The positive narrative around making business easier and faster and putting research and innovation at the heart of the EU economy, in the speech of newly re-elected Commission President Von der Leyen and the Political Guidelines for the Next European Commission (2024-2029), was a welcome one for the European animal health sector.

The call to make this mandate “the time of investment” and implementation to make sure that goals set in the previous are met, indicates a better comprehension that visionary ideas can only go so far if Europe’s key sectors do not have necessary predictability, for their investments and innovation. Investing more in Europe’s farming and industry sectors, boosting digital and data-based technologies, coupled with investment in people and their skills can only serve to drive Europe forward in a more positive way for all its citizens. AnimalhealthEurope welcomes also the endeavour to overcome differences and develop good solutions together with all stakeholders.

Nevertheless, whilst it was good to see the important role of Europe’s wider agri-food sector recognised for ensuring high quality foods and our food security, the lack of mention of the One Health approaches in both food production and healthcare was a large oversight for our sector. Preventive measures in the public health domain can only partly be successful if the contributory role that animal health plays in our shared One Health is not taken into consideration. 

AnimalhealthEurope Secretary General Roxane Feller commented,

“Europe is the birthplace of modern veterinary medicine and home to world-leading animal health companies. Thanks to our innovative sector providing the necessary tools and expertise, working together with veterinarians and authorities, the EU has done a stellar job in moving from a very fragmented national approach to animal disease control to a more harmonised system of animal health measures, disease surveillance, diagnosis and control. As Europe moves forward, more recognition should be given to the central role that animal health can play in a strong and healthy future for the continent.”

Roxane elaborated further on the role that the animal health sector can play in Europe’s future in an op-ed published this week in The Parliament online magazine.