EU Commissioner Addresses G20 Panel on Pandemic Preparedness Financing

EU Commissioner Lahbib addressed the G20 High-Level Independent Panel in New York on financing pandemic preparedness and response. Citing the Ebola outbreak in Bunia, she stressed the importance of speed and community trust. The EU provided nearly EUR 500 million, combining emergency assistance with longer-term health security investment, and ran 11 Humanitarian Air Bridge operations. The EU is working with the OECD and WHO to improve tracking of preparedness spending, with a pilot to launch in coming months. It also pledged over EUR 73 million for new vaccines in 2026-2027, including nearly EUR 40 million for Bundibugyo-specific candidates.