Subregional organizations
WHO/Europe works closely with subregional organizations to promote and protect health across the European Region. In the subregions of the Western Balkans and Central Asia, WHO/Europe’s partnerships are guided by subregional roadmaps for health and well-being. It collaborates with a variety of subregional organizations, including those below.
Central European Initiative
The Central European Initiative (CEI) is a regional intergovernmental forum committed to supporting European integration and sustainable development through cooperation between and among its Member States, and with the European Union, international and regional organizations, and other public or private institutions and nongovernmental organizations. Acting as a platform for political dialogue among 17 Member States in central and south-eastern Europe, CEI works with WHO/Europe to achieve universal health coverage, protect people from health emergencies and promote health and well-being in line with the objectives of the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in the Western Balkans (2021–2025).
Council of the Baltic Sea States
The Council of the Baltic Sea States is a political forum for intergovernmental cooperation between the 11 states of the Baltic Sea Region as well as the European Commission. The Members of the Council are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Sweden and a representative from the European Union.
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional organization that comprises former Soviet republics. WHO/Europe participates in the CIS Council for Cooperation in Health meetings, which focus on preparing joint strategic approaches on pressing health issues; facilitating the exchange of information on the protection of citizens’ health and the sanitary and epidemiological safety of the population; sharing best practices and knowledge on health issues; improving the quality and ensuring the availability of medical care taking into account the principle of equality; and ensuring the rights of citizens to affordable and high-quality medical care.
The collaboration is guided by the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in Central Asia 2022–2025.
Eurasian Economic Union
The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional economic integration. The Eurasian Economic Union formally succeeded the Eurasian Economic Community in 2015. WHO/Europe and the Eurasian Economic Union are collaborating in technical areas such as: the regulation of medicines and medical products; the prevention of health emergencies; sanitary measures; public health regulations; the prevention of the emergence and spread of resistance to antimicrobial drugs; health protection; the development of health information systems; and the use of telemedicine technologies.
The collaboration is guided by the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in Central Asia 2022–2025.
Nordic Council of Ministers
The Nordic Council of Ministers is the official body for intergovernmental cooperation in the Nordic Region. The Nordic Council of Ministers was set up in 1971 and, despite its name, actually consists of several individual councils of ministers. There are currently 11 ministerial councils, in addition to the Ministers for Nordic Cooperation.
Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being
WHO/Europe is a founding member of the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being, which is a cooperative effort between 9 countries (Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden), the European Commission and 8 international organizations. It aims to tackle challenges to health and social well-being in the Northern Dimension area and oversees a number of expert and task groups on a variety of health issues, such as primary health care, alcohol, noncommunicable diseases and occupational health.
Organization of Turkic Speaking States
The Organization of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) was established in 2009 as an intergovernmental organization, with the overarching aim of promoting comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking States. A memorandum of understanding between WHO/Europe and the Turkic Council was signed in October 2023. The 2 organizations work together towards achieving universal health coverage, protecting against health emergencies and promoting the well-being of the populations in the member states of the Turkic Council.
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 57 states spread over 4 continents. The OIC works towards safeguarding and protecting the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony. WHO’s collaboration with the OIC is led by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and supported by WHO/Europe.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic and security organization, which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. WHO/Europe cooperates with the SCO in particular in the area of noncommunicable diseases.
South-eastern Europe Health Network
The South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) is a regional network that promotes population health and health equity through an intersectoral approach. It has 9 member states: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.