Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said: "Over the years, microbes have evolved and have become stronger thus making available treatments less effective. Serious diseases that were believed to be under control are re-emerging with a vengeance. The document published today, on the European Antibiotic Awareness Day, offers good food for thought. It lays the foundations for an open discussion that I hope will lead to concrete measures to combat AMR, which has turned into one of the most serious health risks in Europe."

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Since the 1990s, when AMR recognised as a serious threat to public health, the Commission has launched different initiatives has developed tools to monitor the effect of these actions. In June 2008, the Health Council adopted conclusions on AMR calling the Commission to promote mutual cooperation between all Directorates General and concerned Agencies and to facilitate cooperation between the Member States on aspects of AMR.

The full text of the staff working paper can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biosafety/salmonella/antimicrobial_resistance.pdf

For more information please visit:

http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biosafety/salmonella/index_en.htm