ECDC and WHO/Europe renew joint commitment to strengthen European health security and collaboration on public health
A Memorandum of understanding was signed in Stockholm on 29 January 2026 at the ECDC-WHO/Europe Annual Coordination Meeting.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) have today signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner welcomes the Regional Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Hans Kluge, and his team of experts to Stockholm.
The revised agreement builds on two decades of close cooperation and updates and reinforces this long- standing collaboration within the field of public health, strengthening joint action and coordination between the two organisations. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, ECDC’s mandate was significantly strengthened in the context of the European Health Union. This has bolstered the role of EU bodies in working closely with Member States on prevention, preparedness and response. The revised agreement seeks to reflect such key changes, and aims, inter alia, to integrate lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic. Areas of cooperation include preparedness, epidemic intelligence, antimicrobial resistance and disease surveillance. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, ECDC Director, says:
“In the context of growing public health challenges – from infectious disease outbreaks to antimicrobial resistance –sustained collaboration is key. Now is the time to find new efficiencies in the way we work together, avoid any duplications, and provide true added value for Member States, in an era of profound change and reform.”
Reflecting their forward-looking approach, ECDC and WHO/Europe will continue to strengthen and collaborate on ensuring the technical interoperability of our information systems and advancing digital public health and infodemic management. These topics are crucial for Europe’s ability to strengthen trust in public health and ensure a timely response to future health emergencies.
The signing of the MoU took place at a 2-day meeting at ECDC where its implementation will be further discussed. Each year, the ECDC/WHO Annual Coordination meeting brings together technical experts from the two organisations with the aim to facilitate exchange and sharing of information, building on each other experiences.
This new MoU builds on a previous agreement, first signed in 2005 between ECDC and WHO/Europe and revised in 2011, with the aim to facilitate technical cooperation and exchange of information. Over the years, the two organisations have worked together on numerous activities, such as joint annual surveillance reports, respiratory virus surveillance and capacity-building initiatives.
