Council Decision (EU) 2022/451 authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, as well as complementary amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005)

Summary:

Council Decision (EU) 2022/451 - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 3 March 2022 - authorising the launch of negotiations on behalf of the European Union (EU) for the conclusion of an international agreement on pandemic preparedness and response, as well as for negotiations on complementary amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

Further information:

Multilateral cooperation is deemed essential to fighting pandemics that by definition know no borders and require collective action. However, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic brought to light vulnerabilities of the international health system and of global cooperation. In light of the challenges posed by that pandemic, the need to be better prepared at global level to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics became clear.

In May 2021, the Council of the European Union adopted the EU's position at the 74th session of the World Health Assembly. This Decision clearly set out support for the establishment of a process in the framework of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for a new Framework Convention on Pandemic Preparedness and Response. It also indicated that the EU should be allowed to participate in the negotiating process, in view of its potential accession to such treaty. Despite the lack of consensus between like-minded partners on a negotiating mandate for an international treaty on pandemics, the Assembly adopted a Decision asking the WHO Member States Working Group to consider the potential benefits of developing an international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. A new session for the Assembly was also scheduled later in the year.

The Recommendation follows up on the outcome the WHO Working Group report which was presented to the Assembly. It was tabled by the European Commission on 1 December 2021. The Decision was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 3 March 2022, and later published in the Official Journal on 21 March 2022.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

The British Medical Journal (BMJ): News, 02/12/2021: World Health Organization to begin negotiating international pandemic treaty https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n2991

Article19: Resources, 03/12/2021: International: Pandemic Treaty must prioritise human rights https://www.article19.org/resources/open-letter-pandemic-treaty-must-prioritise-a-human-rights-approach/

European Council on Foreign Affairs (ECFR): Policy Brief, 17/02/2022: Health of nations: How Europe can fight future pandemics https://ecfr.eu/publication/health-of-nations-how-europe-can-fight-future-pandemics/

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News

EurActiv, 29/11/2021: WHO reaches draft consensus on future pandemic treaty https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/who-reaches-draft-consensus-on-future-pandemic-treaty/

Associated Press, 29/11/2021: WHO chief: Omicron shows need for global accord on pandemics https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-united-nations-world-health-organization-96cfa4829df1a004fe7adcde094c93b9

Politico, 29/11/2021: WHO chief: Omicron backlash against Africa shows why world needs pandemic treaty https://www.politico.eu/article/who-tedros-adhanom-gheybreyesus-coronavirus-omicron-backlash-africa-pandemic-treaty/

Deutsche Welle, 29/11/2021: WHO assembly seeks treaty on future pandemics https://p.dw.com/p/43bzR

France24, 29/11/2021: WHO says 'never again' as nations weigh pandemic treaty https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211129-who-says-never-again-as-nations-weigh-pandemic-treaty

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)766/2: Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an international agreement on pandemic preparedness and response as well as for the negotiations of complementary amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:52021PC0766&qid=1646741118065

General Secretariat of the Council: An international treaty on pandemic prevention and preparedness https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/coronavirus/pandemic-treaty/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 03/03/2022: Council gives green light to start negotiations on international pandemic treaty https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/03/03/council-gives-green-light-to-start-negotiations-on-international-pandemic-treaty/

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