RC for Europe meeting

The WOAH Regional Commission for Europe prepares for the 90th General Session

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The Regional Commission for Europe held a videoconference meeting on May 17, 2023, with 130 participants, including Delegates and observers from 47 Member countries, as well as representatives from 13 international or regional organizations. Dr. Maris Balodis, President of the Regional Commission for Europe and Delegate of Latvia, chaired the meeting, accompanied by Dr. Budimir Plavsic, WOAH Regional Representative.

Dr. Abrar Akbarov, Delegate of Uzbekistan, confirmed his country’s offer to host the 31st European Commission Conference in Samarkand from September 30th to October 4th, 2024.

Key outcomes from the 30th Conference of the Regional Commission for Europe, which took place in Catania, Sicily in October 2022, were presented by Dr. Vasili Basiladze, Secretary-general of the Regional Commission for Europe and Delegate of Georgia. The conference involved 153 participants, including WOAH Delegates, representatives from 40 member countries, and senior officers from 12 regional and international organizations.

Participants of the meeting discussed and proposed one Technical Item (with a questionnaire to Members) for inclusion in the agenda of the 31st Conference of the Regional Commission for Europe: “Pandemic preparedness in Europe: the role of Animal Health and Veterinary Services in One Health and pandemic preparedness in Europe.” After that the three strategic topics of global interest to be addressed by WOAH through various means were proposed: safe trade of embryos, roles and responsibilities of veterinary paraprofessionals, and vaccination against HPAI.

Dr. Ulrich Herzog, Vice-President of the Regional Commission for Europe and Delegate of Austria, provided an update on the WOAH Platform on animal welfare for Europe. The Platform is currently implementing its 3rd action plan (2021-2023) that focuses on priority topics such as animal transportation, slaughter, dog population management, animal welfare in natural disasters, and working equids. The upcoming 2024-2026 action plan aims to continue the progress made and enhance regional collaboration. Members are encouraged to contribute, and a side event during the General Session will facilitate discussions on its development, including the Global Animal Welfare Strategy and an upcoming thematic study on animal transport.

Dr. Bernard Van Goethem, Director of DG Health and Food Safety at the European Commission, highlighted key points regarding the GF-TADs Action Plan for Europe (2023-2027). The plan focuses on prioritizing animal diseases, and aims to promote capacity development, enhance sustainability, and establish clear milestones. GF-TADs events were conducted, addressing diseases such as African Swine Fever, Lumpy Skin Disease, Foot and Mouth Disease, Peste des petits ruminants, Rabies, and HPAI, emphasizing surveillance, collaboration, and disease-specific initiatives. Communication efforts include updates through regional web pages and the WOAH Twitter account. The coordination between WOAH, FAO, and SANTE is ensured through a formalized mechanism and the Regional Steering Committee and recently adopted coordination mechanism by WOAH Secretariat. The next steps involve active member participation in implementing the Regional Action Plan. Additionally, a side event on HPAI vaccination in the EU will be organized by the European Commission during the General Session..

During the presentation by Dr. Budimir Plavsic, WOAH Regional Representative for Europe, the roles and responsibilities of One Health were highlighted. The 1st Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting resulted in the signing of a Call to Action, demonstrating the commitment of FAO, UNEP, WHO, and WOAH to One Health. The strategic focus involved integrating One Health into global instruments, ensuring sustainable financing, implementing agreements, and implementing the Joint Plan of Action. The regional level discussion emphasized achievements, the necessity of resources, and enhanced coordination in One Health governance and activities. Europe’s experience demonstrated effective practices, governance structures, and expanded support. Noteworthy outcomes comprised diminished antimicrobial resistance, improved coordination for zoonotic diseases, heightened awareness, and strengthened collaboration among partners. Dr. Plavsic provided updates on Quadripartite partnership outcomes, capacity building efforts in three WOAH offices, and upcoming activities, including an regional executives’ meeting in early July.

GBADs activities in Europe, aimed at estimating the economic impact of animal diseases, were presented by Ms. Edna Massay Kallon, WOAH Programme Lead, and Pr. Jonathan Rushton. They have conducted studies on investment and productivity gaps in European production systems and are developing a 5-year work plan to estimate the regional burden of animal diseases. Capacity-building efforts and country-specific studies are ongoing, and a GBADs side event is scheduled during the WOAH General Session.

Dr. Jennifer Lasley introduced the WOAH PVS information system, a new initiative to analyze the PVS results and provide baseline documents and reports.

In the closed session, financial reports were presented by Mr. Xavier Pairault, Director of WOAH Administration, and facilitated access to the voting platform was discussed by Mr. Rodney De Sousa from the WOAH Legal Affairs Unit.

The meeting concluded with Dr. Maris Balodis proposing candidates for the vacant positions in the Council and the Bureau of the Regional Commission for Europe.