The European Union called for a more effective and coordinated global architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR), in a statement delivered on 9 June 2026 at the UN Interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing in New York. Speaking on behalf of the EU and its 27 member states, the EU Delegation to the UN outlined three priorities for the Political Declaration ahead of the 2026 High-Level Meeting on PPPR: strengthening the global health security network while respecting national sovereignty, accelerating implementation of existing legal and financial frameworks, and embedding accountability through a proposed global financial tracker for PPPR spending.
The statement, published by the European External Action Service (EEAS), marks the EU's formal input into the preparatory process for the 2026 High-Level Meeting. The EU emphasised that the Political Declaration should promote adherence to the International Health Regulations (IHR), including the 2024 amendments for states that have accepted them, and drive progress on finalising the Pandemic Agreement's PABS annex without prejudging outcomes. The Declaration should not contradict or undermine the amended IHRs or the Pandemic Agreement, the EU stressed.
On financing, the EU called for sustainable domestic resources to support countries' transition to health sovereignty, complemented by international resources through coordinated deployment of existing instruments. Innovative financing mechanisms could also be considered. The proposed global financial tracker, to be developed with partners, would monitor spending and ensure transparency, with regular peer reviews and progress assessments.
The EU underlined that enhanced cooperation among all stakeholders—UN agencies, global health initiatives, financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector—is needed, with the WHO as the coordinating authority. Each must operate within their mandates to avoid overlap and maximise impact.
The EU's position reinforces the WHO's coordinating role, potentially strengthening its authority in global health governance. EU member states would face expectations to align their domestic PPPR investments with the proposed transparency and accountability mechanisms. Developing countries could benefit from more predictable and coordinated international financing, but may also face pressure to increase domestic health spending. The private sector and civil society are recognised as partners, but the statement does not specify their role in the proposed financial tracker or peer review processes.
The Political Declaration is to be finalised ahead of the 2026 UN High-Level Meeting on PPPR. The EU's proposals on the global financial tracker and adherence to IHR amendments will likely be negotiated among UN member states in the coming months.