I am deeply honored to begin my 2nd term as @WHO_Europe’s Regional Director, following today’s decision of @WHO’s Executive Board. I warmly thank all the members of the Executive Board for their trust & support 🙏 With humility and a strong sense of responsibility, I take on this mandate – fully committed to working in partnership to advance our shared vision for the region, especially in these times of crisis and uncertainty. The unanimous support by WHO/Europe Member States is a profound mark of trust. I recognize the high expectations placed upon me and I am ready to meet them head-on – driven by energy, experience and an exceptional team of executive directors. Together, we will build on lessons from the past 5 years, always upholding fairness to our staff – WHO’s greatest asset. I’ve reaffirmed my commitments, knowing I can count on the support of our Member States - and that of my big brother, @DrTedros, whose guidance has meant so much to me. Our goal is clear: to ensure @WHO_Europe is future-proofed with the ambitious new European Programme of Work – #EPW2, which we have started co-creating with our Member States. This means: ✅ Crystal-clear priorities in a financially constrained world ✅ A nimble, adaptive WHO that reinvents itself ✅ Back to the basics: technical excellence and country relevance ✅ Tripling our ambition, leveraging AI & digital tools for efficiency ✅ Political neutrality to strengthen WHO’s normative role, country support & humanitarian aid ✅ A relentless commitment to listening to Member States - and following up with steadfast discipline This is my pledge as I embark on this new term. Let’s move forward – together – for a healthier & stronger Europe. #HealthForAll

📢 It’s not just about increasing the years of life, it’s about enhancing life within years Join us for our next public hearing on “Ageing is Living” on 30 January at 09:00 CET Join the hearings informing the second European Programme of Work (#EPW2):