19th meeting of the Steering Committee, Zurich, Switzerland, 24 April 2013

The 19th meeting of the Steering Committee of HEPA Europe was convened to review further progress with implementation of the 2012/2013 work programme and to update on relevant international developments. In addition, the applications for membership received since the last meeting were assessed and three pending applications were further discussed, in connection with WHO’s ongoing assessment of partnership initiatives such as HEPA Europe. An update on preparations of the 9th annual meeting and 4th conference in October 2013 in Helsinki was also given. In addition, strategies with regard to the short- and medium-term funding were discussed, and the development of a communication strategy for HEPA Europe was continued.

The meeting was attended by 11 members of the Steering Committee and one WHO staff from the Regional Office for Europe. The meeting was kindly hosted and supported by Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine of the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. It was chaired by Willem van Mechelen from the VU Medical Center and assisted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Governance and Multisectoral Partnerships.