WHO RC75 - Group Statement - Item 2: General discussion on the address by the Director-General and the Regional Director

Chair,

Dear Regional Director,

Colleagues,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine.

This Regional Committee Meeting marks the 75th anniversary of our cooperation in the WHO European Region. 

We convene at a time of significant challenges to global health. 

The financial crisis affecting WHO on all levels is forcing us to look closely at our priorities and ways of working. 

We support the ongoing process of ensuring an effective and fit-for purpose WHO - as the cornerstone of the global health architecture, delivering on areas of comparative advantage on global level and in the European region. 

Therefore, it is time to focus on what’s most important - as reflected in this year’s theme: “Back to basics”. 

It is crucial to protect the WHO’s role in international health work, in line with its constitution. Hence, it is essential to maintain the strong technical expertise within the Regional Office. 

In this spirit, we look forward to the adoption of the Second European Programme of Work (EPW2), which will guide our work and address the main public health challenges in our region. 

We ask WHO EURO to assess how to achieve the best division of tasks between Copenhagen and Geneva. 

It is crucial to avoid duplication and attain the highest possible level of complementarity. 

We reiterate our strong commitment to multilateralism and the WHO at all levels, as reflected in our steadfast and sustained financial support, as difficult decisions will have to be made. 

And let us also be clear that the successful work of the European Regional Office is first and foremost the responsibility of our region.  

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Colleagues, 

Unfortunately, we mark the 75th anniversary of our cooperation in the shadow of major man-made emergencies with an immense impact on human health. 

We commend WHO’s efforts in maintaining and strengthening health systems under extremely challenging and often unsafe circumstances. We condemn all attacks on health care facilities and personnel.

After more than three years, Russia’s unjustified and illegal full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine continues to inflict a devastating toll on the Ukrainian people – on their lives, their well-being, their health. A comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law remains a key priority.

We remain committed to supporting WHO’s efforts in Ukraine through financial and in-kind contributions, technical expertise and diplomatic support. Between 2022 and 2025, the EU and its Member States have allocated €4.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the war in Ukraine. 

WHO has also been instrumental in supporting the people of Gaza, suffering in the current crisis. We thank WHO, in particular its ever committed team in oPt, for their huge work. 

The EU will remain the largest provider of humanitarian aid for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, having mobilized €1.48 billion since 2023. We welcome the agreement reached on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict. In the interest of alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza, we urge all parties to sustain a lasting ceasefire and the unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza. Medical assistance must be a crucial and substantial part of it and medical evacuations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem must be resumed. 

We look forward to continuing a strong cooperation in the region – for a healthier and more peaceful world.

Thank you.