The European Commission supports a new global initiative to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) following a Political Declaration adopted at the United Nations General Assembly on 26 September 2024. This commitment, endorsed by EU countries and many others, aims to strengthen efforts to combat AMR using a “One Health” approach, which recognizes that human, animal, and environmental health are all interconnected.
The Declaration sets important targets, such as cutting global AMR-related deaths by 10% by 2030 and developing national action plans. It also calls for an independent expert panel to guide these efforts, with the EU contributing €2.5 million to this initiative by 2025. Additional goals include reducing the use of antibiotics in agriculture and ensuring that low- and middle-income countries receive adequate financial support to fight AMR.
AMR is a growing concern, having caused 1.2 million deaths in 2021 and contributing to many more. Without immediate global action, it could lead to over 8.2 million deaths each year by 2050. Within the EU, AMR is already a top priority.
To combat this growing threat, the EU is working to lower antibiotic use in humans and animals, support research into new treatments, and strengthen environmental protections. It has also launched awareness campaigns, particularly aimed at educating young people about the risks of AMR.
EuChemS has actively contributed to addressing antimicrobial resistance through various initiatives, such as the STOA Working Breakfast co-organized by EuChemS and the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC) in 2016. During this event, researchers and Members of the European Parliament explored solutions to AMR, discussing global challenges and emphasizing the urgent need for targeted actions to prevent a future where common treatments for diseases become ineffective.
