Commission welcomes international declaration on the fight against antimicrobial resistance

The Commission welcomes the Political Declaration reached today at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to step up action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

At the High-Level ministerial meeting in New York, UN member countries, including EU Member States, and the EU committed to concrete actions to address AMR across all sectors, through a One Health approach that acknowledges that human, animal and environmental health are intrinsically linked.

The Declaration is a strong signal of the global consensus on the necessity to address this serious global health threat, which was directly responsible for almost 1.2 million deaths worldwide in 2021 and contributed to another 4.7 million deaths the same year. It is estimated that there could be over 8.2 million deaths linked to resistant bacteria globally in 2050, if urgent action is not taken.

Political leaders committed to a series of measures to tackle AMR, including improved prevention, surveillance, monitoring, financing, access, innovation and awareness-raising. Among the commitments in today's declaration are:

  • A target to reduce the number of global deaths from bacterial AMR by 10% by 2030.
  • The implementation of national action plans by all countries, to address AMR through One Health approach.
  • The establishment of an independent panel for evidence-based action against AMR. The panel, which the EU will help to fund with €2.5 million in 2025, will gather and consolidate data on AMR and provide guidance to policymakers worldwide.
  • The use of existing frameworks to exchange experiences and best practices, and to assess progress in implementing national action plans, drawing the scientific guidance above. Regular ministerial meetings will take stock of global progress.
  • A pledge to meaningfully reduce the use of antibiotics in agri-food by 2030.
  • The promotion of sustainable financing, with particular support for low- and middle-income countries, and mapping of available funding for AMR.

Background

AMR is one of the greatest health threats of our times, placing significant strain on our healthcare systems. In Europe, 1 in 5 bacterial infections is resistant to antibiotics, with this figure as high as 40% in some Member States.

Additionally, AMR has a serious economic impact, estimated to cost healthcare systems alone an additional US$ 1 trillion by 2050. In Europe, the current estimated cost of AMR is €11.7 billion per year in health expenditure and lost productivity.

At EU level, AMR is one of the highest public health priorities, reflected in the action taken to tackle it at all levels of the ecosystem. Among the key EU measures to address AMR are targets to reduce antibiotic consumption in humans, rules to limit antibiotics in livestock, Research and Development investment to support the development of novel antibiotics, and strengthened environmental monitoring to prevent antibiotic residues from contaminating soil and water.

Furthermore, the Commission has also launched a new campaign this week to promote greater awareness of AMR amongst young people and tackle AMR through a whole of society approach. The EU is also a vocal advocate of a stronger One Health response to the threat of AMR globally.