Pöördumine

World Health Organization
Regional Office for Europe

Weltgesundheitsorganisation
Regionalbüro füR Europa

Organisation Mondiale de la SantÉ
Bureau RÉgional de l'Europe

ВсемирнаЯ организациЯ здравоохранениЯ
Европейское региональное бюро




Twelfth meeting of the European Environment and Health Task Force (EHTF) Bureau
EURO/EHTFB12


Virtual
18 June 2024
22 April 2024
Original: English
Draft summary report
Main highlights
Date
22 April 2024, virtual.
Organizer
WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, acting in its role as Secretariat of the European Environment and Health Process (EHP).
Participants
62 participants from 39 Member States in the WHO European Region and 6 stakeholder representatives.
Overall scope
To prepare the fourteenth meeting of the EHTF and discuss progress attained to-date in the follow-up to the Budapest Conference, as well as the activities and key milestones to be achieved by the EHP in the implementation of the commitments from the Budapest Declaration in the 20242025 biennium and beyond.
Main agreements and next steps
Bureau members endorsed the proposed overall structure and content of the draft Programme of Work (PoW) for the EHTF, the agenda for the fourteenth EHTF meeting and the information note on the Bonn Dialogues.
The upcoming steps leading to the next EHTF meeting on 26−27 June 2024 in Utrecht, Netherlands (Kingdom of the) are the following:
• consultation for written feedback from the Bureau on the documents and proposals for the format of the EHTF meeting sessions remains open until 7 May 2024. Following this, the EHP Secretariat will incorporate received feedback into the draft PoW for the EHTF, the agenda for the 14th meeting, and the information note on the Bonn Dialogues, which will be shared for further consultation with the EHTF;
• EHP Secretariat will initiate a call for expressions of interest to serve in the EHTF Bureau, with the deadline for submissions set for 5 June 2024.

1. Introduction

1. The EHTF Bureau held its twelfth meeting on 22 April through a virtual connection.
2. The meeting was organized by the World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health (WHO ECEH), acting in its role as Secretariat of the EHP.
3. The main objective of the meeting was to prepare the fourteenth meeting of the EHTF (2627 June 2024, Utrecht, Netherlands (Kingdom of the)) and discuss progress attained to-date in the follow-up to the Budapest Conference, as well as the activities and key milestones to be achieved by the EHP in the implementation of the commitments from the Budapest Declaration in the 20242025 biennium and beyond.
4. The meeting was attended by members of the Bureau from Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Netherlands (Kingdom of the) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as by representatives of the European Environment and Health Youth Coalition (EEHYC), Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In addition, EHTF members from Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and representatives of the European Commission (EC), International Youth Health Organization and Regional Environmental Center (REC) former joined the meeting (Annex 1).
2. Opening, adoption of the agenda
5. Ms Raquel Duarte-Davidson, the co-Chair of the Bureau, opened the meeting and welcomed Bureau as well as other members of the EHTF attending the meeting. The Chair of the EHTF, Ms Brigit Staatsen, shared the chairing with Ms Duarte-Davidson.
6. The co-Chair was followed by Ms Francesca Racioppi, the Head of the WHO ECEH, who welcomed meeting participants and introduced the scope and purpose of the meeting, as well as the provisional programme (Annex 2).
7. The objectives of the meeting included following up on Budapest commitments implementation, reviewing and providing input to the draft PoW for the EHTF for 2024–2025 and the draft agenda of the EHTF meeting. Discussions also focused on recent developments of the EHP Partnerships, the topics for the Bonn Dialogues, updates on the Bureau’s composition and the upcoming election of the co-Chair position from the environment sector, and suggestions on youth involvement and activities for the EHTF meeting.
8. The revised agenda and the provisional programme of the meeting were adopted.
3. Follow-up to the Budapest Conference: where are we?
9. Participants were provided with inspiring examples of the Budapest commitments implementation collected from the Member States and stakeholders (ref. Presentation “Session 2 – Follow-up to the Budapest Conference”). The session commenced with a retrospective view of the Budapest Conference, revisiting the commitments set during that momentous occasion. Following this, tangible progress was highlighted through the showcase of examples from Member States (Table 1), briefly illustrating how these commitments have been translated into action up to the present day. The collection of experiences presents updates delivered by country representatives and information retrieved from the quarterly EHP Newsletters.

