Convergence on Global Health – Two events addressing the new EU Global Health Strategy, Stockholm 9 February 2023

On 9 February 2023 Karolinska Institutet will organise two events related to Global Health. The morning seminar will be followed by a round-table discussion (co-organised with the “One Europe for Global Health” coalition). The overall theme is the changing role of the EU as a global health actor and the ambition to contribute to European convergence on global health action. The new EU Global Health Strategy will form the backdrop of both events taking place within the context of the Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU. Both meetings will be held at Nobel Forum, home to the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet.

Morning Seminar 8:30-12:30
Title: Convergence on Global Health – Joint action with reference to the new EU Global Health Strategy
Venue: Nobel Forum, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 1, Stockholm

Having an open and constructive dialogue between academia, civil society organisations (CSO), policy makers and other important stakeholders is key to the successful implementation of the EU global health strategy. The specific roles of different sectors come with distinct responsibilities and possibilities. While EU council conclusions will be drafted based on the new strategy, universities and CSOs have important roles as advocates and implementers of the strategy. The engagement of universities and CSOs in global health extends through EU presidencies and forms a seedbed for sustainability. This half-day seminar is organised by Karolinska Institutet within the context of the Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU, in dialogue with the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Purpose:  The main purpose of the seminar is to discuss the changing role of the EU as a global health actor and contribute to European convergence on global health action. The EU Global Health Strategy will form the backdrop for the discussions. This interactive meeting will combine presentations by distinguished guests and experts with group discussions.

Afternoon roundtable discussion 14:00-16:15
Title: Implementing the new EU Global Health Strategy: From Coal and Steel to One Health and Green Deal – Convergence on Global Health
Venue: Nobel Forum, Nobels väg 1, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm

This roundtable discussion is co-organised with the One Europe for Global Health coalition. The main objective is to discuss the essence of the morning seminar and provide input for the Stockholm Amendment of the “One Europe for Global Health Declaration”, summarised below. Other focal points for the discussion will be the pandemic and EU’s strategy for handling health issues within the EU and in a global context.

Background: “One Europe for Global Health” is a civil society coalition that bundles the voices from a diversity of professional organisations and citizens across Europe and around the world. This initiative stems from the mobilisation of several members who mobilized in Lyon, in connection with the European Ministers of Health and Foreign Affairs meeting, during the French Presidency of the Council of the EU. The resulting One Europe for Global Health Declaration (formerly Lyon Declaration for a European Health Union) urges European stakeholders in Global Health to make a long-term commitment now for future generations; act locally while thinking globally; come together in equity and solidarity with due reference to climate and planetary health; limit silos with more intersectoral cooperation and commit to good governance. The first event took place in Lyon on February 8, 2022, giving rise to the Lyon Declaration for a European Health Union, presented on February 10 in Grenoble (France) to the 27 European health ministers. Three further events took place during 2022 at the Berlin World Health Summit.

The objective is to ensure Continuity, Coherence and Consistency through subsequent Presidencies of the Council of the EU: Czech Republic, Sweden, Spain, Belgium and beyond, A meeting was held in Prague on November 30, 2022 during the Czech Presidency, in partnership with the Czech Medical Association. One focus of the Czech Presidency was the reinforcement of Governance and Funding mechanisms to stimulate innovation in various areas where One Health is implicated. During the session, recommendations were adopted and included in the Prague amendment the One Europe for Global Health Declaration, including the place of Youth, the One Health paradigm, the health impact of Climate Change issues, and reinforcement of Governance and Financing.

Focus and purpose of the side event in Stockholm: The Stockholm meeting will focus on how to translate the conclusions/recommendations from the morning seminar (especially the eight roundtable sessions) into the Stockholm amendment of the One Europe for Global Health Declaration. This will be done with the objective of ensuring Continuity, Coherence and Consistency through subsequent Presidencies of the Council of the EU. Governance and operationalizing the new EU Global Health Strategy will be further points of discussion. Furthermore, the event will link back to the session held in Prague on November 30 and the amendment made there, as well as to the statement made by President von der Leyen on the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity agreement in Brussels, 19 December 2022. In line with the need to “act locally while thinking globally”, the afternoon roundtable will also seek to pinpoint and highlight some pressing issues high on the agenda in Sweden, including:

1. Climate/Ecosystems linked to planetary, animal, and human health
2. Preparedness for future health crises, long-term planning, and collaboration.
3. Security (including cybersecurity) and health: Threats caused by conflict and war
4. The long-term perspective: Youth, education, and implementation

A further purpose is to “hand over” to Spain as next holder of the Presidency.

Desired outcomes: The most important desired outcome of the meeting will be to provide recommendations aimed at operationalizing the new EU Global Health Strategy.

Participants: Representatives from One Europe for Global Health, experts from the morning session, key representatives from health and youth organizations, Swedish government representatives and civil society.

Draft agenda

• 14:00-14:15 Welcome and comments on the One Europe for Global Health Declaration: Its development from Lyon and Prague towards the Stockholm amendment: Ole Petter Ottersen, President of the Karolinska Institutet, co-founder of One Europe for Global Health (OEGH) coalition.
• 14:15-15.45 Roundtable discussion: Towards the Stockholm Amendment, moderated by Stefan Swartling Peterson, Professor of Global Transformation for Health, Karolinska Institutet.
• 15:45-16:15 Towards a Stockholm amendment with the aim of operationalizing the new EU Global Health Strategy with concluding comments by representatives of the One Europe for Global Health coalition.