Good afternoon, it’s an honour to be with you today.
I will start with the good news, because I got a Christmas gift earlier today, and this is the EU contribution to universal health coverage, in the amount of 125 million euros. We just came from signing with Commissioner Urpilainen.
This will help us to advance universal health coverage, especially with a strong foundation of primary health care.
Thank you very much to the European Union, thank you so much to Team Europe, and we look forward to working with you even more closely. Kitos.
I would like to start by congratulating the European Commission on the launch of the EU Global Health Strategy.
This new strategy comes at a critical time, as our world faces so many threats to health:
From the continuing COVID-19 pandemic to the silent pandemics of non-communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance; conflicts around the world; rising inequality; and the existential crisis of climate change.
Each of these challenges transcends borders, sectors, languages, ethnicities and political divides.
No single country or organization can deal with them in isolation.
Which is why multilateralism is more important than ever. I fully agree with Commissioner Urpilainen that the European Union is a champion for multilateralism, and I would like to use this opportunity to thank the European Union for advocating for WHO’s position as central.
In recent years, the EU and its Member States have played a vital leadership role in global health, through internal cooperation and working towards a genuine European Health Union, and by external cooperation and solidarity.
I am especially grateful to Team Europe for its decisive contribution to the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EU has been a driving force behind the ACT Accelerator and remains one of the largest funders of COVAX, providing vaccines to over 150 countries, along with critical investments in research and development.
We have made good progress in the control of the pandemic now. We’re in a much better position, and this wouldn’t have been possible without the EU’s leadership.
I also thank the EU for its leadership in strengthening the global health security architecture for pandemic preparedness, prevention and response, including through the international pandemic accord, and for being at the forefront of the establishment of the Pandemic Fund.
European Member States have also played a leading role in advocating for sustainable financing for WHO.
We expect that this new strategy will open new opportunities for global health, through enhanced leadership, advocacy and resource mobilization.
It will create a platform to address many of the most pressing challenges in global health, from addressing the root causes of disease, to supporting countries on the road to universal health coverage, to making our world safer, and the final eradication of polio.
I am pleased to see that the strategy’s key priorities are well aligned with WHO’s five priorities for global heath:
For promoting health and preventing disease;
For providing health, through strong primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage;
For protecting health, through an enhanced global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience;
For powering health, by harnessing science, research, innovation, data and digital technologies;
And for performing for health, by building a stronger and sustainably-financed WHO.
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Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
The French philosopher René Descartes described health as “the principal good and the basis of all other goods in life”.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful demonstration that when health is at risk, everything is at risk.
But when health is promoted, provided and protected, it creates the conditions for individuals, families, communities, economies and nations to thrive.
A healthier Europe is a stronger and more prosperous Europe.
And a stronger and more prosperous Europe is a stronger and more prosperous world.
I am deeply grateful for your strong support for WHO.
You have my unwavering commitment that I will work with you to build a stronger, more inclusive, effective, and accountable WHO.
We look forward to working with you in the years ahead for a healthier, safer, and fairer world.
I thank you.