Agenda highlights

An extraordinary Council will gather health ministers for an exchange of views on the Novel Coronavirus outbreak. The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions. The meeting will start at 10.00 and is expected to finish around 13.00.

Novel Coronavirus

The Council will hold an exchange of views on the further health emergency measures and discuss solutions to existing challenges to prevent the spreading of the outbreak within the EU.

The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions in relation to the EU response to the Novel Coronavirus outbreak.

Background

In December 2019, there was an outbreak of a Novel Coronavirus in the Chinese municipality of Wuhan, quickly spreading in other regions of China and the world. By January 2020, there were isolated cases in some EU member states.

Therefore, on 28 January 2020, the Croatian presidency decided to activate the EU's crisis response mechanism (IPCR) in information sharing mode, in order to facilitate the development of a common understanding of the situation among member states and the institutions, including on the measures being taken.

On the same day the Commission activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism at the request for assistance from France to organise and coordinate support to EU citizens affected by the Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China.

On 7 February 2020, the Croatian presidency convened an informal high level video conference where member states discussed measures in place at EU and national level in relation to the Novel Coronavirus outbreak and prepared for the extraordinary Council.

More information: Employment - Social Policy - Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health), 13 February 2020.