Regional meeting of national International Health Regulations focal points: report, 24-25 September 2024, Sofia, Bulgaria

Overview

On 24–25 September 2024, a meeting was held in Sofia, Bulgaria, for national IHR focal points (NFPs) in the WHO European Region. It was organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in conjunction with the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), with the support of various national entities and stakeholders. The meeting examined the future implementation of recent amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) in the strategic context of the European Region, as articulated in Preparedness 2.0, the WHO regional strategy and action plan for health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience in 2024–2029; in European Union (EU) Regulation 2022/2371, on serious cross-border threats to health; and in other regional roadmaps. The two-day event included interactive information-sharing, a panel discussion and the exchange of Member State experiences, with special attention to several technical topics. The meeting brought together 148 participants from 52 countries and territories in the European Region, including 24 member states of the EU/EEA (European Union/European Economic Area). Key outcomes of the meeting were an enhanced understanding of the IHR amendments and consensus-building on the next steps required for the development of Preparedness 2.0.