Guide for participants

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About Italy

Italy is situated in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea and is bordered by Switzerland and Austria to the north, Slovenia to the northeast and France to the west; Italy also shares open land borders with the Republic of San Marino and Vatican City.

Italy covers an area of 301 338 km2 and comprises the long, boot-shaped Italian Peninsula, the southern side of the Alps and the large plain of the Po Valley. Including islands, Italy has a coastline of 7600 km on the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas, the Sea of Sardinia and the Strait of Sicily. Almost 40% of Italian territory is mountainous, with the Alps as the northern boundary and the Apennine Mountains forming the backbone of the peninsula. As a reflection of its cultural wealth, Italy is home to 54 World Heritage Sites, the most of any country in the world.

Italy has always been a synonym for good food, offering an unmistakable explosion of flavours and aromas. Aside from having one of the most famous cuisines in the world, it also proposes an immense variety of regional dishes.

Rome, located in the centre of Italy on the Tiber river, is the capital of Italy, and its largest city with a population of 4.35 million inhabitants. According to legend, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus in 753 BC and was first the centre of the Roman Republic, then of the Roman Empire, and later became the capital of the Christian world in the 4th century. Rome later became one of the centres of Renaissance, Baroque and neoclassic architecture.

The Historic Centre of Rome, a World Heritage Site, includes a complex of structures of incomparable artistic value, produced over almost 3000 years of history, from the monuments of antiquity to fortifications built over the centuries, urban projects of the Renaissance and Baroque periods up to modern times, and civil buildings with rich pictorial and sculptural decorations.

Italy is a founding and leading member of the European Union and is a member of numerous international institutions, such as the United Nations, NATO, OECD, OSCE, WTO, G7, G20, the Union for the Mediterranean, the Council of Europe, and the Schengen Area.

Population: 60 500 000
Capital city: Rome
Official language: Italian
Currency: Euro (€)

For more information go to:
http://www.italia.it/en/
http://www.italia.it/en/travel-ideas/unesco-world-heritage-sites/rome-the-eternal-city.html

Arrival in Italy

Upon arrival at Rome International Airport, transport to the hotels listed in this Guide will be made available to all participants.

WHO Regional Committee reception desk will be located outside the arrival hall of the airport to assist participants and to arrange transportation to the hotels. In order to facilitate this process, please indicate your flight details and hotel accommodation on the registration site.

Climate and clothing

The climate of Italy can be described as Mediterranean. In September, the climate is generally temperate with an average daytime temperature of 25° C.

For up-to-date weather forecasts please visit:

WMO website in English

WMO website in Russian

Clothing is informal for all occasions.

Credentials

Credentials should be issued by the Head of State, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Health or any other appropriate authority, such as permanent missions or senior government officials. Although a copy of the credentials will have been submitted through the online registration system, Member States are required to deliver the original credentials to the Secretariat (Regional Governance Unit) before the opening of the Regional Committee session.

In accordance with Rule 1 of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee, no more than two representatives may be nominated by each Member State. However, alternates and advisers may accompany representatives.

Currency

The currency unit is euro. Exchange rates for other currencies are subject to change on a daily basis.

Foreign exchange services in banks and exchange offices are widely available in the city centre.

Date and location

The 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC68) will open on Monday, 17 September 2018, at 09:00 and will close on Thursday, 20 September 2018, in the evening. The session will be held in Rome, Italy, at the Auditorium della Tecnica conference centre.

Venue address:
Auditorium della Tecnica
Entrance: Viale Umberto Tupini 65, 00144 Rome, Italy

RC68 will be held in a smoke-free environment.

Electricity supply

The voltage for electricity is 220V, 50Hz. Plugs are of the European two-pin variety.

Hotel accommodation

Reservations have been made at the hotels listed here. The number of rooms available is indicated for each hotel. Please consult the hotel’s website for information on facilities and general booking conditions. Major credit cards are accepted by all hotels.

All delegations and participants are requested to submit fully completed forms to the hotel of their choice in line with the guidance provided in the Guide no later than 31 July 2018 in order to reserve rooms at the preferential rates.

Please note that the WHO Regional Office for Europe cannot undertake to guarantee accommodation or rates for requests received after 31 July 2018.

Insurance

The Secretariat cannot accept liability for personal accidents or loss of or damage to the private property of participants or accompanying persons during or indirectly arising from attendance at RC68. Participants should make their own arrangements with respect to health and travel insurance.

Internet café

Internet access and printing facilities will be available to participants during the session. The use of several stationary computers will be offered, as well as wireless access for personal laptops in both common areas and individual meeting rooms.

A charging station for personal laptops will be located in the foyer area of the conference centre.

Local transport

Shuttle buses will be organized each day to transfer participants between their hotels and the congress centre where the session will take place. Transport in connection with social events will also be organized. Participants should check the timetables and notices displayed in the lobby of their hotels and at the session venue.

Transportation will only be made available to and from hotels listed in this Guide.

