Council conclusions on the next steps under a One Health approach to combat antimicrobial resistance.

The Council of the European Union’s "Conclusions on the next steps under a One Health approach to combat antimicrobial resistance" define the actions that the EU Commission and Member States must take together to help combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A key highlight of the conclusions is the call from Governments for the development of a new EU Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance. The conclusions also call for national AMR action plans to be in place in all European Union countries before mid-2017. These should include measurable goals to reduce infections in humans and animals, and the use of antimicrobials in the human and veterinary sector. The conclusions urge all EU Member States to include within their national AMR action plans measures to improve prescribing practices, and means of monitoring progress. Further the Council calls upon the Commission to actively promote and defend (in multilateral and bilateral dialogues and agreements) the EU standards and EU policies on AMR, including the concept of the precautionary principle.