Table 1. Overview of country activities presented by the co-Chair during the Bureau meeting

Prioritizing action to tackle the most pressing health challenges related to climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss
Belgium
Launch of the third National Action Plan on Environment and Health
In 2024, Belgium launched the third National Action Plan on Environment and Health (NEHAP3), marking a significant milestone in its efforts to enhance resilience and sustainability. NEHAP3 focuses on adapting to climate change and reducing the harmful effects of chemicals on health and the environment. It includes eight specific actions such as transitioning to resilient health-care systems, addressing ozone and heatwave impacts, participating in European chemical risk assessments, implementing hormone disruptor plans, training health-care professionals, monitoring exotic mosquitoes, and reducing tick populations. NEHAP3 exemplifies Belgium's commitment to both national and international environment and health goals.
Czechia
Collaborative sub-regional action: highlights from the V4+ Environment and Health Conference
To contribute to the implementation of Budapest commitments and under the Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group (Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), the V4+ Environment and Health Conference convened on 11 March 2024 in Brno, Czechia, offering a platform to address pressing environmental challenges in central and eastern Europe. Structured around key topics such as nature-based solutions, air pollution and its impact on child health, the conference facilitated in-depth discussions and knowledge sharing among experts and policy-makers. Outcomes were presented to the V4+ ministers of environment, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts in fostering a healthier and more sustainable region.
The V4+ Environment and Health Conference exemplifies subregional commitments and the proactive steps being taken to inform and implement the Budapest commitments. By fostering collaboration and dialogue among central and eastern European countries, the conference not only addressed current environmental health challenges but also paved the way for future initiatives aimed at creating a sustainable and healthy environment for all.
Hungary
Plans to launch new EHP Partnerships
The National Public Health Centre Proposal in Hungary is developing a proposal for establishment of EHP Partnership on risk reduction in school environment, and on the wastewater surveillance of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
Tajikistan
Adoption of national heat-health action plan
The first ever national heat-health action plan was adopted in cooperation across multiple national stakeholders to protect adverse health effects of heat.
Delivering essential services and a safe built environment for healthy and resilient communities
Azerbaijan
Green hospitals
In November 2023, the WHO Country Office in Azerbaijan in cooperation with WHO ECEH convened an information event in Baku for national stakeholders to introduce the concept of environmentally sustainable, low-carbon and climate-resilient hospitals and to discuss possible steps towards piloting such approaches in Azerbaijan.
North Macedonia and Uzbekistan
Driving action on WASH and health
North Macedonia and Uzbekistan became the 28th and 29th countries, respectively, to join the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe–WHO Regional Office for Europe Protocol on Water and Health, thus committing to drive action on WASH and health, while protecting their natural resources and fostering a healthier environment for their citizens.
Kazakhstan
Strengthening capacities in assessing health risks of air pollution
In December 2023, the WHO Regional Office for Europe held a workshop hosted by Kazakhstan in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to train environmental and public health experts from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on addressing air pollution health risks and setting stricter air quality standards. The workshop, attended by 50 participants, included lectures, group discussions, and hands-on exercises, focusing on Air Quality Guidelines, policy, risk communication, and the AirQ+ tool. This initiative aims to strengthen capacities and mitigate air pollution's health impacts in both countries.
Strengthening governance, intersectoral collaboration, human resources and knowledge for health and environment
Georgia
First national edition of the Bonn School on Environment and Health
The Bonn Environment and Health School strengthens capacities in Member States to address environment and health challenges, emphasizing leadership for intersectoral policymaking and technical skills. In response to the triple crisis, National Centre for Disease Control in Georgia organized a virtual course on the health impacts of contaminated sites, supported by the WHO Country Office in Georgia and WHO ECEH. The course enhanced participants' understanding and management skills regarding contaminated sites and improved collaboration between health and environmental experts.
Italy
Network of environment and health national and regional experts
Italy has shown an example on implementing Budapest commitments by creating a network of environment and health national and regional experts.
Türkiye
Post-disaster environmental health needs assessment and training module preparation workshop
The Ministry of Health and WHO Country Office in Türkiye, in collaboration with WHO ECEH, have joined forces to create a continuous training module for environmental health personnel in the country, focusing on post-disaster environmental health services and resilience. In October 2023, these partners held a workshop to assess the post-disaster environmental health needs and plan the content of the training module. The workshop’s ultimate output will be a report that forms the basis for creating this training module.
Ukraine
Capacity-building on safe management of drinking-water supply and surveillance of water-related disease
WHO Country Office in Ukraine and WHO ECEH, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Public Health Centre of Ukraine and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hosted two capacity-building workshops in Kyiv: one on the principles underpinning the WHO-recommended, risk-based water safety plan approach and how it can be adopted in the Ukrainian context (17–18 July 2023), and one on effective approaches to surveillance and management of water-related disease outbreaks (20–21 July 2023), including in the context of the war.

