WOAH Europe convenes regional workshop in Athens to accelerate One Health Joint Plan of Action in Veterinary Services

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Veterinary Services at the centre of operationalising One Health in the European Region

The Regional Representation for Europe of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) with support from the European Union (DG SANTE) is holding a 3-day Regional Workshop “Accelerating the Operationalisation of the One Health Joint Plan of Action (OHJPA) in Veterinary Services in the European Region”.

The workshop, hosted by the Government of Greece in Athens from November 18 to 20, 2025, will bring together WOAH Delegates, Chief Veterinary Officers, technical experts, academics, and partner organizations from across Europe. The event aims to move from concepts to implementation, helping countries translate the global One Health Joint Plan of Action into concrete national actions led by Veterinary Services.

Forme

"Our goal is to support Veterinary Services to turn the OHJPA into practical measures that strengthen surveillance, prevention and response, and ultimately protect animals, people and the environment," says Dr. Budimir Plavšić, WOAH Regional Representative for Europe.

Programme highlights

Over the three days, participants will:

Day 1 – Setting the scene and education

  • Explore the political and strategic context of One Health, including global Quadripartite developments and outcomes of the recent One Health Conference in Denmark;
  • Discuss the role of Veterinary Services in operationalising the OHJPA;
  • Focus on workforce and education, One Health learning and gaps identified in recent regional events.

Day 2 – Zoonoses, food safety and partnerships

  • Examine One Health approaches to zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, including surveillance and preparedness;
  • Address foodborne zoonotic diseases and intersectoral cooperation along the food chain;
  • Showcase best practices and innovations through a digital poster session featuring WOAH Members and partners, including digital tools, governance approaches and new technologies.

Day 3 – One Health and antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

  • Focus on integrated surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU);
  • Share experiences from several European countries on strengthening governance, regulation and responsible use;
  • Identify regional priorities and recommendations for WOAH support in 2026 in AMR, zoonoses, food safety and workforce/education.

Follow the workshop online

All sessions will be streamed live to allow broader participation from WOAH Members and partners who cannot attend in person. Access the webinar here: https://oie.zoom.us/j/96298082992

A summary of main conclusions and recommendations will be posted on the website after the event, along with all technical presentations from the workshop.

Download the Agenda