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Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health), 6 March 2020
Main results
On the basis of a presidency note, ministers took stock of the current situation, which has evolved significantly over the last few weeks. They exchanged views on how best to ensure a coordinated response to the current COVID-19 outbreak in the EU.
Protecting public health is our top priority. The EU's response to the outbreak and the cooperation between all parties have been very good, but the situation has changed. Our debate today showed that member states are ready to adapt their response, strengthen their cooperation and undertake the appropriate measures to focus both on prevention and treatment.
Vili Beroš, minister for Health of Croatia
The debate confirmed that the best contribution to protecting the health of EU citizens is by strengthening solidarity, cooperation and exchange of information in line with the commitments taken at the Council meeting of 13 February 2020.
Ministers agreed that in order to counter the COVID-19 outbreak, it was important to further raise the collective and individual awareness about the threat posed by the COVID-19, strengthen the protection of people at risk and the elderly, and establish coherent containment measures, including evidence-based advice concerning travel to and from risk areas. Ministers also highlighted the need for monitoring at European level of the availability of medical equipment and medicines in the EU with the aim of securing the production, stocking, availability and rational use of protective equipment in the Union.
Delegations welcomed the support mobilised by the European Commission so far, in particular regarding public health, research and civil protection.
Protecting public health is our top priority. The EU's response to the outbreak and the cooperation between all parties have been very good, but the situation has changed. Our debate today showed that member states are ready to adapt their response, strengthen their cooperation and undertake the appropriate measures to focus both on prevention and treatment.