The upcoming meeting of the WOAH Platform on Animal Welfare for Europe will bring together animal welfare experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to review progress, set priorities, and plan the next steps for initiatives across the continent. The Platform’s governance is entrusted to a Steering Group, established in accordance with the initial Concept Note of 2013 and the Terms of Reference adopted by the Regional Commission for Europe in November 2020. The Steering Group is composed by five WOAH members (Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Iceland, Israel, Portugal), a member of the Bureau of the Regional Commission for Europe, a delegate from the European Commission, a WOAH Headquarters liaison, and a representative from the WOAH Collaborating Centre on animal welfare for Europe, with the WOAH Sub-Regional Representation in Brussels providing the Secretariat.
The SG25 will focus on:
Reporting on activities since the last meeting (SG24 – May 2025)
Presenting and discussing the next activities of the 4th Action Plan (2024–2026)
Defining priority topics and developing the next action plan (2027-2029)
Leadership:
Chair: Dr Ulrich Herzog, Vice-President of the Regional Commission for Europe
Rapporteur: WOAH Sub-Regional Representation in Brussels
Meeting every six months, the Steering Group plays a central role in guiding and coordinating animal welfare initiatives across the region, ensuring collaboration among countries, and advancing the implementation of WOAH standards. The upcoming SG25 meeting in Baku underscores WOAH’s commitment to these objectives, providing a platform to review progress, set priorities, and prepare for future challenges in animal welfare.
Stay tuned for updates and insights from Baku 2025!
