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On 10 June, the EOHA hosted the third and final PEITHO Thematic Network webinar within the EU Health Policy Platform. This session brought together experts from EU agencies to reflect on One Health initiatives put into practice, offering perspectives on how to move from strategy to action.

Key topics covered:

• Past – Present – Future of the Cross Agency One Health Task Force: Ivo Claassen (EMA) presented the origins, structure, and progress of the One Health Task Force—a collaborative platform connecting five EU agencies (ECDC, ECHA, EEA, EFSA, EMA). He highlighted their joint Framework for Action, which focuses on strategic coordination, research, capacity building, communication, and joint activities, aiming to move beyond ad-hoc projects toward sustained, institutionalised collaboration.
• One Health surveillance: how ECDC & EFSA & national authorities join efforts: Andrea Gervelmeyer (EFSA) shared a practical example of One Health in action: coordinated surveillance for zoonotic threats across 23 European countries. She illustrated how cross-sectoral networks (public health, animal health, and, increasingly, environmental authorities) are jointly collecting, analysing, and using surveillance data to improve early warning, risk assessment, and policy decisions.
• Proceeding to implementation of One Health solutions: Carlos das Neves (EFSA) offered a strategic perspective on the journey towards One Health integration at EU and national levels. He stressed the importance of aligning science, policy, and society, and called for stronger financial mechanisms, legal frameworks, and incentives to embed One Health in practice, not just in principle.

Key takeaways:

• From collaboration to institutionalisation: The EU agencies have moved from initial cooperation (“crawling”) to established networks (“walking”), with a clear ambition to “run” through embedded mandates, joint funding, and shared action plans.
• Practical progress, persistent challenges: Real-world collaboration, such as joint surveillance and staff exchanges, demonstrates tangible progress. However, barriers remain, including sectoral silos, differing mandates, resource constraints, and the need for better integration of environmental and plant health perspectives.
• Bottom-up meets top-down: The development of a joint statement by the PEITHO network, informed by stakeholder experience, is a unique opportunity to feed practical recommendations into EU policy. Policymakers welcomed this approach and encouraged continued engagement and knowledge sharing.
• “Walk the Talk”: The transition from recommendations to implementation requires not just policy alignment, but also changes in funding structures, evaluation of scientific work, and sustained multi-sectoral forums, at both EU and national levels.

💡 Final thoughts:
This webinar underscored that One Health is no longer just a concept, it is being operationalised through concrete EU agency collaboration, data sharing, and strategic planning. Continued momentum, political commitment, and practical tools are needed to institutionalise One Health for resilient, sustainable health systems in Europe.

🔗 Interested in joining the conversation? Join the PEITHO Thematic Network on the EU Health Policy Platform: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/hpf/network/home/145

Watch the webinar recording: https://youtu.be/7z45nsm8sDU

On 28 May, the EOHA hosted the second PEITHO Thematic Network webinar, within the EU Health Policy Platform. This session brought together experts and stakeholders to explore how One Health research is being developed, funded, and translated into real-world solutions across Europe.

Key Topics Covered:

• The BE READY European Partnership: background and perspective on One Health actions: Natalia Martin and Laurent Jaboeuf presented the new European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness (BE READY), a collaborative, multi-country platform aiming to align research priorities, fund transnational research, and embed the One Health approach in pandemic readiness. Their work includes calls for research proposals that integrate human, animal, and environmental health, and social science perspectives.
• Simulation exercise on Avian Influenza: the Belgian experience on a One Health participative collaboration: Géraldine Boseret and Jorgen Stassijns (Sciensano) shared Belgium’s innovative simulation exercises on avian influenza, demonstrating how cross-sectoral networks, coordinated response protocols, and real-life drills can break down institutional silos and improve preparedness for zoonotic outbreaks.

Key Takeaways:

• Collaboration is Crucial. Effective One Health solutions require strong networks linking human, animal, and environmental health sectors at both national and EU levels. Simulation exercises and shared action plans help build trust and operational readiness.
• Integration Must Be Practical. Funding and research agendas should explicitly encourage multi-sectoral proposals, not just in principle but in implementation: combining expertise from public health, veterinary, environmental, and social sciences.
• Sustainability and Policy Impact. Long-term planning and joint statements are vital for ensuring that project-based research translates into institutional change and informs EU policy.
• Lessons from the Field. Real-world exercises reveal gaps and foster connections that cannot be achieved through protocols alone. Belgium’s example shows that “playing” together can be as valuable as planning together.

💡 Final Thoughts:
This webinar underscored the importance of moving beyond disciplinary and institutional boundaries to address complex health threats. Both the BE READY partnership and Belgium’s operational exercises exemplify how research, funding, and practice can be aligned for more resilient, effective One Health systems.

🔗 Interested in joining the conversation? Join the PEITHO Thematic Network on the EU Health Policy Platform: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/hpf/network/home/145

Watch the webinar recording: https://youtu.be/mg5VXGE_THo

On 10 June 2026, from 11.00 to 12.30 CET, the European One Health Association will co-organise the third and final live webinar on the EU Health Policy Platform as part of the Thematic network PEITHO.

This webinar will centre on One Health operationalisation, and we are pleased to welcome experts from EFSA and ECDC, who will share insights into the work of the Cross-Agency One Health Task Force.

The second part of the webinar will highlight a practical, interdisciplinary example of collaboration among EU Agencies, showcasing how One Health principles are applied in real-world scenarios.

The aim of the webinar is to reflect on One Health initiatives put into practice, offering perspectives on how to move from strategy to action.

