Explainers

Air pollution is the biggest environmental health risk in Europe. New EU rules will significantly improve air quality and reduce pollution-related deaths.

The critical medicines act addresses shortages of key medicines to better meet patient needs and improve the EU’s resilience to health crises.

The EU helps to improve public health through funding and legislation on tackling cross-border health threats, medicines, patient's rights in cross-border healthcare, disease prevention and promotion of good health.

Moving freely in the EU will become easier for people with disabilities. A European disability card and a parking card will ease access to their rights and to preferential conditions in all EU countries.

107 million Europeans have some form of disability. Find out more facts and figures on living with disabilities in the EU.

The increase in the manufacture and use of highly-addictive synthetic opioids is a global challenge. The EU is taking action to curb this global affliction on society.

Overuse and misuse of antimicrobials are the main drivers of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when a micro-organism survives despite being exposed to medicines designed to inhibit or kill it. 

The EU is working on various fronts to improve its ability to respond to crises and to enhance its resilience to future challenges.

Find out more on international treaty on pandemics, aiming at reinforcing global health security, preparedness and response to health emergencies, in light of lessons learnt from the COVID pandemic.

EU rules on food safety aim to protect consumers while guaranteeing the smooth functioning of the single market.