Twenty Heads of State or Government, representatives of more than twenty countries, twelve international organisations and the main public and private stakeholders in health will participate in the World Health Summit, organised by video conference and co-chaired on Friday 21 May from Rome by the current President of the G20, Mario Draghi, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The aim of this summit is to secure commitments at the highest level to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic with the fastest possible recovery and to ensure the future protection of global health through multilateral cooperation, with the UN at its centre and the EU as the driving force, as it hopes (see EUROPE 12714/12, 12687/8).
The Rome Declaration, which is expected to be the outcome, will contain guiding principles for future action. These principles were agreed upon during the preparatory process and civil society was involved (see EUROPE 12702/3).
“We want to show that multilateralism works, that it is the best way to deal with a global pandemic. This principle will be adopted”, a diplomatic source said on Thursday.
The declaration will record the G20’s agreement to support and improve the global health architecture. It will emphasise the need to invest in the health care workforce, recognise the importance of universal health coverage, well-resourced health systems and interoperable surveillance systems.
The holistic approach‘One health’- a multi-sectoral approach based on the interconnection between human health, animal health and ecosystems - will also have a place.
Universal and equitable access to vaccines as a “global public good”, the development of vaccine production capacity, including in middle-income countries, patents, the improvement of the value chain underlying the production of vaccines and treatments, and the establishment of innovative financing mechanisms for effective preparedness for future pandemics should also be at the heart of the Rome Declaration.
“The statement will stress the need to work within the existing TRIPS agreements for manufacturing around the world”, the source said.
Ms von der Leyen is expected to announce an EU initiative to support African countries with manufacturing potential, with a view to strengthening this potential.
The draft International Treaty on Pandemics (see EUROPE 12689/3), promoted by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the WHO and some 20 leaders (from the EU and third countries), could, if implemented, formalise the sustainable management of global preparedness and response to future pandemics.
On the eve of the Rome Summit, the EU Council adopted a decision supporting the launch of negotiations on such a Treaty. In this way, the EU Council aims to ensure that the EU, should it decide to accede to the Treaty, can participate in the negotiations on matters within its competence. The World Health Assembly - WHO’s decision-making body - is expected to support the implementation of a process for a Framework Convention on Pandemic Preparedness and Response at its next meeting (24 May - 1 June). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang with Agathe Cherki)