The European Union is set to support the African Union in its ambitious goal of producing 60% of vaccines on the continent for African citizens by 2040. This partnership was highlighted during a high-level conference in Brussels, where Jutta Urpilainen, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, emphasized the importance of advancing health systems and strengthening health capacities globally.
The AU delegation, led by the African Union Commission, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), joined forces with the EU delegation, led by the Belgian Presidency of the European Council and the European Commission. Together, they discussed the progress made in increasing local manufacturing of medicines and vaccines in Africa.
The EU has pledged to mobilize €150 billion in investments by 2027 through the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package, with health being a key focus area. Additionally, the EU’s Team Europe initiative has already mobilized over €1.3 billion in grants and loans to support manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines, and health technologies in Africa.
The AU’s Partnership for Africa Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) framework aims to boost local vaccine manufacturing in Africa from less than 3% to 60% by 2040. The Africa CDC is leading the charge in developing a framework for action to achieve this goal, prioritizing the production of vaccines for various diseases, including COVID-19, HIV, and malaria.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General of the Africa CDC, highlighted Africa’s commitment to health sovereignty and self-sufficiency through equitable access to medical products. The AU’s recent establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) marks a crucial step forward in safeguarding health security on the continent.
The EU and AU are working closely on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, as well as other health initiatives such as One Health and antimicrobial resistance. The EU’s Global Health Strategy aims to promote health across the life cycle and strengthen health systems worldwide.
Moving forward, the EU plans to continue technical collaboration on health in Africa and investments in strengthening Africa’s health security architecture. The EU’s Global Gateway strategy, along with Team Europe Initiatives, will focus on increasing the resilience of European and African health systems to address emerging health threats and the impact of climate change.
The partnership between the African Union and the European Union is crucial for global health, with both entities committed to concluding negotiations on the pandemic agreement and international health regulations by May. By working together, they aim to support global health and ensure a healthier and more equitable future for all.
