WHA78 Item. 16.2 Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement and other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response 

19 May 2025

EU statement

Chair,

On behalf of the European Union, we applaud the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement. It marks an important accomplishment for global health security and cooperation.

Together with the amended International Health Regulations, the Agreement, once implemented, will bolster country capacities to prevent and prepare for pandemics using the “One Health” approach. It will enhance early prevention, surveillance of environmental drivers, and animal health. It will focus attention on supporting health workforce and health system resilience. It will increase research cooperation and foster voluntary technology transfer. It will improve equitable access to, and distribution of, vaccines and other medical countermeasures, supporting capacity building in countries that need it.

The Agreement shows the power of international cooperation for global health. Indeed, we know that cooperation is essential to tackle common problems facing humanity. Fighting pandemics that know no borders requires such international collaboration and collective action. The European Union shows its commitment also today.

In closing, we want to thank the members of the INB bureau, WHO secretariat and WHO Member States who contributed to making this important result possible. We also want to extend our thanks to representatives of civil society and other stakeholders for their engagement throughout the process.