From June 23 to 27, 2025, France welcomed an unprecedented European mission aimed at assessing its preparation in the face of health threats. A demanding and transparent approach to strengthen the health security of all French people.
Organized within the framework of the PHEPA (Public Health Emergency PREPAREDNESS ASSESSMENT) cycle) of the European Union, this mission was to review France’s ability to anticipate, prevent and respond effectively to major health crises, whether pandemics or environmental disasters.
This initiative is part of a new European regulation, adopted following the French presidency of the EU Council in 2022, which imposed on each Member State a trienne evaluation of its preparing for public health emergencies.
A week of exchanges and observations in the field
For five days, experts from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and several European countries have met with the various French players involved in health management: national institutions, specialized agencies, local health services, field players, etc.
Through presentations, thematic workshops and field visits, the assessors have in concrete terms, the French organization in a concrete way, from the definition of strategies to their operational implementation.
A solid system, identified improvement axes
Sixteen key areas have been examined, including five in depth. This rigorous work made it possible to highlight several strengths of the French system:
- An integrated approach between the different levels of actors,
- A widely recognized expertise in the management of health crises,
- A solid experience acquired during previous crises.
The evaluation also highlighted clear improvement axes, accompanied by concrete recommendations, in order to further optimize the country’s response capacity.
Among the strategic advances welcomed: the creation in 2024 of the health crisis center within the Directorate General of Health, a key tool to strengthen the reactivity and the coordination of health responses in emergency.
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A national and European dynamic at the service of health security
At the end of the mission, the first conclusions reinforced the orientations taken by the Ministry of Health. The French health authorities are now committed to the in -depth analysis of the recommendations made, with a view to building an ambitious and operational national action plan, in consultation with all the partners concerned.
This process demonstrates a clear will: making health security a national priority, while strengthening European coordination. By acting with transparency and rigor, France intends to remain up to the health issues of the 21st century, to better protect its population and build sustainable collective confidence.
