After the success of the first edition of EU-JAMRAI, 120 organizations from 30 countries converge to fight antimicrobial resistance, amplifying Europe’s response to a pressing public health crisis.
The European Commission, policymakers and organizations from 30 countries are convening in Paris on the 13th of February 2024 to launch the second Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections (EU-JAMRAI 2). Coordinated by Inserm (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), France, with the support of the French Ministry of Health, this collaborative venture aims to more effectively combat antimicrobial resistance: a major public health threat responsible for more than 35,000 deaths each year in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and 1.3 million people worldwide.
Building upon the success of EU-JAMRAI 1, which ran from 2017 to 2021, this latest project champions an ambitious “One Health” work programme that brings together the EU Member States, along with Iceland, Norway and Ukraine.
Didier Samuel, CEO of Inserm underlines: “The long-term implementation of a coordinated “One Health” approach remains a priority for the years to come, it is also a priority for the future. […] No State has the capacity to act alone against antimicrobial resistance […]. Cooperation is no longer an option: it is the condition for success in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.”
EU-JAMRAI 2 seeks to implement concrete actions to monitor, prevent and effectively tackle antimicrobial resistance across human, animal and environmental health domains, empowering participating countries to strengthen their national action plans. The mission is to reduce the risk of European citizens’ exposure to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This involves promoting integrated surveillance and strengthening infection prevention through the “One Health” approach, while improving the care of patients with bacterial infections, guaranteeing access to effective and proportionate antibiotic therapy, for instance.
EU-JAMRAI 2 is co-funded by the involved partners and the EU4Health Programme, with a total budget of €62.5 million including €50 million from the European Commission. This level of funding underscores the priority given to combatting antimicrobial resistance by the European Union.
Roser Domenech Amado, Director for “One Health” in the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety said: “AMR is the grand pandemic of our times. It requires urgent action now, in Europe and across the world. In 2023, the EU agreed recommended targets on antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial consumption and measures including infection prevention and control, surveillance and monitoring, fostering innovation and access, prudent use of antimicrobials and increased awareness-raising. The European Commission’s EUR 50 million in JAMRAI 2 – our biggest ever in tackling AMR – will help EU countries make a difference on the ground.”
Over 120 partners from 30 countries, supported by approximately 40 stakeholders, will actively participate in this Joint Action. European organizations such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the European Food Safety Authority and international organisations such as WHO, WOAH, OECD, UNEP and FAO will enrich the debate with their expertise and ensure the coherence of the joint action with existing initiatives. Additionally, human and animal health professionals, as well as patient representatives, are integral components of this Joint Action.
