The South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) was represented by Dr. Tatiana Paduraru, SEEHN Director, and Dr. Svetlana Nicolaescu, Chair of the SEEHN Executive Committee and State Secretary at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova, at the EuroHealthNet General Council Meeting (GCM) and Annual Seminar, held in Brussels from 11 to 13 June 2025.
This high-level, three-day gathering convened health leaders, policymakers, and public health experts from across Europe to explore joint strategies for addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, health promotion, and health equity. The event served as a vital forum for knowledge exchange, policy alignment, and collaborative planning to build a healthier and more equitable Europe.
Dr. Paduraru and Dr. Nicolaescu contributed to strategic discussions on the evolving role of public health in climate action, the development of EuroHealthNet’s Strategic Development Plan 2026–2031, and the adoption of a new Ethical Framework for Health Promotion. Their active engagement reaffirmed SEEHN’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and public health leadership in the face of global health challenges.
A key feature of the programme was the Annual Seminar on “Climate Change and Health: Using the Health Argument to Mitigate and Adapt,” hosted by the Spanish Permanent Representation to the EU. The seminar focused on the mounting health impacts of climate change—particularly for vulnerable populations—and the urgent need for health-informed climate action.
The sessions explored evidence-based approaches to:
- Address the growing health and health equity impacts of climate change;
- Foster intersectoral collaboration to tackle environmental health determinants;
- Equip public health leaders with tools for climate adaptation and resilience;
- Align regional and national strategies with European and global policy frameworks.
The EuroHealthNet GCM 2025 reaffirmed the importance of coordinated European responses to health inequalities and climate threats. SEEHN commends EuroHealthNet for organizing a forward-thinking and impactful meeting, and looks forward to continued collaboration in shaping resilient and equitable health systems across the region.