10. HEAL representative informed about the recent expansion of organisation’s website, which now highlights the impact of widespread per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution on six communities across Europe. New social media content has been created to visualize key facts and figures regarding PFAS, aiming to increase online engagement and promote available resources for taking action. These materials feature detailed case studies from Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, France, and Denmark, and are accessible in English, French, Dutch and Italian.
4. Draft PoW for the EHTF and Bonn Dialogues topics 2024–2025
Relevant documents:
EURO/EHTFB12/6 Draft programme of work for the EHTF for 2024–2025
EURO/EHTFB12/7 Draft information note on the Bonn Dialogues
11. Following the presentation of the EHP Secretariat on the draft PoW for the EHTF for 2024–2025 (ref. Presentation “Session 3 – Discussion on the draft programme”), and initial proposal for the Bonn Dialogue topics (ref. Presentation “Session 4 – Bonn Dialogues following the Seventh Ministerial Conference”), Bureau members discussed various aspects of the draft PoW, including its overall structure and organization (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Outline of the draft PoW of the EHTF for 2024–2025
12. During the discussion, participants focused on identifying key areas or themes within the draft Programme that require further emphasis or clarification to better align with the objectives of the Budapest Declaration and its Roadmap to 2030. Additionally, proposals for resource mobilization for the activities detailed in the Programme were considered, along with ideas on how the Programme can better support and amplify youth-led initiatives and activities in participants' countries. More detailed country proposals included:
• Clarifying the alignment of Bonn Dialogue topics with the pressing challenges of the triple crisis;
• Considering holding HIC meetings back-to-back with EHTF meetings to optimize resources needed for meetings’ organization;
• Highlighting the co-benefits of hosting EHTF meetings for the host country, such as connections to specific themes and back-to-back capacity building initiatives in further communication with the EHTF.
13. The EEHYC representative appreciated the Bonn School initiative and emphasized the effectiveness of youth-led actions with peers, suggesting improvement in using social media and digital technologies.
14. The UNEP representative emphasized the need for action at COP29, noting that only 17% of the SDGs goals will be achieved by 2030, and highlighted the importance of continued engagement of young people.
15. The HEAL representative suggested expanding the list of upcoming events relevant to the EHTF work with national and youth-led activities organized by countries.
16. Overall, the Bureau supported and agreed on the proposed structure and content of the draft Programme.
5. Preparation for the fourteenth meeting of the EHTF
Relevant document:
EURO/EHTFB12/8 Draft agenda of the fourteenth meeting of the EHTF5
17. It was announced during the Bureau meeting, the fourteenth meeting of the EHTF will take place in Utrecht, Netherlands on 2627 June 2024, at the kind invitation of the EHTF Chair. The EHP Partnerships meetings and potential site visits are scheduled for 25 June. EHP Secretariat expressed its gratefulness for the generous support from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
18. EHP Secretariat presented the draft outline of the meeting agenda (ref. Presentation “Session 5 – Draft agenda of the fourteenth meeting of the EHTF”), which includes items such as follow-up to the Budapest Conference, draft PoW of the EHTF, Bonn Dialogues, updates on EHP Partnerships and elections of officers.
19. Bureau members agreed with the proposed draft agenda for the EHTF meeting.

