The following notes outline the structure of the relationship of co-operation between the European Commission and the World Health Organization. It is based on a contribution from the Public Health Directorate’s Unit for Policy Analysis and Development headed by Bernard Merkel.
Exchange of letters
Co-operation between the European Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO) is based on three exchanges of letters (1972, 1982 and 2000).
Memorandum of Agreement
The third "Exchange of Letters" was accompanied by a Memorandum of Agreement signed by WHO Secretary-General Gro Harlem Brundtland and Commissioner David Byrne. This exchange aims to further strengthen collaboration and identifies various priority areas, including health information, communicable diseases, tobacco control, environment and health, sustainable health development, health research, and outlines practical procedures for co-operation.
High-level meetings
Regular meetings between the Commissioner responsible for health and consumer protection and the WHO Director General are now taking place.
April 2001, Geneva: The first "High Level Meeting" between Commissioner David Byrne and Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland took place in WHO headquarters on the occasion of World Health Day. Senior officials from both organisations also took part.
June 2002, Brussels: The second meeting involved Commissioners Pascal Lamy (trade), Philippe Busquin (research), Poul Nielson (development) and the head of Commissioner Wallström’s Cabinet (environment) as well as Commissioner Byrne. Discussions covered: combating smoking, the fight against communicable diseases, access to medicines, health research, environment and health, and nutrition and food safety.
Senior official meetings
Two technical meetings have been held since 2000.
October 2001, Brussels: The first meeting of senior officials provided an opportunity for an exchange of views. It was attended by a large number of representatives from WHO headquarters, WHO Regional Office for Europe, as well as from seven Commission departments.
Workshops: Communicable diseases; health information.
Information session: Exchange on tobacco, health and environment, and pharmaceuticals.
October 2002, Copenhagen: The second meeting reviewed ongoing collaboration and took note of the recent work in both organisations. Subjects discussed included the European Community public health programme, collaboration in the area of health information, control of communicable diseases and bio-terrorism, the WHO Strategy on Diet, Nutrition and Chronic Diseases, and enlargement of the European Union. A special session was devoted to WHO work on health systems performance.
Workshops: Tobacco control in the context of development policy, including the preparation of the High Level Round Table on Tobacco Control, and Children’s Environment and Health, including the fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health (Budapest, 23-25 June 2004).
Ongoing contact
Every few months, officials from the WHO Office at the EU and the Commission’s Public Health Directorate meet. These sessions provide a setting for discussions about the priority areas for collaborative work. Those meetings taking place in Luxembourg are followed by tripartite meetings with the Council of Europe.
Exchange of staff
An official from the WHO Regional office has now been seconded to the Commission’s Public Health Directorate. This represents a first step in a staff exchange programme in the area of communicable disease.
The new public health programme, beginning in January 2003, provides new opportunities to develop co-operation with the international organisations in the health field, and WHO will clearly be a key partner in its implementation.
Key issues
Health information
Communicable diseases
Tobacco control
Environment and health
Sustainable health development
Health research
Access to medicines
Nutrition and food safety
Bioterrorism
Enlargement
Health systems performance
Collaboration
Tobacco Control (High-level round table)
Children’s Environment and Health (preparation for the fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health (Budapest, 23-25 June 2004).
Communicable diseases (exchange of staff)
