Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · Sep 8

📝 REPORT: Pandemic Agreement

COVID-19 exposed cracks in the global health system. Enter: The 2025 Pandemic Agreement.

A new ENSURED report by @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social & @mirkoheinzel.bsky.social finds the agreement to be a meaningful, if partial, landmark for future pandemics.

👇

The WHO Pandemic Agreement: Bolstering Global Health Security Against Political Headwinds - Research Report | ENSURED

The Pandemic Agreement marks a landmark step in strengthening global health cooperation. Born out of the failures revealed by COVID-19, it represents a victory for multilateralism – though questions r...

www.ensuredeurope.eu

2 3

EUHEALTHGOV @euhealthgov.bsky.social · Jun 8

Looking forward to welcoming @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social to discuss the @ensured.bsky.social report this week!

Weds 11 June 12pm (BST) / 13:00 CET

To register, follow link:
euhealthgov.org/euhealthgov-...

1 1

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · May 21

😷 WEBINAR | Navigating Regime Complexity in Global Health

Join ENSURED's @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social (@fasosmaastricht.bsky.social) for an @euhealthgov.bsky.social event on how the EU navigates health governance.

📅 June 11
🕝 13–14 CEST
📍 Online
✍️: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/01c616...

3 2

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · May 19

🌐 As the #WHA78 opens today, a new ENSURED report asks: How does the IP–public health regime impact vaccine access?

Read how WTO, WHO & WIPO dynamics shape policy – and what it means going forward.

📝 By @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social & @mirkoheinzel.bsky.social

🔗 www.ensuredeurope.eu/publications...

1 2 2

EUHEALTHGOV @euhealthgov.bsky.social · May 14

Great to share our new webinar! Join us 12pm (UK) / 13h (CET) to hear from @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social about the EU's role + regime complexity in global health!

Abstract and registration via link!
euhealthgov.org/euhealthgov-...

EUHealthGov with Óscar Fernández: Navigating Regime Complexity in Global Health: The Role of the European Union – EU Health Governance Network

euhealthgov.org

1 1

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · May 8

COVID-19 hit on a big ❓ in global health: Do intellectual property protections foster or hinder equitable access to vaccines?

In a new ENSURED report, @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social & @mirkoheinzel.bsky.social (@fasosmaastricht.bsky.social) explore this tension & the regime complex governing it.

👇

The Intellectual Property and Public Health Regime Complex: Considerations on Vaccine Access and Equity - Research Report | ENSURED

How have multilateral institutions shaped policy responses on vaccine access? During the COVID-19 pandemic, intellectual property rights were often prioritised over quick, equitable vaccine access. Ho...

www.ensuredeurope.eu

1 2 4

Journal of Common Market Studies (JCMS) @jcms-eu.bsky.social · May 8

🌟 Scholar Spotlight 🌟

@ofernandezfdez.bsky.social explores how IR scholars view the EU’s global health role post-COVID-19, re-examining ‘actorness’ and suggesting a new research agenda to reflect its evolving position.

🔗 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

2 1

Maastricht University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences @fasosmaastricht.bsky.social · May 6

Do strong IP protections ⬆️ innovation or ⬇️ equitable vaccine access?🤔

New @ensured.bsky.social research by @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social & @mirkoheinzel.bsky.social & other researchers explores this tension & the fragmented field of global health governance.

👇
www.ensuredeurope.eu/publications...

The Intellectual Property and Public Health Regime Complex: Considerations on Vaccine Access and Equity - Research Report | ENSURED

How have multilateral institutions shaped policy responses on vaccine access? During the COVID-19 pandemic, intellectual property rights were often prioritised over quick, equitable vaccine access. Ho...

www.ensuredeurope.eu

3 5

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · May 5

Hot off the press: ENSURED’s first 5 research reports! 🥳🎉

Multilateralism: What's working, what isn’t & where is room for reform?

A deep dive:
🛠 WTO reform
🌱 UNFCCC decision-making
💉 IP-Public Health nexus
⚖️ UN HRC
💻 Cyberspace governance

Read the reports 👉 www.ensuredeurope.eu/publications

7 6

Óscar Fernández @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social · Apr 16

It was long and it wasn't always pretty, but the pandemic agreement is finally fully green, showing multilateralism is still alive.
Lots of work still ahead for the agreement to become a reality!

Health Policy Watch - Global health news reporting @healthpolicywatch.bsky.social · Apr 16

After three years of negotiations, @who.int member states AGREE on a #PandemicAgreement that sets out rules of engagement for next pandemic. ✍️@kerrycullinan.bsky.social
@panaction.bsky.social @helenclarknz.bsky.social @franceonugeneve.bsky.social @nschwalbe.bsky.social @3rdworldnetwork.bsky.social

Countries Say YES To Pandemic Agreement - Health Policy Watch

At around 3am Wednesday, after three years of often intense negotiations, World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed on a draft Pandemic Agreement,

healthpolicy-watch.news

2 4

Health Policy Watch - Global health news reporting @healthpolicywatch.bsky.social · Apr 16

After three years of negotiations, @who.int member states AGREE on a #PandemicAgreement that sets out rules of engagement for next pandemic. ✍️@kerrycullinan.bsky.social
@panaction.bsky.social @helenclarknz.bsky.social @franceonugeneve.bsky.social @nschwalbe.bsky.social @3rdworldnetwork.bsky.social

Countries Say YES To Pandemic Agreement - Health Policy Watch

At around 3am Wednesday, after three years of often intense negotiations, World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed on a draft Pandemic Agreement,

healthpolicy-watch.news

8 10

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · Mar 21

🩺 COVID-19 pushed health policy to the top of the EU agenda—but where does it stand now?

