Boosting health resilience: enhancing the Union Civil Protection Mechanism with strategic health funding

The European Commission has proposed to update the Regulation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), integrating the financing for health emergency preparedness and response, to ensure a comprehensive and integrated EU response to crises. As one of the first deliverables under the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, the new Regulation will enhance EU support and solidarity through the UCPM and health emergency preparedness and response.

The new Regulation proposes to allocate about EUR 11 billion in common funding for civil protection and health emergency preparedness, including funding to address health threats, focusing on areas such as surveillance and improved availability and accessibility of medical countermeasures. This new approach will enable more effective and efficient responses to Europe’s evolving landscape of risks and threats.

The proposed Regulation introduces three key innovations. Firstly, it strengthens health emergency preparedness and response to improve the Union's ability to detect, monitor, and combat cross-border health threats, including pandemics and non-communicable diseases. This is achieved by increasing funding for surveillance, medical stockpiles, and procurement, and by enhancing EU-level capabilities during crises, in close coordination with Member States.

The proposal builds on the successes of the existing UCPM and EU4Health Programme, while reinforcing their role in supporting, coordinating, and complementing Member States’ efforts in crises management. The Commission continues to play a supporting role in civil protection and health emergencies, while Member States retain primary responsibility for preventing, preparing for, and responding to crises. The mechanism will therefore enhance EU-wide resilience while respecting national sovereignty and decision-making frameworks.