Lunches and breaks

A lunch buffet will be served at the venue from Monday, 17 September, to Thursday, 20 September, hosted by the Ministry of Health of Italy.

There will also be two refreshment breaks (morning and afternoon) during these days.

Special dietary requirements should be communicated on the online registration form.

Medical services

A medical team will be available during the day at the venue for the duration of the session.

Online and social media

RC68 will be webcast live on the RC68 website. Photographs and videoclips will be taken during the session, and images and footage of participants and proceedings may be posted on the Internet. Participants may opt out of photos and videos while registering online.

Participants are encouraged to engage in online Twitter chats about the session, using the Twitter hashtag #RC68Rome.

Follow the Regional Office’s official Twitter account.

Follow the Regional Office’s official Facebook page.

Onsite/On arrival registration

Registration will commence at 13:00 on Sunday, 16 September 2018, in connection with pre-meetings taking place at the venue and will continue on Monday, 17 September 2018, from 08:00. Badges will be issued at the registration desk.

A provisional list of participants will be distributed at the opening of the session. This list will be compiled on the basis of the credentials received by the Secretariat by 18:00 on Monday, 10 September 2018. Participants are requested to check the information contained in the provisional list of participants and to report any changes to the Secretariat for inclusion in the final list.

Personal security

While visiting Italy, delegates should maintain the same personal security awareness that they would in any large city. As in all large cities, particular attention should be paid to the following guidelines:

stay alert – watch your luggage and briefcase/handbag; avoid displaying attractive and valuable items;
always ask for proper identification before surrendering your passport;
be particularly vigilant at the airport and train stations, and when checking into your hotel;

The police, ambulance and fire emergency number is 112.

RC68 mobile app

An RC68 mobile app containing all session documents, programme details and practical information will be made available to participants by 31 August 2018. The app can be downloaded free of charge for iOS and Android devices. More information about the app, including instructions on how to use it, will be provided before the opening of the session.

Registration for participation

Online registration is required for sessions of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. A link to the governing bodies’ electronic meeting registration system is included in the letter of invitation that was sent to Member States. This allows the registration of one focal point per delegation. The same procedure will apply to all categories of invited participants.

Once the focal point has been entered into the registration system, he/she will receive by email a unique username and password and the link to access the registration system. The focal point will register and submit the names of the delegates and attach a copy of the credentials containing the composition of the delegation.

The Regional Governance Unit at the WHO Regional Office for Europe will verify the information received from the focal point, which will then be processed to generate both meeting badges and the list of participants.

At the same time, participants can add information on travel times, flights, hotel accommodation, participation in social events, dietary requirements, etc. Once the unique username and password has been received, participants will be able to access the registration site and can add, delete or change travel-related information at any time in order to remain up to date.

Member States are encouraged to include their WHO national counterparts in their delegation.

Registration should be completed by Monday, 10 September 2018.

Seating

Delegates will be seated in the English alphabetical order of the names of Member States.

Social events

Please note that transportation from/to the Sheraton Roma Hotel and the Hotel Aran Mantegna will be organized according to bus schedules that will be shown in the lobbies of the hotels.

Please contact the RC68 team at eurorc68@who.int

Sunday, 16 September 2018 19:30
Welcome reception hosted by the Ministry of Health of Italy, venue: Spazio Novecento, Piazza Guglielmo Marconi 26b, Rome.

Monday, 17 September 2018 19:30
Reception hosted by the Minister of Health of Italy, venue: Villa Miani, Via Trionfale 151 – Rome.

Tuesday, 18 September 2018 19:30
Reception hosted by the WHO Regional Director for Europe, venue: Palazzo Brancaccio, Viale del Monte Oppio 7 - Rome.

Wednesday, 19 September 2018 19:30
Cultural event: Visit to the Gallery Dora Pamphilj and aperitif, Via del Corso 305 – Rome.

Submissions by delegations

In keeping with the Rules of Procedure, it would be appreciated if delegations wishing to have draft resolutions distributed to the Regional Committee could hand them in to the Secretariat in good time, preferably at least two days before the proposal is discussed, to allow time for translation, reproduction in the working languages and circulation to delegations. The Secretariat is available, upon request, to provide logistic, editorial and information support as required.

Travel arrangements

Delegates should make their own travel arrangements for both their outward and return journeys.

Visas

A valid Schengen visa to enter Italy is required for nationals of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Holders of diplomatic or service passports are kindly requested to contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate for specific instructions.

List of Italian Missions abroad

The official WHO invitation letter should accompany your visa applications. However, should you require a personal letter issued by the Regional Office to support your visa application, please send a request to eurorc68@who.int

Any further information can be found on this website

Please apply for your visa in a timely manner.

Working languages and documentation

The working languages of Regional Committee sessions are English, French, German and Russian. Statements made in any of these languages will be simultaneously interpreted into the other three languages.

The official documentation of RC68 will be available in English, French, German and Russian on the RC68 website from early August.

Documents will not be dispatched by post.

Participants are kindly requested to bring all documents to the session, as hard copies will be available only on request.