Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council Review of the implementation of the operations of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 26.3.2025 COM(2025) 147 final REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Review of the implementation of the operations of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) EN EN REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Review of the implementation of the operations of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) 1. INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic brought huge challenges for the EU. It soon became clear that the scale of the EU could make a major contribution to tackling the pandemic, and common action could also ensure better mitigation of the threat. From the first lessons drawn from the COVID- 19 pandemic1, it became clear that more structural solutions were needed, to address the COVID-19 pandemic itself but also to prepare for future health crises. Recent crises reinforce the conclusions of Special Advisor Niinistö’s report,2 underlining the need for a strong health crisis preparedness and response framework. The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) was set up in a time of urgency, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with an acute awareness of the EU’s vulnerabilities in preparedness and response to health emergencies. It was recognised from the start that it would be important to review the situation at an early stage3. This report presents a review of the work and functioning of...