Item 6 - EuFMD Strategic Plan 2009-2013 The Report (Appendix 15) was circulated to Member States in advance of the Session, and presented at the Session by the Secretary; the main elements had been approved by the 77th Executive Committee. He explained that the Strategic Plan 2009-13 follows on from the 4 year strategic plan approved in 2005. The Plan has an importance in setting the priorities for the Commission, which are then to be developed into fundable actions, and a basis for renegotiation of the financial agreement with EC in 2009, providing a mechanism for support of common actions In summary, five priorities for action in the 2009-2013 Plan were proposed, of which three are a direct continuation from the 6 previous priority areas (2005-2009 Plan); regarding the risk situation in South-East Europe, all related activities have been brought under Priority 1: Long term risk reduction in the Turkish neighbourhood through support to the West EurAsia FMD Control Program (Roadmap). A new priority area was proposed, placing emphasis on Global FMD risk information and control program progress monitoring across 7 virus pools. The Proposed Priorities for action were: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
FMD Risk reduction in the Turkish neighbourhood region, in support of the West EurAsia FMD control Roadmap; Viral surveillance for Vaccine bank prioritization; Global FMD risk information and control program progress monitoring across 7 virus pools with priority given to the pools closest to Europe; FMD Training program – a rolling program for the European/EuFMD Member States 4 year rolling program; Technical networking – Euro-Med, West Eurasia region (focus on vaccination performance, FMD risk, surveillance and survey design and in depth technical studies);
For emergency actions, the EC/EuFMD agreement for 2009-2013 should continue to provide flexibility in provision for emergency actions, as per past agreements and reflecting the need to use this source of funds for an efficient, rapid response.
Discussion The representative of France agreed with the Plan, but suggested that actions should be focussed on priority risks for infection; he agreed that actions in the Sahel were justified to protect North African countries which in turn act as a buffer zone for Europe. For the EC, Dr Füessel gave support to the previous statement that support to surveillance in the African proximity was an important part of the surveillance component of the plan. He congratulated the Commission on the proposed Plan and indicated the EC was ready to proceed with the finalisation of the new Agreement with FAO on the support to the Commission activities for the period 2009-12. He did however sound a note of caution that in 2013, a number of changes will be introduced in Community activities on animal health and that cuts could be envisaged, therefore to complete as many priority tasks by the end of 2012. Dr Pinheiro, Portugal, strongly supported the training programme as part of the Plan, and suggested increased emphasis on this in the first two years. Dr Gibbens, UK, was pleased to see the Strategic Plan recognises the global threat of FMD, and had three main areas, service to member states, technical co-operation with the near neighbours, and a role to promote global FMD control. He suggested these three Items should be on the Agenda of meetings at lEast for the next 2 years. It was agreed that a reference to the PVS tool is needed, and the Operational Strategy should better reflect this linkage with OIE. Dr Facelli, Italy, proposed that enlargement of the membership of the Commission be part of the Strategy.
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38th General Session of the EuFMD – 28-30 April 2009. FAO, Rome
