Quarante-huitième session du Comité régional de l’Europe: Copenhague, 14 - 18 septembre 1998 : composition du Conseil exécutif et de divers autres comités

COMITÉ RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE Quarante-huitième session, Copenhague, 14 - 1 8 septembre 1998 ^ ° RGANISATI0N MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ U1948 B u r e a u r é g i o n a l d e l ’E u r o p e #1998 C o p e n h a g u e Point 4 a), b) de l ’ordre du jour provisoire EUR/RC48/6 Add.2 12 août 1998 08188 O R IG IN A L : A N G LA IS C o m p o s it io n d u C o n s e il e x é c u t if ET DE DIVERS AUTRES COMITÉS Les délégués du Comité régional noteront à la lecture de la lettre ci-jointe du cabinet de M. M. Colla, ministre belge de la santé publique et des pensions, en date du 7 août 1998, que ce dernier a retiré sa candidature au Comité permanent du Comité régional et qu’il souhaite se concentrer sur sa candidature au Conseil exécutif. Des notes verbales datées du 30 juillet 1998 et du 12 août 1998, émanant de l’ambas­ sade de Belgique à Copenhague, sont aussi jointes en annexe. Le curriculum vitae de M. Colla, sous forme normalisée, a été reproduit dans le document EUR/RC48/6. 1000 BRUXELLES, Boulevard Bischoffsheim, 33 Tél. 02/220.20.11 - Fax. 02/220.20.67 CABINET DU MINISTRE DE LA SANTE PUBLIQUE ET DES PENSIONS o.ref: MCA/G/GG/ldb 7th August 1998 Ms. Jilly Frisch Executive Management Officer WHO - Copenhagen Madam, Mr. M. Colla, Minister for Public Health, requested us to inform you that he wishes to withdraw his candidature for membership of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee and that he wishes to re-enforce his candidature for membership of the Executive Board. With kind regards, t5 ueyvaerts Advisor copy to: Ambassador of Belgium, Copenhagen Mr. Mannens, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Berwaerts, international Relations Department 10 aflBd 8 ï8 U Î6 fS fr0 0 < - WTI03 NIW BUD fy if i f i l? I Z£+ frO: 9I 9 6 -8 0 - AMBASSADE DE BELGIQUE P 32 Nr 1009 The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Copenhagen presents its compliments to the Regional Office to the World Health Organisation for Europe and would like to draw the attention to the candaditure of Mr. Marcel Colla, Belgian Minister for Health and Pensions, for the following bodies of the World Health Organisation (WHO): - the Executive Board of the WHO for the 1999-2001 term; - the Permanent Committee of the Regional Committee of the WHO for Europe for the 1998-2000 term. As a result of a thorough reflection upon this matter, the Government of Belgium has come to the conclusion that the Plenary of the Regional Committee representing WHO's European Member States is the best forum to pass a judgement on the profiles and programmes of all the European candidates to the WHO's Executive Board. In this respect the Government of Belgium would like to draw the attention of the Member States of the Regional Committee of the WHO for Europe, the Director of the Regional Office of the WHO for Europe and the Members of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee of the WHO for Europe to 1) resolution EUR/RC45/R1 (1995) of the Regional Committee of the WHO for Europe concerning "Membership of global advisory committees and other bodies" including the WHO's Executive Board; according to this resolution elections will be organised in the Regional Committee if Member States nominating candidates are unable to reach a consensus. 2) rules 14.2.1 and 38 to 4 6 of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee concerning the organisation of elections. In addition, the Government of Belgium invites Member States, the Director of the Regional Office and the members of the Standing Committee to reflect upon the implications of the 1998 World Health Assembly resolution A51/VR/10 of 16 May 1998 changing Article 24 of the WHO Constitution concerning the status of Executive Board members. According to this resolution, Executive Board members will no longer serve on the Executive Board in their personal capacity, but as Goverment representatives. Hence, the role of the Member States within the Executive Board has been increased considerably. Therefore, it would seem logical that a choice for any of the candidates should thus not only reflect their quality and experience (cfr. Rule 14.2.1 of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee), but foremost the quality of their programme as representatives of a Government. In this respect Belgium would like to draw the attention of the Member States, the Director of the Regional Office and the Members of the Standing Committee to some elements of the programme of Mr. Marcel Colla : - strengthen the links and the communication between the WHO's various actors such as the Secretariat, the Executive