6. Update on the EHP Partnerships
20. Participants were updated on the recent developments of the EHP Partnerships by the lead countries (Table 2).
Table 2. Overview of activities implemented by the EHP Partnerships

EHP Partnership on Human Biomonitoring (HBM)
(Led by Germany and co-led by Georgia)
The EHP Partnership on HBM held its first meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 28 November 2023, organized by Germany, Georgia, and WHO ECEH. Participants attended in person from 15 countries and online from 2. The meeting featured productive discussions on sharing concepts and tools, national HBM programmes, promoting policies and regulations on HBM, and communicating HBM to stakeholders, laying the groundwork for the Partnership's future activities.
Based on the input collected during the first Partnership meeting, a draft list of future activities was developed and sent to all members for commenting.
An online meeting is planned for June 2023 (exact date to be determined) to discuss the list of activities and start with the preparations for the second Partnership meeting, tentatively scheduled for November 2024 (host country to be determined).
Since the Budapest Conference and as of May 2024, 11 new countries have joined the Partnership, bringing the total to 17 countries.
EHP Partnership for Health Sector Climate Action
(Led by Ireland)
EHP Partnership for Health Sector Climate Action participated in the European roundtable at the global meeting of the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health, which took place on 4–5 March 2024 in Madrid. Youth involvement aimed to advocate for and emphasize the significance of national commitments, policies and capacities in building low-carbon, climate-resilient health systems. The Partnership plans to meet in-person on 1314 May 2024 in Bonn.
EHP Partnership on Youth
(Led by Slovenia and co-led by the International Youth Health Organization)
In efforts to engage youth and bridge international gaps, the representative of the EHP Partnership on Youth took part in the UNECE Regional Forum for Sustainable Development on Sustainable Development Goal 13 round table, contributing to the discussion on Solving the Rubik’s cube of the planetary crisis: lining up policy solutions for climate risks and biodiversity loss.
The Partnership co-organized a side event at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) to follow-up in the Budapest Youth Declaration implementation.
The Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP)/EHP Partnership on Healthy Active Mobility
(Led by Austria, France and Netherlands (Kingdom of the))
THE PEP/EHP Partnership on Healthy Active Mobilityis focusing on two main directions: implementing the Pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion, adopted in 2021 by Member States, and developing the Pan-European Master Plan for Walking. The Partnership plans to gather in Belgrade in April at the meeting hosted by the Serbian government.
21. Participants were also provided with a brief update on the EHP Partnerships that a that are currently in the launching stage, including topics like poison centres, healthy school environment, wastewater surveillance of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance and environment and health policies at sub-national and local level.
22. EHP Secretariat informed Bureau members about the on-going revision of the EHP Partnerships Terms of Reference (ToR) necessary for their effective implementation and management. The revised ToR will be shared with the EHTF for the online consultation.
