The European Union has published a consolidated repository of its positions and contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO) negotiations on a pandemic agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), covering documents from September 2021 to June 2026. The collection, released on 11 June 2026 by the EEAS Delegation to the UN in Geneva, includes EU statements, drafting suggestions, and reflection papers submitted across multiple negotiating rounds.
The repository traces the EU's involvement from the earliest stages. In September 2021, the European Commission published a reflection paper titled "Agreement on pandemic preparedness and response: an initial blueprint." That same year, the EU delivered statements at the 3rd Working Group on Strengthening WHO preparedness and response (October 2021) and at the second special session of the World Health Assembly (November-December 2021), where President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a speech paving the way toward a pandemic treaty.
Subsequent documents cover the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) meetings from INB 1 (February 2022) through INB 12, with EU statements and written comments on each draft negotiating text. The EU also submitted textual proposals for the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex, including inputs for the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th meetings of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG).
On the IHR amendments track, the EU submitted proposed amendments to the IHR (2005) with explanatory notes, and a Council Decision (EU) 2025/1129 of 26 May 2025 invited Member States to accept the amendments adopted by the World Health Assembly on 1 June 2024.
The compilation serves as a reference for stakeholders tracking the EU's evolving position on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, as well as its stance on pathogen access and benefit-sharing.
Impact on stakeholders
The publication primarily benefits researchers, policymakers, and civil society organisations seeking a single access point for EU negotiating history. For EU Member States, the repository clarifies the bloc's coordinated approach, potentially reducing duplication in national preparations for future WHO meetings. For non-EU countries and WHO secretariat, it offers transparency on EU red lines and priorities, such as the emphasis on preventing laboratory releases and zoonotic spillovers. The pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries may use the documents to anticipate future obligations on pathogen access and benefit-sharing, which could affect intellectual property and licensing terms. No immediate regulatory or financial impact is expected, as the documents are historical rather than new proposals.
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