Following the successful launch of the EOC-NET European Regional Forum in Istanbul, Türkiye, in December 2024, WHO/Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are convening the Annual Meeting of the Forum, hosted by the WHO Academy in Lyon, France.

About the Annual Meeting

Public health emergency operations centres are critical for effective emergency response and strong national health security. To support countries in meeting International Health Regulations (2005) requirements and strengthening coordination during crises, WHO established the global EOC-NET in 2012.

Furthering this global initiative, WHO/Europe and ECDC launched the EOC-NET European Regional Forum in 2024 to enhance collaboration among Member States and partners. This year’s Annual Meeting will build on that foundation and the momentum of the launch in Istanbul, focusing on governance, strategic priorities and actions for the development of the European Regional Forum through 2030. It will advance an all-hazards approach aligned with WHO’s Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience architecture and the Global Health Emergency Corps framework.

Why this meeting matters

Countries across the WHO European Region are navigating increasingly complex and frequent health emergencies, from cross-border outbreaks to large-scale crises. Effective coordination is critical.

The EOC-NET platform provides a trusted space for collaboration, promoting best practices and standardizing systems across the Region to enhance interoperability and strengthen coordination. The Annual Meeting will lay the groundwork for a resilient regional network, harmonizing efforts across Member States and aligning with global initiatives.

The 2025 Annual Meeting is funded by the European Commission under the EU4Health programme. It will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation into Russian.