23. Bureau members were invited to share with the EHP Secretariat their ideas on how to organize an engaging session at the 14th EHTF meeting. The session would aim to update EHTF members on the work of the EHP Partnerships and the progress made since Budapest, provide a brief overview of future plans and reflect on the new implementation mechanism, present the revised Terms of Reference for the EHP Partnerships, and launch new EHP Partnerships. Feedback will be shared in writing, if any.
7. Update on the composition of the EHTF Bureau and elections
24. EHP Secretariat provided information regarding the Bureau’s composition and the upcoming election of the co-Chair position from the environment sector positions in accordance with the Rules of Procedures (RoP) of the EHTF.
25. Also, Secretariat informed about the on-going revision of the RoP. The main proposed amendments of the current rules address several key aspects:
• To reflect advancements within the EHP since the 2017 Ostrava Ministerial Conference, these references will be removed, making the RoP self-standing;
• Prolonging leadership stability by extending EHTF Chair and Co-Chair terms from one year to two years;
• Streamlining election procedures by instituting two-year Bureau terms and synchronizing elections with the Chair and Co-Chair elections;
• Extending Bureau terms by removing re-election restrictions, allowing members to be re-elected without limits;
• Introducing flexibility in Bureau composition to adjust member representation, with a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 14 members;
• Elevating youth representation by establishing a permanent seat in the Bureau, alongside maintaining current seats for other stakeholders.
26. The revised RoP will be sent to the EHTF and its Bureau for consultation in May 2024.
27. The call for nomination to the EHTF Bureau to fill the vacant positions for representatives from the environment and health sectors will be launched immediately after the Bureau meeting, with the deadline for submissions set for 5 June 2024.
8. Summary of decisions and next steps
28. Bureau members welcomed and agreed with the proposed overall structure and content of the draft PoW for the EHTF, the agenda for the 14th meeting and the information note on the Bonn Dialogues.
29. The Chair summarized the next steps leading up to the next EHTF meeting on 26−27 June 2024 in Utrecht, Netherlands (Kingdom of the):
• The consultation for written feedback from the Bureau on the documents and proposals for the format of the EHTF meeting sessions remains open until 7 May 2024. After this period, the EHP Secretariat will integrate received feedback into the draft PoW for the EHTF, the agenda for the 14th meeting, and the information note on the Bonn Dialogues. These documents will be shared for further consultation with the EHTF. The EHTF will consider the approval of these documents, along with the revised RoP of the EHTF and ToR of the EHP Partnerships, at its next meeting in Utrecht.
• As recommended by the Bureau, EHP Secretariat will clarify the alignment of proposed Bonn Dialogue topics with the pressing challenges of the triple crisis.
• The EHP Secretariat will launch a call for expressions of interest to serve in the EHTF Bureau, with the deadline for submissions set for 5 June 2024.
30. The Chair closed the meeting, thanking participants for their active participation and valuable contributions, and the Secretariat for the meeting preparation.
Annex 1. List of participants
Members of the EHTF Bureau

