(centre) Martine Deprez, Luxembourg’s Minister of Health and Social Security;
Credit: © WHO/Europe
On Wednesday 29 October 2025, Luxembourg’s Minister of Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez, chaired the 75th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Europe (RC75), held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The session brought together WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who joined from New York, and WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Henri P. Kluge. Minister Deprez chaired the proceedings with the assistance of Executive Chairman Thomas Dentzer, according to the Ministry of Health and Social Security.
In her opening remarks, Martine Deprez highlighted the major challenges facing the region and the need for collective commitment: “We are opening this 75th session at a pivotal moment. The stakes are considerable, but they must be an opportunity to strengthen our cohesion, our solidarity and our commitment to health as a global public good. WHO/Europe is indeed facing significant challenges - budget cuts and ongoing restructuring will require further rigorous measures to enable WHO to continue fulfilling its leadership in global public health.”
Discussions during the session focused on the health situation in the European Region, increased progress and ongoing challenges, particularly concerning non-communicable diseases. Delegates also addressed the review of the second European Work Programme 2026-2030 (2nd EWP), which addresses emerging geopolitical and health realities, and the adoption of the new 2026-2027 biennial budget, with a planned 20% reduction compared to the initially set targets.
During the general debate, Luxembourg welcomed the ongoing reform of WHO/Europe and highlighted the importance of stable funding to preserve the organisation’s capacity to act. Luxembourg emphasised the need to balance efficiency, solidarity and sustainability, affirming the need for a strategic refocusing on WHO's core missions in order to achieve concrete and equitable results, the ministry added.
Luxembourg also reaffirmed its support for the WHO/Europe Special Initiative on Violence against Women and Girls (SIVAWG), describing such violence as a public health crisis. The country stressed the need to invest in prevention, strengthen health systems and protect fundamental rights, confirming its commitment to active participation in implementing the initiative through advocacy and the development of strategic partnerships.
Minister Deprez further highlighted the importance of preparedness for health crises and the sharing of expertise and resources among Member States, considering health as a driver of stability and an instrument of peace.
On the recommendation of the Regional Committee, Georgia and the United Kingdom were nominated to submit their candidacies for election to the WHO Executive Board for the 2026-2029 term.
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