Joint action on comprehensive and sustainable strategic stockpiles of medical countermeasures used in crisis
Granting authority
European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) delegated by the European Commission
Project duration
36 months
1 June 2025 – 31 May 2028
Max EU contribution
approx. 10 MEUR (80%)
Total budget
approx. 12,5 MEUR
What is JA STOCKPILE about
The STOCKPILE project aims to contribute to better preparedness in case of serious cross-border threats to health in order to prepare countries to have more sustainable stockpiles of medical countermeasures (MCMs) to enhance faster distribution, better deployment and dispensing of MCMs, better collaboration between member states, better evidence-base for future proposals on stockpiling of MCMs and thus strengthening of European independence in crisis situation.
The project builds upon the lessons learned from health emergencies and seeks to develop a coordinated and multi-layered stockpiling system. Stockpiling concept will be evaluated and developed further not only to determine the quantity and availability of preparedness stockpiles, but also to foster sustainable stockpile management, ensure rapid deployment and usage of MCMs in order to facilitate the effective utilization of medical countermeasures, both within the European Union and globally.
The objectives of the project are fully consistent with the framework of the European Health Union, the One Health approach, and the EU Global Health Strategy. Furthermore, the initiative directly contributes to the practical implementation of the EU Stockpiling and Medical Countermeasures Strategies (July 2025).
The project includes altogether 25 EU countries and 54 organizations who will implement the project under the EU4Health Programme. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is the coordinator of the project that will closely cooperate with relevant EU and international authorities (e.g., Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), European Medicines Agency (EMA) and World Health Organisation (WHO).
Background
COVID-19 posed unprecedented challenges for the European Union, exposing shortages in medical supplies, weaknesses in crisis management, and a lack of coordinated responses among EU member states. Differences in testing, vaccination, and border measures highlighted fragmented approaches, while delays, misinformation, and weak health systems worsened the impact. In addition, the war in Ukraine, nuclear risks, and climate change driven extreme conditions stresses further the need for stronger EU security and health strategies.