needs.
Technical Working Group on COVID-19 Diagnostic TestsSet up by the HSC in May 2021, this group includes experts from all EU countries, Norway, the European Commission (DG SANTE), the Joint Research Centre, and the ECDC.
It reviews proposals for inclusion in the EU common list of COVID-19 antigen tests. Tests on this list are eligible for issuing EU Digital COVID Certificates.
