EU Respi Day 2026

Organised by the Steering Group on Prevention of Respiratory Infections, #EURespiDay 2026 will take place on 14 October at the European Parliament in Brussels. Hosted by Member of European Parliament Aurelijus Veryga (ECR, Lithuania), this year’s event will spotlight the critical importance of respiratory infection prevention in building healthier populations, more resilient health systems and stronger economies across Europe. It will explore how the EU can strengthen its leadership on immunisation by improving confidence and uptake.

Building on last year’s launch of the Steering Group manifesto calling for EU action on immunisation against respiratory infections, this year’s event moves the conversation forward.

Discussion will focus on priorities for the upcoming Council Recommendation on immunisation for the prevention of CVDs and their complications – part of European Commission’s EU Safe Hearts Plan – and how EU action can improve immunisation coverage and confidence through evidence-based communication strategies, drive investment and ultimately deliver social and economic resilience.

An institutional panel will bring together the EMA, the European Commission and the ECDC (tbc), before a second panel takes the conversation from policy to people, hearing from a patient advocate, cardiology expert and our host MEP speaking to the national perspective. Confirmed speakers include: Melanie Carr, European Medicines Agency (EMA); Dr. Gábor Belák, Policy Office, Directorate-General for Health & Food Safety, European Commission; ESWI Chair and Steering Group Co-Chair Colin Russell, Professor of Applied Evolutionary Biology, Amsterdam UMC; Tomas Lapinskas, President of the Lithuanian Society of Cardiology; and Steering Group Co-Chair, MEP Dolors Montserrat.