Georgia

Maia Javakhishvili
Deputy Head of Environment and Climate Change Department, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia
Tbilisi

E-mail: [email protected]
Germany

Barbara Werschkun
Senior Officer
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection
Berlin

E-mail: [email protected]
Hungary

Tamas Pandics
Head of Department
National Public Health Center
Budapest

E-mail: [email protected]
Israel

Isabella Karakis
Head of Environmental Epidemiology Department
Ministry of Health
Jerusalem

E-mail: [email protected]
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

Brigit Staatsen - EHTF Chair
Senior Researcher, Healthy Living Environment
National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Bilthoven

E-mail: [email protected]

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Raquel Duarte-Davidson - EHTF co-Chair
Head of Department, Chemicals and Environmental Effects
UK Health Security Agency
Oxford

E-mail: [email protected]


Stakeholders

European Environment and Health Youth Coalition (EEHYC)

António Marques Pinto
President
EEHYC
Porto, Portugal

E-mail: [email protected]
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)

Génon K. Jensen
Executive Director
HEAL
Brussels, Belgium

E-mail: [email protected]
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

Wondwosen Kibret
Policy and Partnerships Coordinator
UNEP
Geneva, Switzerland

E-mail: [email protected]
EHP Focal Points

Albania

Eralda Mariani
Chief of the sector for Monitoring and
vitalising of priorities
Ministry of Health and Social Protection
Tirana


E-mail: [email protected]
Austria

Matthias Knopper
Public Health Officer
Ministry of Health
Vienna


E-mail: [email protected]
Azerbaijan

Samir Afandiyev
Environmental Manager
Public Health Center
Baku


E-mail: [email protected]
Belgium

Priscilla Declerck
Analyst – Air Quality
Brussels Environment
Brussels


E-mail: [email protected]
Sarojini Longueville
Economist
Wallonie Families Santé Handicap AVIQ
Charleroi
E-mail: [email protected]
Anne Swalue
International Relations Attaché
Federal Public Service for Public
Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment
Brussels

E-mail: [email protected]
Belarus

Tanya Pronina
Head of International Cooperation Department
Scientific Practical Centre of Hygiene
Minsk


E-mail: [email protected]
Sergei Sychik
Director of the Scientific Practical Centre of Hygiene
Scientific Practical Centre of Hygiene
Minsk

E-mail: [email protected]
Alena Drazdova
Deputy Director for Research
Republican Unitary Enterprise "Scientific and Practical Center of Hygiene" of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus
Minsk

E-mail: [email protected]
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Gorana Basevic
Expert Advisor
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations
Sarajevo

E-mail: [email protected]
Bulgaria

Momchil Sidjimov
Assistant Professor
Ministry of Health National Center of Public Health and Analyses (NCPHA)
Sofia

E-mail: [email protected]
Croatia

Margareta Karadža
Head of Service for International Affairs
Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development
Zagreb

E-mail: [email protected]
Mirna Čorak
Senior Advisor for International Affairs
Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development
Zagreb

E-mail: [email protected]
Pavle Jelicic
Epidemiology and environmental health specialist
Head of Environmental health service
Croatian institute of public health
Zagreb

E-mail: [email protected]
Cyprus

Andromachi Katsonouri
Senior Chemist, Head of Human Biomonitoring & Control of Industrial Products Laboratory
State General Laboratory
Ministry of Health
Nicosia

E-mail: [email protected]
Czech Republic

Dominika Bachmanová
Officer
Ministry of the Environment
Prague

E-mail: [email protected]
Estonia

Aive Telling
Head of Environmental Health and Chemical Safety
Ministry of Social Affairs
Tallinn

E-mail: [email protected]
Finland

Mikko Paunio
Medical Counselor
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Helsinki

E-mail: [email protected]
France

Caroline Paul
Head of the office "outdoor environment
French Ministry of Health
Paris

E-mail: [email protected]
Germany

Annika Seiffert
Praktikantin
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection
Berlin

E-mail: [email protected]

Ireland

Colin OHehir
Head
Climate Change Unit
Department of Health
Dublin

E-mail: [email protected]




Italy

Pasqualino Rossi
Medical Director, Head of Unit H&E
Ministry of Health
Rome

E-mail: [email protected]

Latvia

Normunds Kadikis
Head of Division
Health Inspectorate
Riga

E-mail: [email protected]
Natalija Polukarova
Senior Expert
Ministry of Health
Riga

E-mail: [email protected]
Lithuania

Mintarė Jurgilaitė
Environmental Health Senior Specialist
Institute of Hygiene
Vilnius

E-mail: [email protected]
Normantas Ducinskas
Chief Specialist
Ministry of Health
Vilnius

E-mail: [email protected]
Luxembourg

Laurence Wurth
Environmental Health Lead
Ministry/Directorate of health Luxembourg Luxembourg

E-mail: [email protected]
Malta

Roberto Debono
National Focal Point
Office of the Superintendent of Public Health
Guardamagia

