Brussels, 16th January 2026
The past two years have marked an important milestone for PhageEU. In July 2024, the organisation was officially incorporated as an NGO with its seat and secretariat established in Brussels, strengthening the voice of the phage community at EU level. As PhageEU enters its third year of operation, the organisation embraces a rotating presidency designed to bring new energy and ideas while ensuring continuity of leadership and shared commitment to its mission.
At its Board Meeting last December, Michael Fink, CEO of Phage Technology Center GmbH and FinkTec GmbH, was appointed President of PhageEU, effective 1 January 2026. Jarosław Dastych, Founder & CEO of Proteon Pharmaceuticals, and Frenk Smrekar, Founder & CEO of JAFRAL, will continue to serve as Vice-Presidents, ensuring stability and close collaboration within the leadership team.
“I am delighted to take over the presidency of PhageEU and to build on the strong foundations laid in recent years by my predecessor,” said Michael Fink. “Together with the Vice-Presidents and all PhageEU members, we will continue raising awareness of bacteriophage technologies and working closely with policymakers and stakeholders to make phages a mainstream solution to today’s most pressing challenges. As President, I look forward to welcoming new members from across Europe and beyond further strengthening the collective voice of the phage community.”
Under the leadership of PhageEU President Jarosław Dastych in 2024 and 2025, the coalition experienced significant growth in its profile, EU-level recognition, and membership base. During this period, PhageEU strengthened its engagement with EU institutions and stakeholders.
“It has been a privilege to lead PhageEU at such a pivotal moment in its development,” said Professor Jarosław Dastych. “Together, we strengthened the organisation’s voice at EU level, expanded our membership, and advanced the recognition of bacteriophages as part of the fight against antimicrobial resistance. I am pleased to hand over the presidency to Michael Fink and look forward to continuing our close collaboration to further PhageEU’s mission.”
Since mid-2024, PhageEU has been actively engaged in a wide range of advocacy activities. The coalition published a position paper on the Pharmaceutical Package and participated in several European Commission public consultations, including those on the start-up and scale-up strategy, the European strategy on medical countermeasures, and the European Biotechnology Plan. Through policy events and online webinars, PhageEU has strengthened its dialogue with EU decision-makers and stakeholders.
PhageEU has also successfully built a network of ambassadors through its Common Declaration on the Recognition of the Potential of Bacteriophages in Fighting AMR. Another key achievement in 2025 was the launch of the PhageEU Academy, a series of workshops aimed at educating policymakers and stakeholders about the potential of phage technologies.
Phage EU is a coalition of likeminded stakeholders who represent phages in industry, the scientific community and civil society. We want to realize the full potential of phages in Europe.
Media Contact and Secretariat
Margareta Przybyla
PhageEU Secretary General
Contact Details
mprzybyla@phageurope.eu
Tel: 0032 476 591 091