Antimicrobial resistance (the ability of a microorganism to survive in the presence of a medicine designed to inhibit or kill it) is threatening the capacity to prevent and cure infectious diseases. In the European Union, it causes an estimated 35 000 deaths per year, and places an annual financial burden of €1.1 billion on healthcare systems. In 2019, the World Health Organization declared antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. On 26 April 2023, the European Commission published a proposal for a Council recommendation on stepping up EU action to combat AMR. This proposal complements two other legislative proposals, together making up the EU pharmaceutical package. It provides for a holistic preparedness and response framework to curb AMR, through a One Health approach, ensuring the inclusion of human, animal and plant health, as well as their interactions with the environment. Three main priorities underpin the proposal: infection prevention, prudent use of antimicrobials (including the objective of reducing human consumption of antibiotics in the Union by 20 % by 2030), and research and development to ensure access to appropriate medical countermeasures. The European Parliament adopted a resolution welcoming the proposal on 1 June. The Council of the EU adopted the recommendation on 13 June 2023.
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