Ninth meeting of the Regional Steering Committee of the GF-TADs for Europe

Regional Steering Committee of the GF-TADs for Europe (RSC) organized the 9^th meeting on 18 November 2020, in a videoconference format, with the participation of all members and several observers. Chaired by Dr. Van Goethem, and hosted by Regional Representations of the OIE and the FAO, the meeting provided a coordination platform to empower regional alliances in Europe to fight against transboundary animal diseases and assisting in the control of animal diseases based on regional priorities. Activities of GF-TADs on the global level were reported by members of the Management Committee and Global Secretariat as well as the update from the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES, FAO). From a regional perspective, the WHO, the OIE, and RSC reported the current epidemiological situation for zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases. A second operational action plan with an updated priority list was presented and discussed (to be further revised electronically before the end of 2020).

During the meeting, an updated list of RSC members was endorsed, and new Terms of Reference for RSC adopted. Participants agreed to strengthen collaboration with the WHO Regional Office, and encouraged collaboration with Tripartite partners in the region, intending to facilitate development and implementation of One Health agenda in Europe. Voting members elected Dr. Bernard Van Goethem (EC/DG SANTE) as new President of RSC, end endorsed two vice-presidents: Dr. Ulrich Herzog (CVO of Austria) and Dr. Konstantin Savenkov (acting CVO of the Russian Federation).

The GF-TADs for Europe will be additionally strengthened to ensure adequate resources to implement the regional agenda, in collaboration with partners. European Member Countries and stakeholders are encouraged to use GF-TADs as the effective mechanism of coordination for prevention and control of transboundary animal disease at the regional and sub-regional levels.

Key documents

Agenda

Conclusions and recommendations 

• Presentations
  * Activities at the global level: GF-TADs Global Secretariat (Dr. H.V. Ormel)
  * Activities at the global level: draft GF-TADs Global Strategy for 2021 – 2025  (Dr. A. Fediaevsky)
  * Implementation of the GF-TADs Action plan in the region (2017-2020), and activities of Standing groups of experts (SGE) on ASF, LSD, Rabies  (Dr. B. Van Goethem and Dr. R. A. Balbo)
  * Activities of WHO in Europe for priority zoonotic diseases (Dr. E. Gasimov)
  * Activities FMD, PPR in Region West Eurasia  (Dr. M. Taitubayev)
  * Draft of the (operational) Action plan for  2020-2024 (Dr. R. A. Balbo )

Terms of Reference of the Regional Steering Committee of the GF-TADs for Europe