Nicosia: Representatives from Mediterranean countries, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and regional partners have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation to address growing animal health threats during the 32nd Meeting of the Mediterranean Animal Health Network (REMESA), held in Nicosia on 18-19 June.
According to Cyprus News Agency, hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture of Cyprus during the country's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the meeting brought together Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) from Cyprus, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Malta, Lebanon, Jordan, Italy, and Greece, and technical experts alongside representatives from FAO, WOAH, and regional technical partners including the Pirbright Institute (World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease), ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety), and other reference laboratories and collaborating institutions.
As noted, during the meeting that was officially opened by the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of Cyprus, under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture of Cyprus, the Co-Presidency (Egypt), FAO, and WOAH, all speakers emphasized that transboundary animal diseases continue to pose significant threats to animal health, food security, livelihoods, and trade across the Mediterranean region, adding that recent outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), particularly the SAT1 topotype 3 strain, as well as the continued risks posed by avian influenza, bluetongue, and Rift Valley Fever, underscore the need for coordinated regional action.
It is added that Cyprus highlighted the strategic importance of hosting the meeting during its EU Council Presidency and underlined the need for impact-oriented collaboration, while Egypt reaffirmed its commitment to regional animal health, food security, and practical, action-oriented outcomes.
On its part, FAO emphasized the growing complexity of animal health threats, particularly the persistence and spread of transboundary diseases, and highlighted the importance of One Health, investment, and partnerships, including the focus on these in the Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD), while WOAH stressed the importance of transparency and timely reporting of animal health events in line with international standards, strengthening veterinary services and surveillance systems, and enhancing regional and international coordination.
Throughout the two-day event, countries exchanged experiences and reviewed the regional animal health situation. Participants highlighted successful examples of surveillance, vaccination, and outbreak response while recognizing that disease prevention and control require collective action and sustained commitment. The meeting also explored innovative approaches to animal health management, including the use of digital surveillance systems, epidemic intelligence tools, earth observation technologies, and risk-based forecasting models, with participants stressing that stronger surveillance systems and early warning mechanisms are critical for detecting and responding to disease outbreaks before they escalate.
The FAO's Emergency Prevention System's Event Mobile Application (EMAi-+) disease reporting tool and the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) were highlighted as important tools for early detection and monitoring of animal health threats through the analysis of information from multiple sources and languages.
As noted, a central outcome of the meeting was the reaffirmation of the One Health approach as a critical framework for addressing transboundary and emerging health threats. Participants stressed the importance of strengthening coordination across animal, human, and environmental health sectors, including through the Science-Policy Interface (SPI), to ensure that scientific evidence effectively informs policy and decision-making. Participants emphasized that stronger governance, capacity development, and sustained investment are essential to operationalize One Health and strengthen preparedness, prevention, and response across the Mediterranean region.
The meeting also highlighted the economic impact of animal diseases and the importance of investing in prevention, preparedness, and veterinary services. Participants emphasized that animal health should be viewed as a strategic investment that generates significant economic, social, and food security benefits rather than as a cost.
FAO highlighted the importance of sustained investment and partnerships in strengthening animal health systems and presented its upcoming Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD), which aims to strengthen country-led and country-owned efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to transboundary animal diseases through enhanced partnerships, investment, and coordinated action.
The meeting concluded with a shared recognition that increasingly complex animal health challenges require stronger regional solidarity, enhanced surveillance and early warning systems, greater investment in animal health services, more effective implementation, and follow-up of agreed recommendations, and greater country ownership and accountability, FAO said.