Europe is not expected to face antibiotic shortages this winter, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) told Euronews, offering reassurance after years of limited supplies during colder months. The announcement comes as the European Union continues efforts to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for critical medicines.
In January 2024, 19 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) reported shortages of winter antibiotics, with 11 nations experiencing critical shortages. Amoxicillin, one of the most widely used antibiotics, faced severe supply issues from 2022 until June 2025, when the EMA removed it from its shortages watchlist. This year, the agency reported that antibiotic usage has remained stable and there is no risk of disruptions.
As of Tuesday, 36 medicines are in short supply across the EU, according to EMA monitoring. However, none are antibiotics, and many are not intended for general use, including chemotherapy drugs and antipsychotics for which alternatives exist. Despite this, medicine shortages remain a potential risk within the EU, as highlighted in a recent report by the European Court of Auditors. The report found that shortages reached record levels in 2023 and 2024, often caused by sudden spikes in demand or supply chain disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the pharmaceutical supply chain, especially when exports were disrupted.
The EU continues to rely heavily on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from India and China, which supply up to 80% of APIs used in Europe and around 40% of finished medicines sold in the region, according to the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. Factors such as low production costs, less stringent regulatory standards, and consistent investment strategies in these countries have driven this dependence. Meanwhile, European production of active ingredients has declined from 53% in the early 2000s to less than 25% today.
To address these vulnerabilities, the EU has introduced the Critical Medicines Act, which aims to strengthen supply security and ensure the availability of essential medicines. The legislation prioritises EU-based suppliers in public procurement and encourages investment in domestic production of critical medicines and key ingredients. A “Buy European” principle is central to the strategy, allowing authorities to favour suppliers manufacturing a significant portion of essential medicines within the EU when supply chain risks are identified.
The EMA maintains a list of critical medicines at higher risk of shortages due to production issues, sudden demand surges, or withdrawal by manufacturers. While the EU has outlined plans to secure these supplies, the European Court of Auditors noted that practical frameworks to implement these measures remain in the early stages.
For now, the EMA’s update provides reassurance that European households can expect stable access to antibiotics this winter, even as the EU continues to reduce reliance on overseas suppliers and improve the resilience of its pharmaceutical supply chains.
