EU Statement - WHO Member State information session on the proposed programme budget 2026-2027

WHOMember State information session on the proposed programme budget 2026-2027 25 March 2025 EU statement  Chair, Distinguished colleagues, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its 27 Member States. Switzerland aligns itself with this statement. We thank the Secretariat for organising this information session on the proposed programme budget 2026-2027 and the prioritisation process. Having a transparent dialogue with Member States on the prioritisation exercise is crucial. Faced with an unprecedented crisis, WHO and the whole global health system need to adapt to the new budgetary and geopolitical reality and undertake further structural reforms. Successful implementation will require revisiting the originally proposed programme budget 2026-2027, with necessary adjustments and possible budget reductions based on cost containment measures, fund raising and reprioritisation. Success will also depend on the acceleration of the governance reform and efficiency gains which are equally essential for WHO’s sustainable functioning. In this vein, the EU and its Member States would like to make the following points:  In reprioritising, WHO should, within the framework of GPW 14, focus on core functions where WHO has (1) the mandate, (2) the expertise, (3) is best placed to deliver outcomes and impact, while (4) doing what no other international organisation can do better. This prioritisation process must necessarily rely on transparent...