Vlora, Albania | 31 March – 1 April 2026

Health, veterinary, and environmental experts from across South-Eastern Europe convened in Vlora, Albania, for a high-level regional workshop on strengthening coordinated responses to avian influenza through a One Health approach. The event was organized by the Regional Health Development Centre (RHDC) on Communicable Diseases hosted by SECID, Albania, in collaboration with national authorities, and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC). The South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) Director had the honor to contribute to the event.

The workshop addressed an increasingly urgent regional priority: the need for harmonized data systems, shared surveillance standards, and clearly defined response triggers to effectively manage zoonotic threats such as avian influenza. As highlighted during the opening by Dr Tatiana Paduraru, Head of the SEEHN Secretariat, the region’s geographic position along major migratory routes places it at the centre of emerging cross-border health risks, requiring a coordinated and proactive response.

Over two days of intensive technical work, participants from SEEHN Member States engaged in joint analysis, simulations, and working groups to:

• Define minimum datasets and interoperable data standards for cross-sectoral surveillance
• Establish common triggers for outbreak investigation and response
• Develop coordinated One Health action frameworks across human, animal, and environmental sectors
• Explore the use of innovative digital tools, genomics, and surveillance technologies

The outcomes of the workshop are expected to contribute to the development of a regional operational framework for coordinated public health action, reinforcing preparedness and response capacities across South-Eastern Europe.

Regional Action and Next Steps

Building on the results of this workshop, SEEHN, through its Regional Health Development Centre (RHDC) on Communicable Diseases (SECID), will facilitate a series of follow-up regional actions, including:

• Development of a regional consensus framework on One Health data standards and response triggers
• Establishment of a regional technical working group on zoonotic surveillance and data interoperability
• Support for capacity-building initiatives targeting national public health, veterinary, and environmental authorities
• Promotion of cross-border simulation exercises to test coordinated outbreak responses
• Exploration of digital solutions and shared platforms to strengthen real-time data exchange
• Contribution to the development of a sustainable regional One Health coordination mechanism

These actions aim to ensure that the SEE region moves from fragmented approaches to coordinated, evidence-based and timely responses, strengthening health security and protecting populations.

The SEEHN Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Member States in advancing this agenda, fostering regional solidarity, and aligning efforts with broader European and global health frameworks.

South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN)
Skopje, 27 March 2026

The South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) marked its active participation in the regional conference “Bridging Futures: Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe”, held on 26–27 March 2026 in Skopje, North Macedonia.

The conference convened a high-level and diverse group of participants, including ministers of education and senior government officials from across the Western Balkans, representatives of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the World Bank, European Commission experts, leaders from academia and university networks, as well as international organizations and policy experts in education, labor markets, and human capital development. The event provided a unique platform for cross-sectoral dialogue linking higher education policies with labor market needs and regional competitiveness.

Representing SEEHN, Dr. Tatiana Păduraru, Head of the SEEHN Secretariat, contributed to the conference’s policy dialogue by facilitating Lab C: “Attracting Health Professionals for the Care Economy”, a dedicated session focused on one of the region’s most pressing challenges—health workforce mobility, retention, and sustainable workforce planning.

The Lab brought together a distinguished panel of experts, including Fatime Arënliu Qosaj (Public Health Policy Expert, AAB University College), Milva Ekonomi (Member of Parliament, Chair of the Economic Employment and Finance Commission, Albania), Ulpiana Lama (Human Capital Development Expert, RCC), Tina Šarić (Independent Consultant), Sulakshana Nandi (Human Resources for Health, WHO), and Danica Ramljak (EU Universities Network). Through a dynamic fireside chat format, the session enabled an interactive exchange of perspectives on workforce mobility, recognition frameworks, and retention strategies.

In her role as session facilitator, Dr. Păduraru guided discussions around key policy priorities, including:

• Advancing the automatic recognition of professional qualifications for health professionals;
• Strengthening regional cooperation frameworks to support workforce mobility and skills circulation;
• Developing sustainable workforce planning strategies to enhance retention and address demographic pressures;
• Promoting international pathways and incentives to transform brain drain into brain circulation.

The discussions highlighted the need for coordinated regional approaches that align education systems, labor market needs, and health system priorities. Participants emphasized that investing in the health workforce is essential not only for the care economy, but also for broader socio-economic resilience and European integration pathways.

The outcomes of Lab C are expected to contribute to a set of policy-relevant takeaways, reflecting a shared regional voice on how to better attract, retain, and empower health professionals in the years ahead.

SEEHN’s contribution to the conference reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Member States in addressing health workforce challenges through policy dialogue, regional cooperation, and knowledge exchange.