None of us will ever forget the moment we heard about COVID-19 for the first time, watching as it spread around the world, affecting one country after another, like a wildfire.
We cant let that happen again. We must be ready. That is why the launch of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Source initiative 2.0. (EIOS 2.0) and the unveiling of the Pandemic Simulator is a landmark moment.
Today public health faces a new kind of challenge — speed. Diseases move faster — and they are more unpredictable — than ever. They can race across borders and across continents. In such a dynamic world, having the right information, at the right time, is key to saving lives.
Today we celebrate more than just a new technology. We are acting together and building trust together, and this will help us to stay ahead of threats. In Europe, we created HERA for exactly that reason — to anticipate crises and not just react to them.
This EIOS is ambitious. It harnesses the power of open-source data to detect and understand health threats before they spiral into major outbreaks. This EIOS system was born from a strong and enduring partnership between the European Commission and the World Health Organization.
The EUs Joint Research Centre has been at the heart of this effort from the very beginning, with its scientific expertise and its technical know-how. It has helped shape and drive global health intelligence, laying the foundation for what EIOS is today. DG ECHO has also been there at the start, and HERA has become one of the most important supporters.
This remarkable partnership is a powerful example of the European Unions ability to foster innovation through collaboration. Working with our global partners, we are helping to build global public goods that protect everyone, everywhere.
The €4 million in strategic funding which we provided to the WHO Pandemic Hub supports the continued development of EIOS and helps detect emerging health threats faster and more accurately.
Today, EIOS is used in over 110 countries and by over 30 organisations around the world. This is an amazing accomplishment. EIOS is a vision for collaboration and a network of trust. It brings together scientists, governments, and communities around one shared goal: to keep people safe with timely and trusted information.
Today we mark an important milestone – the launch of EIOS Version 2. This will connect more users, link more systems, and strengthen our global network of health intelligence. But we cant stop here. We must do more, and faster. We must work together across sectors — health, environment, biotechnology, civil protection, security, and defence. That is the vision behind our new Preparedness Union and Medical Countermeasures strategies — a Europe that anticipates, protects, and responds as one.
Climate shocks, degraded ecosystems, antimicrobial resistance, and more people on the move — all this makes it easier for a local outbreak to become a global crisis. A spark in one corner of the world can ignite a global fire. We must be ready for it.
Our decisions must be fast and grounded in the facts. Thats why the EU is deeply committed to data-driven, science-based public health intelligence. This new Pandemic Simulator embodies this approach. It is a powerful tool that will help leaders make faster, smarter, and life-saving decisions.
The European Union is strongly committed to the WHO and this Berlin Hub. We will continue to provide technical expertise and financial support. Together can we stop outbreaks before they spread and protect the health of everyone. Let me end by thanking each of you for your important work. You are making the world safer and healthier. I look forward to seeing EIOS 2.0 and the Pandemic Simulator in action.