E-mail: [email protected]

Monaco

Hervé Raps
Physician Delegate for Research
Centre Scientifique de Monaco
Monaco

E-mail: [email protected]






Montenegro

Borko Bajić
EHTF member
Institute for Public Health for Montenegro
Podgorica

E-mail: [email protected]
Netherlands

Lennart Trouborst
Policy Advisor
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
The Hague

E-mail: [email protected]
Esther Putman
Policy Advisor
Ministry of Health
The Hague

E-mail: [email protected]
Lies van den Eijnden
International Policy Coordinator Sustainable Mobility
Ministry of Infrastructure and Watermanagement
The Hague

E-mail: [email protected]
North Macedonia

Mihail Kochubovski
Head of Sector of Environmental Health
Institute of Public Health
Skopje

E-mail: [email protected]

Norway

Vigdis Rønning
Specialist Director
Ministry of Health and Care Services
Oslo

E-mail: [email protected]
Portugal

Paulo Diegues
Chefe de Divisão de Saúde Ambiental e Ocupacional
Direção Geral da Saúde
Lisbon

E-mail: [email protected]



Romania

Silvia Teodorescu
Head of the Environmental Hygiene Section - National Center for Monitoring Risks in the Community Environment (CNMRMC)
National Institute of Public Health
Bucharest


E-mail: [email protected]
Russian Federation

Igor Bukhtiyarov
Russian Federation Honored Worker of Science
MD, PhD, DSc, Professor, RAS Academician
Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution
Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health
Moscow

E-mail: [email protected]
Serbia

Branislava Matić Savićević
Head of Environmental Health and School Hygiene Department
Institute of Public Health of Serbia
Belgrade

E-mail: [email protected]
Slovakia

Zuzana Fejdiova
Senior State Adviser
Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic
Bratislava

E-mail: [email protected]
Slovenia

Tanja Carli
Public Health Specialist
National Institute of Public Health
Ljubljana

E-mail: [email protected]
Andreja Kukec
University of Ljubljana
Ljubljana

E-mail: [email protected]
Spain

Marian Mendoza García
Head of the Environmental Risks Service
Ministry of Health
Madrid

E-mail: [email protected]
Sweden

Karin Norström
Scientific Advisor
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Stockholm

E-mail: [email protected]
Karin Ljung Björklund
Acting Head of Unit for Environmental Health
Public Health Agency of Sweden
Stockholm

E-mail: [email protected]
Türkiye

Elif Tosun
Health Expert
Ministry Health
Ankara

E-mail: [email protected]
Sena Ergun
Environmental Engineer MSc
Ministry of Health
Ankara

E-mail: [email protected]
Turkmenistan

Halmyrat Bekmyrat
Head of Sanitation Department
Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan
Ashgabat

E-mail: [email protected]
Shirin Rejepova
Main specialist of Sanitary and
Preventive Surveillance
Ministry of Health and Medical
Industry of Turkmensitan
Ashgabat

E-mail: [email protected]
Stakeholders

European Commission (EC)

Rita Araujo
Team Leader
EC - Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Brussels, Belgium

E-mail: [email protected]
Dimitrios Sarikizoglou
Policy Analyst
EC- Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Luxembourg

E-mail: [email protected]
International Youth Health Organization (YHO)

Katja Čič
Programme Director
YHO
Ljubljana, Slovenia


E-mail: [email protected]
Ani Beraia
YHO
Ljubljana, Slovenia
E-mail: [email protected]


Regional Environmental Center (REC) former

Eva Csobod
Senior Expert of Environment and Health
REC
Szentendre, Hungary

E-mail: [email protected]
WHO Regional Office for Europe

Philip Baumann
ICT Specialist
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]
Matthias Braubach
Technical Officer
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]
Dorota Jarosinska
Programme Manager, Living and Working Environments
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]

Henrik Khachatryan
National Professional Officer
WHO Country Office, Armenia
Yerevan, Armenia

