The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Regional Representation for Europe hosted a four-day workshop in Athens to accelerate the operationalisation of the One Health Joint Plan of Action (OHJPA). Delegates and experts from across the region, together with partners from WHO, FAO and UNEP, met to review progress, share experiences and identify priorities for strengthening One Health systems.
The event brought together representatives of Veterinary Services, public health authorities, food safety agencies, environmental institutions and academia, reflecting the multisectoral nature of One Health.
WOAH’s Director General, Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran, emphasised in her welcome speech that the health of animals, humans and ecosystems is deeply interconnected, noting the central role of Veterinary Services in surveillance, early detection, food safety and disease prevention. She welcomed the strong engagement and expertise that Member Countries brought to the workshop.
The Regional Representative, Dr Budimir Plavšić, underlined that the workshop was designed as a practical implementation platform, supporting countries in translating the OHJPA into concrete national actions. He thanked the Government of Greece and the European Commission (DG SANTE) for their support, and encouraged participants to actively exchange lessons and strengthen collaboration across sectors.
The opening plenary, led by WOAH Global One Health Coordinator Dr Chadia Wannous, highlighted the convergence of global risks such as pandemics, AMR, climate change and biodiversity loss. She stressed that investments in prevention and preparedness offer the highest returns, and outlined the global One Health agenda under the Quadripartite and the OHJPA.
Interactive dialogue showed that Member Countries see financing, governance and intersectoral coordination as their main challenges, with many at an intermediate stage of OHJPA implementation.
Countries identified workforce gaps across epidemiology, entomology, data analysis, risk assessment and communication. Institutions from Greece and Kazakhstan presented examples of integrating One Health into veterinary education and assessing workforce capacity. The Quadripartite’s Joint One Health Learning Taskforce (JOHLT) was highlighted as a key initiative for harmonising training.
Presentations highlighted the growing impact of climate and environmental change on the spread of Bluetongue, West Nile Fever, and Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease. Europe is now experiencing the majority of global “exceptional” VBD events. A multisector simulation exercise on HPAI H5N1, H1N1 and WNF demonstrated good technical readiness but identified operational gaps in early reporting, joint risk assessment and communication.
Austria and Slovakia presented risk-based food safety systems, including environmental sampling and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), while EFSA provided regional epidemiological trends. Participants identified farms, households and food service establishments as key points for control and emphasised the need for stronger joint investigation protocols.
Countries shared progress in AMR stewardship and surveillance, with strong examples from Ireland, Norway, Türkiye and Azerbaijan. At the same time, challenges persist in data integration, reporting systems and enforcement. WOAH presented the Global Integrated System for Surveillance on AMR/AMU (GISSA), which will harmonise surveillance across sectors.
Experts underscored that sustainable financing remains the most significant structural barrier to One Health implementation. Many countries lack dedicated One Health budget lines or interministerial financing mechanisms.
Speakers highlighted the importance of economic evidence and engagement with ministries of finance to secure long-term investment.
A lively digital poster session showcased national innovations in biosurveillance, laboratory systems, AMR analytics, outbreak investigation tools and vector monitoring.
Countries providing digital posters included:
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom.
These posters illustrated practical One Health solutions and innovative digital tools used across the region.
A full compilation of digital posters and national contributions will be included in the comprehensive workshop report, ensuring visibility for all Member Countries.
In the final regional dialogue, Member Countries identified their priority areas for WOAH support in 2026:
Participants rated the workshop highly and expressed strong interest in continuing annual in-person regional exchanges.
The WOAH Europe One Health Regional Workshop resulted in a consolidated Conclusions and Recommendations document, reflecting the key messages, priorities and expectations expressed by Member Countries and partners during the discussions.
The document highlights the need to move One Health from concept to operational implementation, with particular emphasis on strengthened governance, integrated surveillance systems, workforce development, sustainable financing and regional coordination. It underlines the central role of Veterinary Services in preventing and managing transboundary animal diseases, zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and emerging vector-borne threats.
The Conclusions & Recommendations have been developed through extensive consultation with Member Countries, including interactive discussions and written feedback, to ensure they reflect the diversity of national experiences and regional priorities. They will serve as a strategic reference for shaping future regional activities and guiding WOAH Europe’s support to Members in 2026 and beyond.
The full Conclusions & Recommendations document can be downloaded here.
Welcome speech by Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran
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