Renewed Push for A December Deadline To Conclude The Pandemic Agreement

Newsletter Edition #109 [Treaty Talks]

Hi,

As an agnostic, I have always been amused by the proverb: “Man Proposes, God Disposes”. Somehow it seems fitting while writing about global health negotiations.

At least theoretically, Gods in global health are member states, at whose table the buck stops. But Man will make efforts to propose, as is his wont.

In our News Flash today, we bring you an update on the goings-on at WHO on the Pandemic Agreement.

There is now a renewed push to see whether countries can conclude the Pandemic Treaty Talks in under eight weeks from now.

In this edition, we bring you the various factors at play that are weighing down, and shaping these discussions. So while many countries, and other stakeholders are sceptical about an unrealistic December deadline, nevertheless efforts are now on to see if this will be possible at all.

We report what we see, and we hold judgement on the final outcome of these efforts. International negotiations are notoriously difficult to predict, particularly one with such strong political motivations.

Thank you for reading.  

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Until later!

Priti

Feel free to write to us: patnaik.reporting@gmail.com, Follow us on X: @filesgeneva

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Illustration Credit: Amy Clarke, Chembe Collaborative

I. NEWS FLASH

Renewed Push for A December Deadline To Conclude The Pandemic Agreement

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Key actors in the negotiations on a new Pandemic Agreement are making vigorous and renewed efforts to see if countries can reach consensus and conclude these discussions in December 2024. Some of these actors reportedly include the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body set up in 2021 to establish this agreement, the World Health Organization led by Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, diplomatic sources in Geneva say. In addition, WHO member states including the Africa Group, among others, have been keen on concluding these negotiations this year. The Africa Group is reportedly discussing options this week at a retreat in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sources indicated that contingency plans are being made to prepare for a special session of the World Health Assembly for a two-day meeting potentially during December 18^th-20^th in order to adopt the Pandemic Agreement if consensus is reached. (These dates will first need to be determined by the Executive Board of the WHO.)  

Recall that when member states were unable to meet the deadline of May 2024, the World Health Assembly then decided to grant additional time for the process. (See OP1: (1) to extend the mandate of the INB to finish its work as soon as possible, and submit its outcome for consideration by the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in 2025, or earlier by a special session of the World Health Assembly, if possible, in 2024 with only one agenda item dedicated to this outcome;)

So, in effect, countries do have time until May 2025.

But the push to conclude the discussions by December is being triggered not only by political motivations to clinch a deal on these negotiations at the earliest, but also by the American Presidential elections scheduled for November 5, 2024, sources told Geneva Health Files.

The INB is scheduled to meet at its next formal meeting during November 4^th-15^th. And as per procedures, countries will need to decide by November 12^th whether a special session needs to be called.