London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Feb 16, 2025

European countries succeed in yearlong push to relocate WHO Moscow office 

European countries succeed in yearlong push to relocate WHO Moscow office 

The WHO’s non-communicable diseases office will move to Copenhagen.
It took a year, but European countries have succeeded in their push for the World Health Organization (WHO) to relocate a key office away from Moscow.

A special session of the WHO’s Regional Committee for Europe on Monday, called by all EU countries except Hungary, as well as Iceland, Norway, U.K. and Ukraine, saw the countries force the WHO’s hand on the closure of the non-communicable diseases office in Moscow. The office will be relocated to Copenhagen by January 1, 2024.

It marks a significant moment for the WHO, which attempts to remain politically neutral while condemning actions that harm human health. The European countries pushing for the relocation of the office argued in a letter in April that “the immediate and long-term health impacts in Ukraine and beyond, caused by Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, continue to be a matter of utmost concern.”

The majority of countries present at the meeting Monday voted in favor of the resolution, which comes almost exactly a year after they kicked off the procedure. POLITICO reported in October that staff in the Moscow office had been quietly relocated out of the country with just a handful of Russian WHO staffers and 11 consultants remaining.

But the full relocation has been beset with bureaucratic hurdles, in particular there being only one official annual event when European countries could vote on the move — the next meeting being in October.

To work around this, the EU, Norway, Ukraine and the U.K. called a special session of the Regional Committee for Europe, something that has only happened twice before — once in 2022 to discuss the office move and once in 1954 to establish the WHO’s Europe office.

The WHO will help the six Russian nationals that currently work in the Moscow office to find alternative work opportunities with the U.N. and the local market, said Robb Butler, executive director at the WHO's Europe office. The transfer of staff out of Russia has been complex, Butler told POLITICO, pointing to "layer upon layer of managerial and administrative action that needs to take place to make this happen."

On Monday, Denmark announced that 12 countries would be making up the $5.6 million per annum that Russia had contributed to the running costs of the Moscow office, said Butler.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk is Sherlock Holmes - Movie Trailer Parody featuring Donald Trump's Detective
Trump's Greenland Suggestion Sparks Sovereignty Discussion Amidst Historical Resentments
California's CalExit Movement Gathers Momentum Amid Ongoing Political and Economic Discussions in the State.
USAID Revealed: American Tax Dollars Utilized to Erode Democracy in Europe Until Trump Put a Stop to It
Pam Bondi Leaves Congress in Utter Shock with a Stunning Rebuttal of Adam Schiff.
Trump's Press Secretary SLAMS Republican Mitch McConnell for Opposing Tulsi Gabbard.
Brand Finance Unveils its Rankings of the Best CEOs for 2025: Satya Nadella Takes the Lead
Steering Through the Updated Chain of Command at the European Commission
Parliamentarian Advocates for Preservation of AI Liability Directive
Mark Rutte Calls on NATO Allies to Increase Defence Expenditure
Dresden Marks the 80th Anniversary of the World War II Bombing
Global Community Pledges to Assist Syria's Political Transition
EU Activates €200 Billion for AI Investment and Introduces €20 Billion Fund for Gigafactories
EU Recognizes Difficulty in Closing the USAID Funding Shortfall Due to Stalled US Aid
Commission President von der Leyen Not Present at Notre Dame Reopening Due to Last-Minute Cancellation
EU Establishes Disinformation Code for Online Platforms, Leaving Out X
EU Lags in Enforcing Essential Cybersecurity Directives
EU Under Fire for Streamlining Discussions on Corporate Sustainability Reporting
Shein Receives Further Information Request from EU During Ongoing Investigation
European Commission Initiates Investigation into Shein While Focusing on Chinese E-Commerce Regulations
Trump's special envoy for hostage affairs cautions Hamas against challenging Trump before Saturday's deadline.
Ukraine Confirms Territorial Loss in Russia's Kursk Region
Trump Declares Reciprocal Tariffs as Trade Conflict Intensifies
California Congressman Robert Garcia's Threats of Utilizing Weapons Against Elon Musk
Trump and Putin Address Ukraine Peace Negotiations in Response to Worldwide Reactions
Honda and Nissan Conclude Merger Talks
New York Fashion Week Highlights Iconic Returns and Emerging Talents
Trump Proposes Including Ukraine in Peace Talks to Settle the Conflict
Trump Supports Russia's Reinstatement in G7 Amid Continuing Diplomatic Strains
Zelensky Warns Against Placing Trust in Putin as Peace Negotiations Progress
MI5 Acknowledges Submitting False Evidence in Court Concerning Neo-Nazi Informant
Trump Asserts BRICS 'Is No More' in Light of Tariff Threats.
UK Introduces New Citizenship Restrictions for Refugees Who Arrive Illegally
Stoke-on-Trent Schools Face 'Astronomical' Repair Costs Amid PFI Contract Challenges
Employment Tribunal Reviews Use of Female Changing Room by Transgender Doctor
Projected Costs and Funding Dynamics of the NHS: An In-Depth Analysis
Scrutiny Over Rachel Reeves' Career and Expenses Claims Ahead of Ministerial Role
Sue Gray Introduced as Baroness Gray of Tottenham in the House of Lords
Fire Engulfs Primary School in Wales, Leading to Evacuations
Two British citizens apprehended in Iran amidst rising tensions.
Inquest Reveals Manipulation and Harassment Faced by Soldier Before Death
UK Economy Registers Unexpected Growth in Final Quarter of 2024
Ukraine's Role Central to Peace Negotiations, Asserting Global Sentiment
Winter Pressures Unfold at Royal Free Hospital Amid NHS Strain
Rachel Reeves's CV and Expenses Scrutiny Following BBC Investigation
Trump's Tariffs Loom Large Over Significant German Trade Exhibition
President Trump Resolves Legal Disputes with X and Meta Regarding Social Media Bans
OpenAI Modifies Approach in Response to Increasing AI Competition
Amazingly Good News for USA and the World: Gabbard Confirmed as U.S. Intel Chief in Latest Victory for Trump!
UK Business Leaders Expect Profit Increase Despite Regulatory Crackdown on the Shadow Economy
×