Improving maternal health remains a priority for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EU. Although maternal mortality rates remain high in many regions globally, in the WHO European Region the maternal mortality rate declined by more than 50% between 2000 and 2020.

Care by skilled health professionals before, during and after childbirth can save the lives of women and newborns. That is why this year’s World Health Day, on 7 April 2025, focuses on drastically enhancing maternal and newborn health on a global scale. The WHO aims to raise awareness, provide useful health information, advocate for investments, and encourage collective action.

HaDEA manages EU-funded projects under the programmes EU4Health, Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 that are committed to improving the health of mothers and babies.

Horizon

The recently finished Horizon 2020 project ALERT has achieved significant outcomes in the care for mothers and children in 16 hospitals in 4 countries in Africa – Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda: the perinatal mortality was reduced by 25% across these sites. This remarkable outcome was achieved through the co-design of interventions to define midwifery professionalism, the development of a training package that includes leadership mentoring and the improvement of quality care at childbirth – combined with the development of a perinatal e-registry to allow for impact calculation.

The project’s interventions could improve newborn health outcomes in hospitals at a reasonable cost in Sub-Saharan Africa, where high mortality and limited resources are common.

BornToGetThere, another recently finished Horizon 2020 project, has significantly enhanced early detection, surveillance, and intervention for infants at high risk of Cerebral Palsy (CP). This project has delivered tangible benefits by being the first initiative to develop and implement an International Clinical Practice Guideline across multiple countries, such as Italy, Denmark, Netherlands, Georgia, Sri Lanka and remote populations in Australia (Remote Queensland and Western Australia). It has also provided stakeholders with valuable educational resources. The project aims to extend training to more European countries as well as its methodology to other paediatric conditions.

The project managed to:

• Train over 1000 healthcare professionals in cutting-edge tools for the early detection and management of infants with CP and their families;
• Screen more than 5000 babies, identifying over 500 as high-risk for CP, and subsequently referring them to specialised intervention programmes.

The ongoing HIGH Horizons project examines how rising heat from climate change affects the health of pregnant and postpartum women, newborns, young children and maternity care health workers. As part of an expert group convened by the WHO, this Horizon Europe project aims to develop population-level heat-health indicators. Furthermore, HIGH Horizons is testing a prototype of a personalised heat-health early warning mobile app.

The project is also refining a tool to reduce the carbon footprint and heat of health facilities, enhancing overall wellbeing.

EU4Health

Mind the Mum is a project aiming at improving perinatal mental health (PMH) by designing tools and interventions to support mothers. For this purpose, the project is:

• Conducting nationwide needs analysis in Cyprus and Slovenia, for the transfer of lessons learnt and best practices from Poland and Spain;
• Building partnerships between health professionals, decision-makers and parent activists to co-develop effective prevention measures;
• Promoting policies and professional trainings to address maternal mental health conditions;
• Raising public awareness, reducing stigma and encouraging dialogues on PMH.

IMAGINE-HMB is working towards developing harmonised, evidence-based guidelines that ensure the safety and quality of donor human milk (DHM) to implement the 2024 EU Regulation on standards of quality and safety for substances of human origin intended for human application.

The project encompasses several objectives:

• Creating a DHM expert forum;
• Drafting guidelines for the implementation of technical standards and for the adherence to oversight requirements;
• Establishing a comprehensive implementation plan to support human milk banks;
• Creating a post-project strategy for ongoing support and to ensure up-to-date guidelines;
• Providing a training programme and digital tools for professionals.

Relevant links

World Health Day – healthy beginnings, hopeful futures

Background

Horizon Europe is the research and innovation programme of the EU for the period 2021-2027. The aims of Cluster 1 ‘Health’ include improving and protecting the health and well-being of citizens of all ages by generating new knowledge, developing innovative solutions and integrating where relevant a gender perspective to prevent, diagnose, monitor, treat and cure diseases. Horizon 2020 (H2020) was the EU’s multiannual funding programme between 2014 and 2020.

