EU and Mexico deepen health cooperation at first high-level dialogue
The EU and Mexico have launched their first High-Level Dialogue on Health, advancing cooperation on disease prevention and medicines
The European Union and Mexico held their first ‘High-Level Dialogue on Health', marking a new chapter in bilateral cooperation on public health, medical innovation and pharmaceutical supply chains.
“Today's first EU-Mexico High-Level Dialogue on Health opens a new chapter in our partnership,” said European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi. “We are making health a strategic pillar of EU-Mexico relations, advancing stability and prosperity for our societies and strengthening global health security.”
Mexico’s Secretary of Health, Dr David Kershenobich Stalnikowitz, welcomed the initiative, stating: “The 2026 Dialogue offers a structured forum for both sides to exchange best practices and recommendations to address shared challenges.”
Discussions focused on non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and mental health, alongside pandemic prevention, regulatory cooperation and access to medicines.
A Joint Action Plan between the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Mexico’s Secretariat of Health was agreed on, with a view to strengthening infectious disease surveillance, early warning systems and outbreak response.
On regulatory cooperation, a plan to establish better working arrangements between the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Mexico’s Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) was announced, supporting closer cooperation on medicines and vaccines.
The EU and Mexico agreed to explore joint initiatives to diversify supplies of critical medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients and essential inputs, while strengthening security of supply and pharmaceutical production capacity in both regions.
Building on Mexico’s Plan México and the EU’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda, the resulting statement said that the possibility of establishing a strategic partnership under the framework envisaged by the EU’s proposed Critical Medicines Act was discussed, aimed at strengthening supply chain resilience and reducing vulnerabilities in access to essential medicines.
The dialogue follows commitments made at the eighth EU–Mexico Summit on 22 May 2026, where a ‘Modernised Global Agreement’ and ‘Interim Trade Agreement’ were signed.
Both partners reaffirmed their ambition to translate shared health priorities to strengthen global health security.