	The European Medicines Agency (EMA), along with the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), have published the ‘EU Medicines Agencies Network Strategy to 2020’, a draft common strategy to 2020 for the European medicines agencies network. As part of a three-month public consultation process, stakeholders have until 30 June 2015 to send their comments.

	The document outlines joint key priorities for the network and a strategy to achieve these.

	According to an EMA statement, “Europe faces the global threat represented by antimicrobial resistance to human and animal health, and needs to be prepared for emerging epidemics, as reminded by the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa in March 2014. At the same time the healthcare needs of patients in Europe are changing. Advancements in science and medicine mean that new and more complex medicines are being developed, which may bring opportunities for personalized medicines and more treatments for rare diseases.”

	Patients also require timely access to new medicines, and the globalization of the pharma industry means that greater collaboration with regulators beyond the EU is essential to assure the supply of safe, effective and good quality medicines for humans and animals, it continued.

	The EMA strategy is based on a coordinated approach and a strengthened collaboration within the network over the next five years, to address the challenges and make the most of the opportunities to benefit human and animal health. The network includes all national medicines regulatory authorities for both human and veterinary medicines from EU Member States and the European Economic Area (EEA). By working closely together, the network can draw on the resources and expertise available across the EU, avoid duplication and share workloads, the statement concludes.

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The European Medicines Agency (EMA), along with the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), have published the ‘EU Medicines Agencies Network Strategy to 2020.