What could a European Union (EU) response mechanism to health emergencies look like in the context of a more integrated Health Union? Despite an increased EU role in the preparedness, monitoring and coordination of health emergencies over the past two decades, Member States’ responses to the first wave of COVID-19 were surprisingly uncoordinated. In light of calls to improve cooperation regarding future health emergencies, this article discusses the creation of EU surveillance, preparedness and response mechanisms for health emergencies. Using insights from previous research and secondary literature, we highlight gaps in the existing serious cross-border health threats regulatory framework and discuss opportunities for further EU action. Based on a comparison with other EU crisis management mechanisms (the Banking Union, risk preparedness in the electricity sector and food safety), we discuss different crisis decision-making and coordination models and their potential applicability to the health sector. We then formulate several propositions to strengthen Decision 1082/2013/EU on serious cross-border health threats to streamline ex ante pandemic preparedness and organise emergency responses.

中文翻译：

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加强欧盟对突发卫生事件的反应能力：来自欧盟危机管理机制的见解

在更加一体化的卫生联盟的背景下，欧盟 (EU) 对突发卫生事件的响应机制会是什么样子？尽管过去二十年来欧盟在突发卫生事件的准备、监测和协调方面的作用有所增加，但成员国对第一波 COVID-19 的反应却出人意料地不协调。鉴于呼吁在未来的突发卫生事件方面加强合作，本文讨论了欧盟对突发卫生事件的监测、准备和响应机制的建立。利用先前研究和二手文献的见解，我们强调了现有严重的跨境健康威胁监管框架中的差距，并讨论了欧盟进一步行动的机会。基于与其他欧盟危机管理机制（银行业联盟、电力部门的风险准备和食品安全），我们讨论了不同的危机决策和协调模式及其对卫生部门的潜在适用性。然后，我们制定了几项建议，以加强关于严重跨境健康威胁的第 1082/2013/EU 号决定，以简化大流行病事前的准备工作并组织应急响应。