Regional cooperation in health governance – the case of the South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) – Alain Nellen

Health – from a contributor to peace-building to an integral part of economic development and prosperitynnAbstractnnThis paper argues that through the South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN), the health sector has proven to be a post-conflict recovery platform after the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, which were marked with regional political, social and economic turmoil. SEEHN contributed to reconciliation, peace and stability in south-eastern Europe. Serving as a platform for trust-building, it has brought countries to the same table to pool together resources among stakeholders and establish a shared vision by implementing joint regional projects on common health concerns. Over the years, SEEHN has shifted its vision towards promoting health as an integral part of economic development through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. However, SEEHN is facing new and ongoing challenges, both internal and external, that put it at risk of operational stagnation and undermine its sustainability.nn nnKeywordsnnSouth-eastern Europe Health NetworknnIntergovernmental cooperation in healthnnNetwork governance theorynnExternal partnersnnHealth as a Bridge for PeacennShared vision and trust-buildingnnHealth and economic developmentnnHealth in All PoliciesnnWhole-of-government and whole-of-society approachnnHealth equalitynnEU integration process