Resistance of bugs to antimicrobials means that if no action is undertaken, AMR might result in 10 million deaths globally each year through infections.

In response, the European Union in 2011 put in place an Action Plan against the rising threats from Antimicrobial Resistance for the period 2011-2016. This Action Plan took a ‘One Health’ approach across multiple sectors, covering both human and veterinary aspects to protect both human and animal health. It contains 12 actions for implementation with EU Member States.

The recent evaluation concludes that the Action Plan had a clear EU added value acting as a symbol of political commitment, stimulating several actions within Member States, and has served to strengthen international cooperation.

However, the evaluation shows that there is a clear need to support and assist Member States in developing and implementing national action plans to reduce differences between them in the use of antimicrobials and prevalence of infections, to foster collaboration across sectors, to improve knowledge of citizens and to strengthen monitoring and surveillance systems by developing expertise on methodologies, solid indicators and instruments.

The evaluation demonstrates the need of continuing coordination and collaboration on AMR research on developing new antimicrobials, rapid diagnostic tests, vaccines and alternative treatments, new business models, to sustain investment and increasing the knowledge on the transmission of AMR for a better understanding of the mechanisms causing resistance.

Furthermore, given the cross-border nature of AMR, the evaluation said a strong EU voice at international level remains necessary, to raise awareness, to encourage countries to consider their own measures against AMR and to take global measures such as WHO implementing policies and the development of OIE standards.