MEPs and partner organisations call for investments in vaccine R&D to support EU and global health security and preparedness
June 15, 2026
Joint statement by Members of the European Parliament and partner organisations (CEPI, IAVI, PATH, and Vaccines Europe)
15 JUNE 2026 – With the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Framework Programme 10 (FP10) under negotiation, Europe faces a crucial moment to strengthen its health security and preparedness. Yet previous calls for increased EU investment in health R&D have not translated into sustained action. As attention shifts toward defence and security, a unified, long-term strategy is urgently needed.
Therefore, Members of the European Parliament and partner organisations (CEPI, IAVI, PATH, and Vaccines Europe) – issue a call to action for the EU to prioritise vaccine R&D and preparedness within the next MFF and FP10. Strengthening Europe’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to existing and future health threats is essential to protect citizens, reinforce resilience and competitiveness, and uphold Europe’s role as a global health leader.
Europe benefits from world-class science, strong industrial capabilities and leading public research infrastructure, but continues to lack the scale, coordination and long-term investment required to fully leverage them. Health security is inseparable from Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and wider defence priorities.
We call for predictable, strategic and end-to-end funding for vaccine innovation to avoid fragmentation, de-risk investment and enable rapid response to existing and emerging threats. This requires more systematic public–private collaboration, coordinated approaches across institutions and innovative funding mechanisms.
Building on shared perspectives from Members of Parliament, policymakers, Member States, public-private partnerships, industry and civil society, we set out the following recommendations:
1. Invest in European leadership in vaccine R&D to strengthen health security, enhance competitiveness and tackle global challenges
Sustaining and expanding Europe’s innovation base is essential to ensure rapid response capabilities, prevent future shocks to health systems, and reinforce the EU’s global leadership. Despite strong scientific excellence and manufacturing capacity, Europe risks losing ground to more coordinated competitors without consistent, long-term political support. Maintaining expertise in clinical trials and leadership across emerging technologies, AMR, climate-linked risks and pathogens with pandemic potential will be critical to strengthening strategic autonomy.
2. Embed health and prevention as priorities in FP10 and the MFF, linked to Europe’s domestic and global objectives on resilience, defence and competitiveness
Preparedness and prevention must not be treated in isolation. Health research and preparedness are integral parts of Europe’s security and defence, and investment in vaccine R&D and public health capacity should be viewed as a strategic asset. Integrating health across FP10 and MFF priorities would align vaccine R&D with economic security, industrial competitiveness and societal resilience. Europe’s internal action must be matched with its global responsibilities. Early detection, rapid response and equitable access to countermeasures rely on strong global surveillance, international partnerships and continued EU leadership in global health.
3. Strengthen public–private partnerships to leverage EU investments
Partnerships such as IHI, EDCTP, CEPI and Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) are central to accelerating innovation and progressing from discovery to deployment. More systematic and strategic dialogue between public, private and research actors is needed to move beyond ad-hoc collaborations toward a coherent long-term model. Strengthening these partnerships maximises the impact of EU spending, reduces duplication, improves coordination with regulatory actors and accelerates access to medical innovation.
4. Ensure sustainable and coordinated funding to deliver end-to-end preparedness
a) Provide strong funding for health and prevention research and product development
EU authorities and agencies, including HERA, EMA, ECDC, and instruments such as joint undertakings (IHI and EDCTP), DG RTD health and prevention work programmes and Global Europe health security instruments must be adequately funded. Stable, predictable long-term funding is essential to maintain surveillance capacity, regulatory excellence and the ability to support EU and global preparedness.
b) Reduce funding fragmentation and ensure end-to-end support across the R&D pipeline
Gaps between early research, clinical development and deployment slow progress and weaken preparedness. A coordinated investment approach across FP10, the European Competitiveness Fund, Global Europe and the Critical Medicines and Biotech Acts should underpin the Life Science and MCM Strategies and the MCM Accelerator.
c) Support R&D progression through milestone-based approaches
Flexible, milestone-based and portfolio funding models can prevent discontinuity between phases, reduce delays, strengthen coordination with regulatory pathways and enhance Europe’s global competitiveness.
Conclusion
These recommendations reflect the shared priorities identified during a multi-stakeholder roundtable on health research, security and preparedness held in the European Parliament on 4 December 2025.
The undersigned partners remain committed to working together to ensure that FP10 and the MFF deliver the long-term investment, coordination and strategic focus required to strengthen Europe’s health security. Delivering on these priorities will be essential to reinforce Europe’s strategic autonomy, accelerate innovation and ensure preparedness for future health threats.
Signatories (in alphabetical order)
Members of the European Parliament
Wouter Beke (EPP, Belgium)
Christophe Clergeau (S&D, France)
Charles Goerens (Renew, Luxembourg)
Michael Hadjipantela (EPP, Cyprus)
Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia)
Tilly Metz (Greens, Luxembourg)
Leire Pajín (S&D, Spain)
Oliver Schenk (EPP, Germany)
Aurelijus Veryga (ECR, Lithuania)
Organisations
CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations)
IAVI
PATH
Vaccines Europe
DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung)
With the support of the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat (IPPS)
About Vaccines Europe
Vaccines Europe is a specialised vaccines group within the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). It represents vaccine companies of all sizes operating in Europe, and currently includes all the major global innovative and research-based vaccine companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises. Their mission is to foster innovation and value recognition of lifecourse immunisation in Europe to protect people against evolving health challenges. For more information, visit https://www.vaccineseurope.eu/