Board, the Regional Offices and the Member States as to guarantee the success of the reform process of the WHO at all levels; - establish the Executive Board as a key player in WHO's policy making process; - foster fruitful partnership between WHO, NGO's, the private sector, the European Union and other United Nations institutions; - if elected, Mr. Marcel Colla's priorities will include health sector development, the consequences of the ageing of the population, the prevention of tobacco consumption and the development of strategies for developing countries e.g. to tackle tropical diseases. Attached to this letter are the Curriculum Vitae and an Aide Memoire concerning the candidature of Mr. Marcel Colla. Belgium hopes that the Member States of the Regional Committee of the WHO for Europe during their 48th session from 14 to 18 September 1998 in Copenhagen will be able to elect in Plenary the candidates of the European Group on the Executive Board of the WHO. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Copenhagen avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Regional Office to the WHO for Europe the assurances of its highest consideration. Copenhagen, July 30, 1998 A i d e - m é m o i r e Seeking support for the candidatures of Mr. Marcel Colla for the Executive Council and the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee of the WHO for Europe, the Belgian Government would like the Member States of the Regional Committee of the WHO for Europe to consider the following arguments: - Belgium has not been represented in the Executive Council of the WHO since 1986. - Mr. Marcel Colla fully shares the ideas and goals of the WHO's future Director-General, Mrs. Brundtland, concerning the reform of the WHO: - the role of the WHO's Member States should be increased; - the reform process should focus on more efficiency, transparency and good governance; - decision makers at all levels need to be convinced that health is not a secondary factor, but a precondition for human development. - the need for fruitful interaction between the political world and the health community: being a politician with a strong interest in public health, Mr. Marcel Colla can play a constructive, mediating role within the WHO. - Over the last years, Belgium and Mr. Marcel Colla have strongly supported the UNAIDS program and its Director, the Belgian doctor Peter Piot. Given the encouraging results of UNAIDS, the WHO will have to examine the possibilities of close collaboration with UN specialised agencies in other areas, in conformity with the proposals for reform of the UN system put forward by the Secretary general Kofi Annan. - As the WHO will have to deal increasingly with the implications of the ageing of the population, Mr. Marcel Colla's expertise as a Minister for Health and Pensions will be very useful to the WHO. - Mr. Marcel Colla's political and academic career highlights versatility. Apart from his record as a Health and Pensions Minister, he distinguished himself as an expert in matters such as budget, finances, research policy and development co-operation. In addition, his academic background as a professor of sociology is not without interest. - Being capable af analysing health issues from different angles, Mr. Marcel Colla will, if elected, foster the elaboration of comprenhensive health strategies. A M BAS SADE VAN BELGIË P 32 Nr. 1240 The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Copenhagen presents its compliments to the Regional Office to the World Health Organisation for Europe and, referring to her Verbal Note P 32 - Nr. 1009 of July 30, 1998 and to the letter of August 7, 1998 adressed by Mr. Goyvaerts (Cabinet Advisor of Mr. Colla) to Mrs. Frisch, Executive Management Officer of the WHO,in relation with the candidatures to WHO bodies, would like to confirm the following information : 1. Mr. Colla, Belgian Minister for Health and Pensions, has decided to withdraw his candidature for membership of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee of the WHO for Europe, for the 1998-2000 term. 2. Mr. Colla maintains his candidature for membership of the Executive Board of the WHO for the 1999-2001 term. Herewith the Belgian Government as well as Mr. Colla wish to underline once more the importance attached to this candidature. Belgium also takes note of the information given by the Regional Office to the WHO for Europe, stating that the nominations for the European candidates for the Executive Board of the WHO will take place during the September session of the members of the Regional Committee of the WHO. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Copenhagen avails itself of the opportunity to renew to the Regional Office to the WHO for Europe the assurance of its highest consideration. Copenhagen, August 12, 1998