Dear members of the Network for European Reference Laboratories for Public Health,

Welcome to this first in-person meeting of your network.

Thank you all for your efforts in strengthening our fight against serious cross-border health threats.

You play a crucial role in ensuring EU health solidarity.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for better cooperation and preparedness in health crises.

In response, the EU has strengthened its health security framework.

In 2022, we introduced the new Regulation on Serious Cross-Border Health Threats.

This provides a strong framework for protecting public health in European countries.

It enables the EU to better anticipate and respond to cross-border health threats.

A key part of this regulation is the establishment of the European Reference Laboratories for Public Health.

These support national reference laboratories and help member states share good practices.

The Commission has recently adopted a new Preparedness Union strategy to enhance Europes capabilities.

The European Reference Laboratories for Public Health play an essential role in early disease outbreak detection.

I am counting on your continuous support and advice for early threat detection.

Todays meeting is a milestone in this effort.

At an international level, we are also advancing cooperation for global health.

After three years of negotiations, the Pandemic Agreement was adopted this week by the World Health Assembly.

This is a significant step for global preparedness and response.

But it is only the first step of a longer process.

Effective surveillance is crucial for pandemic prevention.

As a network of reference laboratories, you are our experts in diagnostics and surveillance.

You are our first line of defense.

We are on the way to a better-prepared Europe.

This also means we have a role in global health security.

I count on you to contribute to prevention and preparedness on a larger scale.

Infections do not stop at borders, so we need to consider our wider surroundings.

I wish you a productive meeting. Thank you.