International Pandemic Accord

The decision to draft an international Pandemic Accord was adopted at a World Health Assembly Special Session in December 2021 by the 194 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO), including Germany.

The international Pandemic Accord provides a unique opportunity to strengthen regional, national and global capacities so as to make infectious disease outbreaks less likely and, in particular, prevent them from spiralling into pandemics. These efforts require a treaty with clear-cut provisions that is binding under international law.

Negotiations to be concluded by May 2025 at the latest

An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) comprised of the 194 WHO Member States was established for the purpose of drafting and negotiating the international Pandemic Accord. This means that its development process is led entirely by the WHO member states.

The public can access all of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body’s documentation at its website (who.int). Right from the outset, moreover, the development process has been based on inclusiveness – comprising, in addition to the INB meetings of the WHO member states, also several public hearings of non-State actors and technical presentations from experts on selected topics.

During the 77^th World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHO’s 194 member states agreed to extend the mandate to conclude the negotiation process. The objective is to conclude the negotiations as quickly as possible and present the results at the 78^th WHA in 2025 or earlier at a special session of the WHA, ideally in 2024.

Better prevention and response

The international Pandemic Accord is to include provisions covering pandemic prevention, preparedness and response to provide the Member States with guidance for action before and during a pandemic outbreak. Its specific aims are to strengthen the capacities for early detection, prevention and resilience in view of future pandemics and to lay down legally binding collective measures for the international community that are necessary for pandemic control.

The contents of the international Pandemic Accord is being discussed and laid down on an ongoing basis by the member states, among them Germany. Adopting the international Pandemic Accord and implementing the measures it includes will be incumbent on the individual member states that will decide in line with their national legislation. This is meant to reflect the political commitment of the international community to take joint action against the outbreak and spread of future pandemics.

The WHO Secretariat supports the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, inter alia by hosting the INB meetings and involving other United Nations organisations as well as non-State actors. However, the WHO Secretariat does not determine any of the international Pandemic Accord's content, this is only for the WHO member states to stipulate.

International control of infectious diseases

The International Health Regulations provide the basis of international law that underlies the control of infectious disease at international level. In view of the shortfalls revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was agreed at the 75th WHA in May 2022 to devise targeted amendments to the International Health Regulations. The amended version of the International Health Regulations was adopted during the 77th WHA in May 2024 .

Collective action and transparency

The EU is an initiator of the International Pandemic Accord, speaking with one voice on behalf of all of its 27 member states in the development process. In March 2022, a European Council decision granted the EU the negotiating mandate in matters falling within EU competence. The EU closely coordinates with all of its member states and feeds the positions a consensus was reached on into the international negotiations.

On behalf of the German Government, the Federal Ministry of Health coordinates the negotiating process together with the Federal Foreign Office. In addition, continuous open exchange with non-State actors takes place. Many diverse formats have already been implemented for this purpose, also in cooperation with the Global Health Hub Germany.

In developing the international Pandemic Accord, transparency, coherence and a binding character are central to the Federal Government. An international pandemic treaty can only be successful if it is properly embedded into the global health architecture and closes existing gaps long-term.