Vision, Goal and Guiding principles

Vision

The vision reflects a joint commitment by Member States, key partners, and the Regional Office to the following common purpose:

“A WHO European Region where the impact of health emergencies is prevented or minimized”.

Goal

The goal is to strengthen and maintain adequate capacities in the European Region to effectively prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to public health threats and to provide assistance to affected countries, when necessary, through three strategic pillars:

• Strategic pillar 1.
  Build, strengthen and maintain States Parties’ core capacities required under the IHR (2005);
• Strategic pillar 2.
  Strengthen event management and compliance with the requirements under the IHR (2005);
• Strategic pillar 3.
  Measure progress and promote accountability.

Guiding principles of the action plan

Building on the global strategic plan to improve public health preparedness and response, 2018–2023, the European action plan recognizes the interdependence of health emergency preparedness, health systems strengthening and the essential public health functions. The action plan adheres to the framework and principles of the IHR (2005). It strives to contribute to the achievement of the commitment in the Sustainable Development Goals to leave no one behind, through the promotion of universal health coverage, and complies with existing international health policy frameworks. The action plan also recognizes the fundamental importance of country ownership that focuses on a needs-based approach to capacity development and draws, where possible, on domestic sources of funding in order to ensure sustainability. All preparedness and response strategies and actions undertaken by States Parties should be based on national risks, hazards and vulnerabilities and should involve all relevant national and, where applicable, international stakeholders.

The action plan emphasizes the leadership role of WHO in guiding stakeholders to support countries in capacity development and coordinate the provision of assistance during an emergency in line with the IHR (2005); acknowledges existing subregional frameworks; prioritizes WHO support to priority countries in the WHO European Region; and is based on the importance of an all-hazard, as well as One Health approach, focusing on all phases of the emergency management cycle.