Session 2

Climate‑driven vector‑borne diseases

Catalysing Europe’s leadership in the next era of global health

Organised by the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases

Climate‑driven vector‑borne diseases (VBDs) such as dengue, chikungunya, Lyme disease, and tick‑borne encephalitis are rapidly expanding across Europe, signalling a structural shift in the continent’s disease landscape and underscoring the urgency of strengthened prevention, preparedness, and response.

This session positions VBDs as a catalytic test case for a more integrated and resilient European Health Union by illustrating their accelerating spread, showcasing key European Union (EU) initiatives, from the EU Global Health Strategy and Health Security Committee to FP10 and the Global Health Resilience Initiative, and translating recent European Parliament policy recommendations into practical pathways for coordinated surveillance, public awareness, and pooled response capacities.

Through dialogue with participants, the session aims to build a multi‑stakeholder community committed to operationalising EU instruments, tailoring actions to national contexts, and elevating climate‑sensitive VBDs as a priority for Europe’s health and security agenda, ultimately catalysing bold European leadership in the next era of global health protection.  

Speakers to be announced