Find more details and register at: https://ecconf.webex.com/weblink/register/r003933362fdcc4ca67c414c91fd73259

Agenda

On 28 May 2026, from 11.00 to 12.30 CET, the European One Health Association will co-organise a live webinar on the EU Health Policy Platform as part of the Thematic network PEITHO.

This webinar will focus on One Health Research & Innovation, beginning with insights from the EU Partnerships BE READY, which is dedicated to pandemic preparedness. BE READY will reflect on Partnership’s goals, the integration of One Health in its activities, barriers to cross-sectoral and cross-border collaboration and how to overcome or prevent these barriers, and plans to operationalise the developed solutions.

The second part of the webinar will highlight how One Health approaches and research solutions can be applied to real world scenarios, based on the lessons learned from a recent Simulation Exercise on Avian influenza conducted by Sciensano in Belgium. In this presentation experiences will be shared in organizing such a cross-sectoral One Health exercise, with a focus on the barriers that were identified and the solutions that were implemented.

Find more details and register at: https://ecconf.webex.com/weblink/register/rf104cb7f7ec02e61bd7dddf5e320b487

Agenda

On 28 April the EOHA hosted the first webinar of the PEITHO Thematic Network, part of the EU Health Policy Platform. The session brought stakeholders from across Europe to discuss how we can strengthen transdisciplinary, cross-sectoral collaboration to tackle One Health challenges.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Environmental Dimension of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Edward Topp delivered a compelling presentation on the crucial, yet often underrepresented, role of the environment in the spread and mitigation of AMR. He highlighted the need for coordinated action across pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and food systems, emphasizing both policy and practical interventions.
• Equity and Inclusion in One Health: Kim Weiszhar and Andrea Winkler presented the inspiring work of the Women for One Health Network, underlining the importance of diversity, gender equity, and inclusion in One Health governance. They demonstrated how inclusive networks and social sciences can lead to more sustainable and effective health interventions.

Key Takeaways:

• Multi-sectoral collaboration and bottom-up initiatives are essential. The PEITHO Joint Statement, in the making, aims to provide a practical roadmap for operationalizing One Health solutions in line with EU policy.
• Equity and inclusion are fundamental. Ensuring that all voices are heard, especially from women and underserved groups, leads to better health outcomes and more resilient and sustainable systems.
• There is increasing momentum at the EU level, with new activities, legislation, and practical training aimed at encouraging inter- and trans-disciplinary action.

💡 Final Thoughts:
The session was a powerful reminder that addressing complex health challenges—like AMR and health inequities—requires collective action, practical governance, and the courage to include all stakeholders in the conversation. We look forward to welcoming you in the next webinars and to seeing how the PEITHO network will drive real change!

Interested in getting involved? Join the PEITHO Thematic Network on the EU Health Policy Platform: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/hpf/network/home/145

Watch the recording of the webinar: https://youtu.be/eVFX9y57Rx8

The annual EOHA call for Short Term Missions and Workshop grants is now open. More information on important dates and how to apply, can be found here: STM and Workshop application – European One Health Association (EOHA)

The European One Health Association has officially endorsed the Brussels One Health Declaration. By signing this declaration, EOHA reaffirms its commitment to advancing collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health sectors, and to promoting integrated approaches to One Health across Europe.

On February 3, 2026, relevant stakeholders gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels for a landmark conference. Out of that high-level dialogue came a roadmap for legislative change: the Brussels One Health Declaration.

Facilitated by the Infectious Disease Alliance (IDA), this landmark document outlines the urgent policy needs and strategic priorities required to legally integrate the One Health approach across the European Union.

The Declaration calls on the EU to adopt 6 Strategic Priorities:

1. Integrated Governance: Establish a high-level One Health Advisory and Coordination Group at the European Commission.
2. Unified Data Ecosystems: Build real-time, interoperable surveillance data across human, animal, and environmental sectors.
3. Strengthened Preparedness: Embed One Health mandates into EU agencies like HERA and the ECDC.
4. Inclusive Engagement: Guarantee sustained funding and a formal voice for civil society and NGOs.
5. Responsible Innovation: Lead globally in ethical AI and genomic risk surveillance.
6. Policy Coherence: Mandate strict One Health Impact Assessments for all new EU regulations, from agriculture to trade.

More information, including the Declaration Document can be found here: Protecting Our Shared Future: The Brussels One Health Declaration for a Resilient Europe

Join us in Madrid for the international One Health congress of the European One Health Association hosted by the Spanish National Research Council CSIC.

📍 Madrid (Spain) | 📅 18–20 May 2026

Sessions:
🌿 Environmental Sciences & Ecology in One Health
🧬 Frontiers of One Health Research
💡 Innovative Solutions and Implementation
🤝 Science for Policy and Society

👉 See the full program and registration information:
www.eoha-asm2026.eu

On 28 April 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 CET, the European One Health Association will co-organise a live webinar on the EU Health Policy Platform as part of the Thematic network PEITHO.

This webinar will focus on the inclusion of sectors that are traditionally underrepresented in One Health
initiatives, with particular attention to the environmental sector. Experiences, lessons learned, and practical recommendations for stakeholders will be shared to support the meaningful and effective integration of the environmental perspective into One Health initiatives.

Additionally, the session will address issues of equity and inclusion within One Health activities, based on
insights from the Women for One Health network. The presentation will highlight challenges encountered in establishing and managing initiatives, particularly within the European context. The discussion will explore barriers to participation and leadership, and will present solutions that have successfully addressed or prevented these challenges, that could serve as guidance for future efforts.

Find more details and register at: https://ecconf.webex.com/weblink/register/r2501aca3ea10f1bcc00e4c0b532beaf7

Agenda

The annual EOHA call for travel/conference grants 2026 is now open. More information on how to apply can be found here.