Press Releases

The European Commission, policymakers and organizations from 30 countries are convening in Paris on the 13^th of February 2024 to launch the second Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections (EU-JAMRAI 2). Coordinated by Inserm (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), France, with the support of the French Ministry of Health, this collaborative venture aims to more effectively combat antimicrobial resistance: a major public health threat responsible for more than 35,000 deaths each year in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and 1.3 million people worldwide.

Building upon the success of EU-JAMRAI 1, which ran from 2017 to 2021, this latest project champions an ambitious “One Health” work programme that brings together the EU Member States, along with Iceland, Norway and Ukraine.

Didier Samuel, CEO of Inserm said: “The long-term implementation of a coordinated "One Health" approach remains a priority for the years to come, it is also a priority for the future. […] No State has the capacity to act alone against antimicrobial resistance […]. Cooperation is no longer an option: it is the condition for success in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.”

EU-JAMRAI 2 seeks to implement concrete actions to monitor, prevent and effectively tackle antimicrobial resistance across human, animal and environmental health domains, empowering participating countries to strengthen their national action plans. The mission is to reduce the risk of European citizens’ exposure to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This involves promoting integrated surveillance and strengthening infection prevention through the “One Health” approach, while improving the care of patients with bacterial infections, guaranteeing access to effective and proportionate antibiotic therapy, for instance.

EU-JAMRAI 2 is co-funded by the involved partners and the EU4Health Programme, with a total budget of €62.5 million including €50 million from the European Commission. This level of funding underscores the priority given to combatting antimicrobial resistance by the European Union.

Roser Domenech Amado, Director for “One Health” in the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety said: “AMR is the grand pandemic of our times. It requires urgent action now, in Europe and across the world. In 2023, the EU agreed recommended targets on antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial consumption and measures including infection prevention and control, surveillance and monitoring, fostering innovation and access, prudent use of antimicrobials and increased awareness-raising. The European Commission’s EUR 50 million in JAMRAI 2 - our biggest ever in tackling AMR - will help EU countries make a difference on the ground.”

Over 120 partners from 30 countries, supported by approximately 40 stakeholders, will actively participate in this Joint Action. European organizations such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the European Food Safety Authority and international organisations such as WHO, WOAH, OECD, UNEP and FAO will enrich the debate with their expertise and ensure the coherence of the joint action with existing initiatives. Additionally, human and animal health professionals, as well as patient representatives, are integral components of this Joint Action.

On behalf of Hungary, NCPHP acts as a competent authority in the 4-year EU JAMRAI 2 Joint Action, one of the most significant European collaborations supporting concerted against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and healthcare-associated infections. The Hungarian participation involves several working groups in both human health and environmental health. The objectives include the development of a framework to support the appropriate use of antimicrobials through antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) guidance and professional collaboration in human health, furthermore the identification of behavioural barriers to appropriate antimicrobial prescribing and infection control practices and the development of interventions to influence behaviour. In the field of environmental health, the aim is to establish an environmental AMR surveillance system based on common methology and to develop a training programme to raise awareness of the problem of environmental AMR emissions and the possibilities for reduction among relevant professionals. A communication campaign is also planned to raise public awareness of AMR.