Every year on 18 November, European Antibiotic Awareness Day reminds us that antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest threats to public health in Europe and globally. It occurs when infections no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, often due to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants.
It endangers the foundation of modern medicine. It risks taking us back to a time when common infections, minor injuries, childbirth, or routine surgeries could once again become life-threatening. The consequences are already visible: harder-to-treat infections, longer hospital stays, and more than 35,000 deaths every year in Europe. Antimicrobial resistance also has a high economic cost, with an estimated €11.7 billion lost each year across European countries due to prolonged illness, reduced productivity, and healthcare costs.
Antimicrobial resistance develops when we over-use these life-saving medicines. We need to ensure that antimicrobials are used only when needed, and that antimicrobials of last resort are used as sparingly as possible. Unfortunately, the latest report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control shows that we are not on track to meet several of our targets to reduce antibiotic consumption and use by 2030. That is why the Commission is acting on all fronts, and with all partners, to curb the rise of antimicrobial resistance. We are investing €50 million to support Member States in strengthening infection prevention and control, promoting the prudent use of antibiotics, and improving surveillance.
At the same time, we will monitor progress and increase our efforts to raise public awareness and to understand where more support is needed. Prudent antibiotic use means following medical guidance, ensuring they are taken only when a doctor considers them necessary, and avoiding misuse or self-medication.
Moreover, we are promoting research and supporting innovation in the review of the pharmaceutical legislation, and investing €75 million in the new One Health AMR research partnership. By developing new and more effective antibiotics, ensuring separate solutions for both human and animal use, and relying on preventive measures such as vaccines whenever possible, we can protect existing treatments and strengthen our ability to address future health threats.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day is a reminder that safeguarding the effectiveness of antibiotics is not merely a technical challenge — it is a shared responsibility and an urgent political priority.
Today and every day, I call on healthcare workers, veterinarians, farmers, policymakers, and all citizens to join the effort to fight antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobials are a finite resource. We must always use them under a doctor's guidance, prevent infections wherever possible, and safeguard their effectiveness for future generations.
