Piotr Calbecki, Chair of the European Committee of the Regions’ (CoR) Commission for Natural Resources (NAT), and Dr. Hans Kluge, Regional Director for WHO Europe, met in Brussels to officially sign a new Action Plan that lays the foundation for strategic cooperation between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the CoR/NAT Commission.
This landmark meeting, taking place at the beginning of both leaders' mandates—Dr. Kluge reappointed as Regional Director in October and Mr. Calbecki elected NAT Chair in February—marks a decisive step toward building a strong, collaborative partnership between the institutions. It is also a symbolic reaffirmation of the shared commitment to the WHO Constitution’s guiding principle: “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”
A People-First Vision for Europe
Chair Calbecki underlined that health is not a side issue—it is a pillar of European integration. “The CoR’s mission to ‘build an ever closer and more mutually supportive union among the people of Europe’ cannot succeed without protecting human health across all policies and levels of governance,” he stated.
The NAT Commission has made health resilience one of its two key priorities for 2025. From cybersecurity of hospitals, to health workforce shortages, and access to critical medicines, the Commission is tackling the pressing challenges that directly affect people’s daily lives.
“European citizens are not asking for abstract strategies,” Calbecki added. “They want to see doctors in their communities, buy their medicines from local pharmacies, and be confident their health data are safe. They want hope—hope for treatments for incurable diseases, and for a healthcare system that truly includes everyone, especially women.”
A Comprehensive Action Plan for Health and Equity
The newly signed Action Plan identifies eight thematic areas of cooperation:
- Health security (emergency preparedness, response, and resilience)
- Digital health
- Non-communicable diseases
- Shortages in healthcare resources, including workforce and medicines
- Climate change and health resilience
- Mental health
- Healthy ageing
- Women's health
Dr. Kluge and Chair Calbecki emphasised that access and equality in women’s health must be a shared priority. “There is a clear underrepresentation of women in clinical studies, and too many still face misdiagnosis and undertreatment,” said Calbecki. “This cannot continue.”
Cooperation in Practice
The Action Plan outlines concrete methods for collaboration, including:
- Jointly organised events and expert consultations
- Political and technical participation in conferences
- Study visits and on-site workshops
- Cooperation with networks such as Healthy Cities, the Regions for Health Network, and the CoR’s Interregional Group on Health and Wellbeing
- Contributions to research and joint publications
- Visibility and awareness campaigns
This agreement brings renewed energy to the longstanding cooperation between WHO Europe and the Committee of the Regions, aligning local, regional, national, and global health agendas to better serve the people of Europe.