MEPs fight AMR

The MEP Interest Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is the only AMR-dedicated group in the European Parliament. It brings together MEPs from across the political spectrum who are working together to ensure Europe is a global leader in the fight against this urgent health threat. Its members are committed to:

• Ensuring that AMR is high on the EU policy agenda and that the European Parliament plays a key role in boosting AMR action
• Stressing the need for urgent action through a multi-sectoral One Health approach, which addresses human, animal and environmental health
• Ensuring that the EU and its Member States deliver on their commitments and implement effective actions at EU, national and regional level.

Knowledge – 

• Benefit from evidence-based information to build your knowledge to implement effective actions on AMR

• Receive regular updates on policy and scientific developments

Support –

• Receive continuous support from AMR Stakeholder Network members to undertake actions in the European Parliament, including drafting motions for plenary debates, reports, opinions, and/or questions for written answers on AMR across its human, animal and environmental dimensions

• Join other concerned MEPs to keep pressure on the European Commission and Member States to deliver on their commitments

• Receive support to highlight issues of national relevance which have a direct impact on your constituents

Stay Connected – 

• be connected to a wide network of civil society organisations across Europe

• engage with other MEPs and decision-makers committed to tackling AMR,

• show your commitment and visibility to tackling this urgent public health threat

• Raise awareness on AMR
• Support the use of target-setting and evaluation in AMR policy-making
• Promote funding for AMR-related investments
• Enable an inclusive EU AMR One Health Dialogue
• Ensure that prevention is at the heart of all AMR action
• Address the market failures in antibiotic research & innovation
• Fight pharmaceutical pollution
• Ensure effective implementation of the EU veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed regulations

Read the entire 2019-2024 Strategic Work Programme here.

The MEP Interest Group was established in November 2019 during World Antibiotic Awareness Week. Further to the first introductory technical internal meeting of the group which took place on 20 January 2020, the Group was officially launched on 19 February 2020 at the European Parliament.

The high-level launch event entitled ‘AMR: Setting the agenda for change’, brought together key players working on AMR, including the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety and other European Commission representatives, the UN Tripartite organisations collaborating on AMR (FAO/OIE/WHO), Member States’ representatives, members of the AMR Stakeholder Network and other stakeholders. Musician and patient Silviu Ciocanelli, also shared a captivating account of the reality of living with AMR, calling for urgent measures to be taken to protect Europeans.

The MEP Interest Group meets on average twice per year with external stakeholders (annual meeting + side meeting dedicated to a specific AMR-related dimension). Meetings can take the form of debates, workshops, or webinars to discuss, monitor progress and advocate for future actions.

MEPs are free to decide on their level of involvement in meetings and other activities, depending on their interests and agendas. Nonetheless, MEPs are highly encouraged to take part in at least one activity a year.

The Secretariat of the Interest Group is co-hosted by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe with the support of the AMR Stakeholder Network.

EPHA is a leading Brussels-based NGO advocating for better health in Europe. It is a member-led organisation made up of public health NGOs, patient groups, health professionals and disease groups, working to improve health and strengthen the voice of public health in Europe. 

HCWH Europe is the European arm of a global not-for-profit NGO whose mission is to transform healthcare worldwide so that it reduces its environmental footprint, becomes a community anchor for sustainability, and a leader in the global movement for environmental health and justice.

The AMR Stakeholder Network, operating within the framework of the European Commission’s Health Policy Platform, brings together 80 members representing health and environmental NGOs, patient organisations, public health institutes, national and regional authorities and agencies, committed academics and healthcare professionals working on AMR, and other stakeholders, working on AMR.  

The MEP Interest Group activities and organisation of meetings at the European Parliament will receive financial support from European Commission Operating Grants of the EU Health Programme & LIFE Programme.