EU4Health is the fourth and largest of the EU health programmes. The EU4Health programme goes beyond an ambitious response to the COVID-19 crisis to address the resilience of European healthcare systems. The programme provides funding to national authorities, health organisations and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe. HaDEA manages the vast majority of the total EU4Health budget and implements the programme by managing calls for proposals and calls for tenders.

Trade relations with the US

Ministers held a discussion on the EU’s trade relations with the US, providing guidance for the forthcoming work.

In light of the recent developments, particularly the (partial) imposition of US tariffs, the ministers took this opportunity to assess the impact of these new tariffs and explore the potential for negotiating mutually acceptable solutions, which remains the EU’s preferred approach.

Further to the EU’s response in relation to the US tariffs on steel and aluminium, which is currently under preparation, ministers also addressed the possibility of further proportionate countermeasures if needed.

The EU deeply regrets the new US tariffs and remains committed to dialogue, seeking a negotiated solution acceptable for both sides. Today’s Council shows the member states are united and determined to defend interests of citizens and businesses alike. We support the European Commission and our response will be guided by patience and firmness. All options remain on the table.

Michał Baranowski, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland, responsible for Trade

Looking ahead, the Commission and member states will carefully assess any potential new US measures, as well as the latest tariffs announced (a 20% tariff on the EU).

The aim is to ensure that the EU’s approach remains both balanced and effective, protecting our economic interests while keeping the door open for mutually advantageous solutions.

• EU relations with the United States (background information)

Trade relations with China

The Council reviewed the current state and future outlook of EU-China trade relations.

Commissioner Šefčovič briefed ministers on the status of the EU’s trade ties with China following his visit to the country. He reported on his discussions with Vice Premier He Lifeng, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, and Minister of Customs Sun Meijung, focusing on how to improve and rebalance trade and investment relations between the EU and China.

China remains a key trading partner for the EU: it is the EU’s third-largest trading partner and the second-largest in terms of trade in goods. However, the growing trade imbalances continue to raise concerns.

The EU-China trade deficit for 2024 reached €304.5 billion; while this is an improvement compared to the 2022 figures (€397 billion), it nonetheless represents a record high in terms of volume. In 2024, Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) into the EU reached its highest level in the past five years, amounting to €185 billion, while EU FDI in China remained stable at €184 billion.

Dear Minister, dear Dragan [Krapović] and dear ladies and gentlemen.

It is a pleasure to be here today in Montenegro. We have just seen important military equipment including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear protective gear, search and rescue tools and equipment for extreme weather.

In February, the EU approved assistance worth €6 million under the European Peace Facility to strengthen Montenegro’s Armed forces. In the coming weeks, we will work with you to create the detailed list of Montenegro’ specific military needs, so we can continue providing the right support.

And this equipment will add to the €6 million for the Balkan Medical Task Force. We will provide medical vehicles, field hospital tents and emergency heating systems. Much of this aid will arrive over the course of this year.

Our assistance aims to strengthen Montenegro’s defence capabilities and ensure that its Armed forces can work better alongside European Union but also alongside NATO.

I also want to thank, Minister, for Montenegro’ support of the Horn of Africa. In doing this, Montenegro is directly contributing to our collective efforts in crisis management and geopolitical stability. Your active engagement in common security and defence policy missions is also strong commitment to the values and responsibilities that, come with the European Union membership.

Tomorrow I will be there in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina where I will urge the local leaders to stop divisive rhetorical attacks on the constitution. I will also call on them to take the responsibility and support the country’s progress in the European Union path, just as Montenegro has done.

Dear Dragan, thank you again for hosting me today. Montenegro is not just a friend and an ally, but also a future European Union Member. Our cooperation will only grow stronger.

Thank you so far and [I am] looking forward to also welcoming you in the European Union family.

Thank you.

Montenegro: remarks by High Representative/vice-President Kaja Kallas at the presentation of the European Peace Facility equipment to Armed forces

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