Florika Fink-Hooijer
@florikafinkhooijer.bsky.social
Director General, DG HERA (Health Emergency Preparedness & Response), part of European Commission Former Director General of DG ENV ( circularity/zero pollution/ biodiversity)
Health threats do not stop at borders. As #EU responds to the #Hantavirus outbreak, DG HERA is working closely with Member States & international partners to assess the availability of medical countermeasures while supporting research preparedness through #DURABLE and #BeREADY. lnkd.in/eNHzvR-W
The #EU has launched the Global Health Resilience Initiative to strengthen surveillance, medical countermeasures, resilient supply chains & trusted global partnerships. Investing in stronger global health resilience means being better prepared for crises. 🔗👉 link.europa.eu/CXXPTr
Today 9th of May we celebrate Europe 🥳🎊🇪🇺 An overwhelming majority of Europeans (75%) celebrate being in the EU and the stability and peace it brings 👇 europa.eu/eurobaromete... Visit DG #HERA at the #Berlaymont and learn about the essentials of health emergency management .
Today at #EYW2026, we invited young people to explore 1 essential question: ➡️When can climate change become a health emergency? Through an interactive scenario, participants discussed early warning, clear communication & coordinated response to climate-related health threats.
Health threats are also security threats. At NATO headquarters, I highlighted why rapid #vaccine development, stronger medical countermeasures & closer civil-military cooperation are key to strengthen #preparedness against biological threats.
Real pleasure to meet the team of our @EUinIceland.bsky.social 🇮🇸 which is led by my friend @claraganslandt.bsky.social @HERA.bsky.social is currently negotiating an agreement with Iceland on health emergency measures- including actions related to the availability of medical countermeasures.
In a world of overlapping health crises, how prepared is Europe to respond to the next health emergency? 🩺🏥 In the latest episode of our podcast, host @aoifewhite.bsky.social is joined by @florikafinkhooijer.bsky.social, DG HERA, to discuss the health risks that should be on Europe's radar.
We know #trees give green water, shade, cool air, help healing, keep biodiversity etc etc . Seems not enough to value them. But if they would produce energy or WiFi we would see tree planting everywhere 🤔 #InternationalTreeDay
🎙️DG HERA launches its new podcast! 👉 Prepared, not Panicked: The Health Crisis Podcast 👈 Episode 1 features Commissioner @hadjalahbib.bsky.social on how Europe strengthens preparedness before the next crisis. 🎧 Listen now, available in English, German and French: sptfy.in/alx1
Effective preparedness is based on trusted collaboration With many thanks to the @cy2026eu.bsky.social Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026 we conducted a lively and rich Hera Board meeting in Nicosia.
❗️Please watch this space - positive innovative solutions and practical information on whole of society & government resilience action will be posted under our joint account.
EU in Emergencies@euinemergencies.ec.europa.eu · 6mo agoHello BlueSky! 👋 We’re here to start conversations on how the EU keeps people safe in emergencies and crises. 🇪🇺 Part of @ec.europa.eu 🌍 Active in Europe & beyond 🚨 Our acronyms: ECHO, HERA, FPI, Copernicus Follow us for updates on disaster preparedness, crisis response and humanitarian action!
According to the latest Flash @EurobarometerEU on #EU challenges and priorities, #health remains among the🔝five priorities for 🇪🇺. At DG #HERA, we are working to turn this priority into action, strengthening EU’s #preparedness against health threats. 👉🔗link.europa.eu/F4bBDX
Early detection saves lives.⚠️ At the launch of #EIOS 2.0 in Berlin, @hadjalahbib.bsky.social and @who.int reaffirmed their shared commitment to smarter, faster & more connected epidemic intelligence. @EU_HERA and the @EU_ScienceHub, 🇪🇺 help turn data 4 collaborative surveillance into action.
🌍🚨 Europe’s environment 2025 is out now, and the conclusions are sobering: ⚠️ Europe’s environment is in poor shape. Nature continues to degrade, biodiversity is declining, and Europe is warming faster than any other region. www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/... #EuropesEnvironment2025
State of Europe’s environment not good: threats to nature and impacts of climate change top challenges
Significant progress has been made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, but the overall state of Europe’s environment is not good, especially its nature which continues to face degr...
eea.europa.eu
Last week MEP AndrasKulja organised the first event in the @europarl.europa.eu _EN on disease-carrying vectors like mosquitos & ticks which are precursors of tropical diseases & constitute a growing risk for our citizen, societies, health care systems and economies. Txs for the invite.
Patients safety, dignity and access to quality care is our shared responsibility💙. #worldpatientsafetyday2025 @EC_HERA stands for access to safe, & innovative MCMs 💊, v reliable supply chains 🚚, and preparedness 4 future health crises 🚑🌍. #PatientsFirst #EU4health
Nature-based solutions harness the power of ecosystems, from forests and wetlands to coral reefs and soils, to support both people and the planet. They offer cost-effective ways to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Learn more: unep.org/unep-and-nat...
The financial system leans heavily on nature, just like the rest of us this summer! 🏖️🏦 According to @ecb.europa.eu 🐟30% of Eurosystem’s corporate bonds are in sectors heavily reliant on nature 🐟In ECB’s own investment funds, nature risks reach up to 40% Time for the ECB to reduce nature impacts!
To mark #WorldMosquitoDay, ECDC warns that record breaking outbreaks of WNV infection and chikungunya are pointing to a ‘new normal’ with higher levels of mosquito-borne disease transmission in Europe. Learn more: www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...
World Mosquito Day 2025: Europe sets new records for mosquito-borne diseases - ECDC supporting Member States in adapting to ‘new normal’
ECDC has warned that record breaking outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV) infection and chikungunya virus disease point to a ‘new normal’ in Europe.
ecdc.europa.eu
The #MFF proposal introduces #UCPM/#HER – a dedicated instrument combining civil protection & health emergency response. In addition a seamless health preparedness « end to end« investment journey will be possible under #HorizonEurope & the European #Competitiveness Fund. europa.eu/!NV6GcP
Delighted to have welcomed @ema.europa.eu in Brussels to strengthen our joint work on #MedicalCountermeasures. From horizon scanning to supply chains – closer collaboration is key for a resilient #EuropeanHealthUnion. Let’s turn alignment into action! 🇪🇺
Dengue, Zika, chikungunya & yellow fever are on the rise, putting 5.6B+ people at risk. Once limited to tropical & subtropical climates, Aedes mosquitoes are spreading to new regions, increasing the risk of outbreaks. New WHO guidelines covering all four mosquito-borne diseases 🔗 bit.ly/3Tu6BnJ
With the new Strategy for Medical Countermeasures we move 🇪🇺 health preparedness to the frontline of our defence. „We cannot afford to be caught off guard and go back to a cycle of panic and neglect“ 👇🏻 ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Peatlands, which cover just 3% of Earth's surface, store 550 billion tonnes of carbon or twice as much as all forests combined. However, some 15% of them have been drained for agriculture. Protecting these carbon sinks is vital #ForPeopleForPlanet.
Antimicrobial Resistance is a silent pandemic. This article on phage therapy gives hope on the use of phage to kill bacteria . www.bbc.com/news/article...
Phage therapy: I found a bacteria-eating virus in my loo
It's hoped phages could give us new ways of treating infections which are immune to antibiotics.
bbc.com
