2–3 June 2022, Bečići, Montenegro
On 2–3 June ministers and other delegates from the 11 countries in the WHO European Region with populations of less than two million will be in Bečići, Montenegro, for the Eighth high-level meeting of the WHO/Europe Small Countries Initiative (SCI).
Built around the theme “Towards better health and well-being in small countries of the WHO European Region”, the ministerial event will focus on two issues currently at the top of the agenda for small countries:
- emergencies: long-term prevention, health system preparedness, response and recovery; and
- healthy and sustainable tourism.
Small countries share many characteristics in terms of political context, economic features, and resource capacity, and these characteristics inevitably have an impact on their health systems and policies.
Each year the high-level meeting provides an opportunity to discuss health agendas and joint activities, and to leverage small countries’ common needs at regional and international levels.
Opening of the meeting
The event will begin with an opening ceremony, which will be live-streamed on this page. During the opening the following speakers will take the floor:
- Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe;
- Dragoslav Šćekić, Minister of Health of Montenegro.
Meeting objectives
Over the one and a half days, ministers and delegates will have the opportunity to discuss:
- long-term prevention and health system preparedness, response and recovery from emergencies; and
- supporting small countries in their commitment to placing health at the centre of sustainable tourism.
The Small Countries Initiative (SCI)
Established in 2013, the Small Countries Initiative (SCI) is a platform through which 11 countries in the Region with populations of two million and less work together to share their experiences and achieve their common health objectives.
The countries in the SCI are: Andorra, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Slovenia.
A new roadmap for small countries in the WHO European Region
The ministerial event will also coincide with the launch of the first-ever regional strategy for small countries, titled “Roadmap towards better health in small countries of the WHO European Region, 2022–2025”.
Developed with the inputs from small countries and taking their priorities into account, the new roadmap will guide and support the 11 countries in the coming years, so that they can transition to sustainable COVID-19 response, recovery, and control.
Building on the core priorities and flagships of the WHO European Programme of Work (2020–2025) – “United Action for Better Health in Europe”, the roadmap will also encourage stronger political, technical, and resource-related cooperation.