European Union

Statement

Geneva, 11 July 2025
 

WHO

Member State information session on the process of realignment and operationalization of the Programme Budget 2026-2027 

Chair, 

Distinguished colleagues,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its 27 Member States. 

We thank the Secretariat for organizing this information session, which is very timely. After important and difficult decisions made at WHA, including on a reduced programme budget for 2026-2027, it is now the right moment to take stock of the progress achieved in implementing WHO reforms and prioritization process. A strong, transparent, accountable and effective WHO remains fundamental to lead global health efforts.

Now that the new WHO leadership is in place and Directors have been announced, the EU and its Member States call for acceleration of the prioritization/de-prioritization process which must inform the decisions to be taken by the end of summer to adjust the workforce, and for the swift implementation of the necessary structural reforms and adjustments for the Organization to focus on its core mandate. This should also include a revision of the results to be achieved in GPW14 to align them with the reduced budget.

In this regard, we would like to request concrete information per directorate on what the WHO suggests to prioritize and de-prioritize, and impact consequences as well as financial and human resources allocated, on relocations and other expected cost-saving measures, including changes in staffing both at senior leadership and expert levels. Preparation of a comprehensive roadmap, laying out actions with targets and timeframes, would be helpful to navigate this process. Overall, this would allow for detailed and timely consultation of Member States and donors, whose input is indispensable for success of this complex process and to align their support accordingly. 

Furthermore, we underscore the importance of strong horizontal and vertical coordination to ensure that the Organization delivers on its core mandate across all three levels. We would welcome concrete details on the planned consolidation of country offices, the concrete activities that will be prioritized there, relocations and how duplication of activities between HQ, regions and country offices is avoided.

Additionally, we also acknowledge the role of the Member States in keeping the mandates of the Secretariat focused, through resolutions, which should be strategic. We support the continuation of conversations from the last Executive board meeting, on introducing new mechanisms to ensure that new resolution proposals are strategic, relevant, cost-effective and based on equity.

Finally, the EU and its Member States underline their commitment to the UN80 initiative, whose articulation with the WHO reform as well as the global health architecture review is crucial. While other organizations are also engaged in structural reforms, we would welcome an update from WHO on the plans and actions undertaken with regard to its coordinating role in aligning the mandates and operations of key actors in the field of global health.

We also stress that these reforms must go hand in hand with a robust and sustainable financing model, building on the commitments made.

Thank you.