World Health Organization

154^th Session of the Executive Board. 22-27 January 2024

Item 24.2 – Draft fourteenth General Programme of Work

EU Statement

Geneva, 22 January 2024

Mr Chair,

Colleagues,

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

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine[1] and Georgia as well as the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

The EU welcomes the participatory process to discuss the GPW 14 .We value the focus on WHO’s comparative strengths, such as norms and standard setting and provision of science-based knowledge. WHO’s relevance to all Member States is important, and its normative function essential and it should be safeguarded.

The development of the GPW 14 comes at a critical time of multiple interconnected complexities . We welcome the proposed structure of the GPW 14, - promote, provide and protect-. We insist on the importance for WHO’s guidance to rely primarily on methodologically rigorous, up-to-date and quality-assured scientific knowledge.

The GPW should drive the work of WHO and relevant actors, ensure a consistent vision for the coming years, while also setting clear priorities for global health targeted at tangible outcomes monitored by relevant indicators. In that light, we support the leadership of WHO and ongoing cooperation with the other relevant actors in the global health ecosystem, as well as the efforts to transform WHO to be fully fit for the changing world. A health in all policies approach is key to address the challenges efficiently.. We support the strengthening of WHO’s capacities at national and regional levels, and encourage the engagement with civil society and communities.

We particularly welcome the continued integration of gender equality, equity and human rights in the work of the organisation and welcome a stronger focus on certain important issues with regard to human rights, as rights-based health approaches ensure that inequities are reduced and the most vulnerable are reached. Certain aspects of the analysis, outcomes and corresponding indicators could be more human rights-based and gender-responsive. a particular emphasis on a ‘Leaving No One Behind’–approach should be further strengthened. We call for a better integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights in accordance with the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the ICPD and the outcomes of their review conferences in the GPW.

Moreover, we welcome the fact that GPW14 addresses the issue of health training in order to achieve universal health coverage and deal with future pandemics.

The adequate, sustainable, and predictable financing of WHO’s budget will be essential. In this regard, we welcome the strong link between the draft GPW 14 and the Investment Round.

[Reactive: We echo the request for further consultations and stand ready to engage constructively.]

Thank you.

[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.