Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan

09/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 04:34

INB 11 - EU Opening Remarks

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INB 11 - EU Opening Remarks

  • We are happy to meet again and we look forward to continuing to work towards the adoption of a meaningful pandemic agreement.
  • We would like to start by thanking the bureau and the Secretariat for their efforts in moving us forward, and for organising the recent very useful interactive dialogues. The dialogues have shown that engaging with experts is key in order to reach well-informed decisions. They also made clear that some of the issues that we are trying to tackle are highly complex, in particular in relation to PABS, and will need adequate time for their final establishment.
  • We also want to congratulate the new bureau members, Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou and Fleur Davies, and we look forward to working with you.
  • We recall and welcome the successful adoption of the amendments to the IHR, which we hope will help to catalyse further progress also in the INB, and we are confident that by building on the progress achieved so far we will be able to reach a successful conclusion for the Pandemic Agreement, with meaningful operational provisions on PPR.
  • Current reality reminds us of the importance of our endeavour. The mpox outbreak illustrates the importance of a Pandemic Agreement that will effectively cover and address the full PPR cycle.
  • We thank the WHO for presenting the Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.
  • As during past outbreaks, the EU and its Member States have made immediate contributions, standing by the side of our partners in affected countries. This includes the donation of over half million vaccine doses, with close to 100.000 doses already delivered to the Democratic Republic of Congo on 5 September. A second delivery amounting to around 100,000 vaccines is expected to arrive in the coming days. We are also collaborating with our African partners in various fields, especially in the fields of care, prevention, epidemiological surveillance and genetic sequencing.
  • We look forward to continuing our constructive dialogue to conclude this important work and to make the word a safer place for all.