In a SPCIS interview, ENSURED’s @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social unpacks:

✅ The EU’s evolving role in health governance
✅ Lessons from COVID-19 & ongoing coordination struggles
✅ The future of EU health initiatives

The EU in Global Health Governance: Challenges, Transformations, and Future Prospects

Óscar Fernández, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher at Maastricht University. He is a contributor to the Horizon Europe project "ENSURED", which focuses on how the European Union (EU) and its member st...

www.spcis.org

1 1

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · Feb 28

It's been 5 years since the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. How has the EU adapted?

Join @idamusialkowska.bsky.social & ENSURED's @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social for a webinar on the state of global health governance!

📆 Tuesday, March 11
⏰ 3PM CET
📍 Online
🔗 dcu-ie.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

3 3

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · Feb 17

COVID-19 showed that diseases know no borders.

In ENSURED, we want to understand how the EU can make global health governance more fit-for-purpose.

Over the next year, @mirkoheinzel.bsky.social & @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social will research:

✅ Vaccine equity
✅ The pandemic treaty
✅ WHO reform

4 5

Óscar Fernández @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social · Jan 29

"Amplios sectores en EE UU . . . se sienten incómodos con la idea de operar dentro de un sistema multilateral donde todos los países tienen un voto . . . Prefieren estar en el asiento del conductor y solo si estrictamente necesario, acompañados por otros que piensan igual" elpais.com/opinion/2025...

La salida de EE UU de la OMS es un golpe a la arquitectura internacional de la salud global

La organización tiene la oportunidad de impulsar una negociación para una reforma profunda que la haga más ágil, despolitizada, transparente, eficiente y técnicamente sólida

elpais.com

3 2

Óscar Fernández @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social · Jan 24

@who.int foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/23/t...

WHO Withdrawal Could Be a Disaster—or an Opportunity

Trump’s attempt to leave may clear the way for global health diplomacy.

foreignpolicy.com

1

Hylke Dijkstra @hdijkstra.bsky.social · Jan 24

PUBLICATION DAY! Our book "The Survival of International Organizations" is now available online (for free) with Oxford University Press 🎉

academic.oup.com/book/59488

The Survival of International Organizations: Institutional Responses to Existential Challenges

Abstract. While international organizations (IOs) have played a central role in global governance in the post-Cold War period, during the last decade many

academic.oup.com

5 29 56

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · Jan 22

As one of his 1st actions, US President Trump pulled out of the World Health Organization.

In his December blog, @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social says 🇪🇺 must step up.

"While multilateral breakthroughs will be difficult, there is hope in weathering the storm."

➡️ www.ensuredeurope.eu/blog/securit...

"Words Like Threat, Emergency, or War": Securitising Global Health - Expert Blog | ENSURED

More and more, policymakers are framing health concerns like pandemics as security priorities. What can we learn from COVID-19 and other global health challenges about the impact of this securitisatio...

www.ensuredeurope.eu

2 2

ENSURED @ensured.bsky.social · Dec 12

In a new blog, #ENSURED’s Óscar Fernández argues that the EU increasingly responded to COVID-19 as if were a security threat.

What exactly did the securitised response entail? And what can we learn from COVID & other outbreaks about the impact of this approach?

www.ensuredeurope.eu/blog/securit...

"Words Like Threat, Emergency, or War": Securitising Global Health - Expert Blog | ENSURED

More and more, policymakers are framing health concerns like pandemics as security priorities. What can we learn from COVID-19 and other global health challenges about the impact of this securitisatio...

www.ensuredeurope.eu

1 3

Óscar Fernández @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social · Dec 5

Academia can sometimes be a bit rough, but being surrounded by wonderful colleagues like @evamichaels.bsky.social makes it all worth it. Huge thanks for your help and support over all this time ☺️

Eva Michaels @evamichaels.bsky.social · Dec 5

Massive congratulations to my dear friend Dr @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social who obtained his PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona with flying colours 🎉 @fasosmaastricht.bsky.social are very lucky! Oscar has published widely on the EU as a global health actor & EU security/defence too👇

2

Óscar Fernández @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social · Dec 5

No better way to get started at Bluesky! Massive thanks to you, @heidimaurer.bsky.social, and to everyone who was part of my PhD journey 😇

Heidi Maurer @heidimaurer.bsky.social · Dec 4

Congratulations Dr @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social. A stellar performance and thanks for having the honour to be part of your defence committee.

3

Eva Michaels @evamichaels.bsky.social · Dec 5

Massive congratulations to my dear friend Dr @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social who obtained his PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona with flying colours 🎉 @fasosmaastricht.bsky.social are very lucky! Oscar has published widely on the EU as a global health actor & EU security/defence too👇

1 1 1

Heidi Maurer @heidimaurer.bsky.social · Dec 4

Congratulations Dr @ofernandezfdez.bsky.social. A stellar performance and thanks for having the honour to be part of your defence committee.

4