E-mail: [email protected] t
Edith Kimotho
Programme Assistant
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]

Jangwon Lee
Technical Officer
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]

Sinaia Netanyahu
Programme Manager, Environment and Health Impact Assessment
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]
Julia Nowacki
Technical Officer
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany
E-mail: [email protected]
Dovile Rimke
Consultant
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]
Francesca Racioppi
Head of Office
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]
Oliver Schmoll
Programme Manager, Water and Climate
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]
Nino Sharashidze
Programme Manager, Multisectoral
Partnerships for Environment and Health
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]

Wendy Williams
Programme Assistant
WHO Regional Office for Europe
European Centre for Environment and Health
Bonn, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]


Annex 2. Provisional programme

10:00 – 10:10
Session 1 – Opening, adoption of the agenda

The Bureau is invited to adopt the agenda and the programme of the meeting.
Relevant documents:
EURO/EHTFB12/1 List of documents
EURO/EHTFB12/2 Scope and Purpose
EURO/EHTFB12/3 Provisional Agenda
EURO/EHTFB12/4 Provisional Programme
10:10 – 10:30

Session 2 – Follow-up to the Budapest Conference: where are we?

In this session, participants will be provided with examples of the Budapest commitments implementation by Member States and stakeholders.
Relevant documents:
EURO/EHTFB12/9 Seventy-third Regional Committee for Europe: Astana, 24–26 October 2023: decision: declaration of the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health 
EURO/EHTFB12/10 COP28 UAE Declaration on climate and health 
EURO/EHTFB12/11 EHP Newsletter, October-December 2023 
EURO/EHTFB12/12 Special issue of the EHP Newsletter, April-September 2023 
EURO/EHTFB12/13 Implementation of the EHP: progress report 
EURO/EHTFB12/14 Report of the Seventh Ministerial Conference (Budapest, 5–7 July 2023) 
EURO/EHTFB12/15 Report of the Special Session of the EHTF (Budapest, 4 July 2023) 
EURO/EHTFB12/16 Report of the thirteenth meeting of the EHTF (Brussels, 20–21 April 2023) 
10:30 – 11:30
Session 3 – Discussion on the draft programme of work for the EHTF for 2024–2025

Following the presentation on the draft programme of work for the EHTF for 2024–2025, the Bureau will have the opportunity to delve into its structure and content, providing insights and feedback.
Relevant document:
EURO/EHTFB12/6 Draft programme of work for the EHTF for 2024–2025
11:30 – 12:00
Break
12:00 – 12:30
Session 4 – Proposal for the programme for the Bonn Dialogues on Environment and Health for 2024–2025

In this session, the EHTF Bureau will review the proposal for the Dialogues' topics in the biennium 2024-2025.
Relevant document:
EURO/EHTFB12/7 Draft information note on the Bonn Dialogues following the Seventh Ministerial Conference
12:30 – 13:00
Session 5 – Preparation for the fourteenth meeting of the EHTF

In this session aimed at preparing for the EHTF meeting (26-27 June 2024), participants will be invited to discuss the agenda and the programme.
Relevant document:
EURO/EHTFB12/8 Draft agenda of the fourteenth meeting of the EHTF
13:00 – 14:00
Session 6 – Update on the EHP Partnerships

EHTF Bureau will be updated on the recent developments of the EHP Partnerships. The Secretariat will provide updates on the on-going revision of the Terms of Reference for the EHP Partnerships.
14:00 – 14:20
Session 7 – Update on the composition of the EHTF Bureau, and forthcoming elections according to the EHTF Rules of Procedures

The EHP Secretariat will provide information regarding the Bureau’s composition, the upcoming election of the co-Chair from the environment sector and the on-going revision of the Rules of Procedure of the EHTF.
14:20 – 14:30
Session 8 – Any other business, summary of decisions, next steps and closure of meeting