WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО
Ninth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries /01
Initiative: advancing health and well-being
Luxembourg 30 January 2023
10–12 May 2023 Original: English
Scope and purpose
Background
The Small Countries Initiative (SCI), established in 2013, is a platform through which 11
Member States in the WHO European Region with 2 million inhabitants or fewer work together
to address common issues and share experiences to improve population health in their
countries. The participating countries are Andorra, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia,
Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Slovenia.
In 2022, the Roadmap towards better health in small countries in the WHO European Region,
2022–2025 was endorsed at the Eighth High-level Meeting of the SCI in Bečići, Montenegro.
In recognition of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, to pursue agile
transformation and innovation and accelerate action to that end, the Roadmap’s objectives are
to:
• place health and well-being high on the key political agendas of small countries;
• advocate the needs of small countries at the regional and international levels;
• promote investment for health and well-being, while leaving no one behind;
• build a solutions platform for better health and resilient health systems; and
• measure progress.
The Roadmap includes joint activities based on the three pillars of the WHO European
Programme of Work (2020–2025) – “United Action for Better Health”, with a focus on
COVID-19 recovery.
Aims and objectives
Each year, the high-level meeting of the SCI provides an opportunity to discuss health agendas
and joint activities, and to leverage common needs at the regional and international levels. The
Ninth High-level Meeting is a special occasion, marking the tenth anniversary of the SCI and
the first phase of implementation of the Roadmap. Its focus will therefore be on how best to
Ninth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative: scope and purpose
page 2
accelerate the health and well-being agenda and to leverage cooperation among small countries.
Its proposed themes are:
• advancing health equity and well-being;
• accelerating action to tackle noncommunicable diseases and mental health at the
community level;
• leveraging digital transformation in small countries;
• globalizing the SCI;
• reporting back on progress made on human resources for health and healthy tourism;
• improving accessibility, availability and affordability of medicines.
The meeting will be hosted by the Ministry of Health of Luxembourg. It will last for one and
a half days, starting with a reception on the evening of 10 May 2023.
Delegations
All 11 SCI members are requested to send a high-level delegation, headed by the minister of
health or a designated representative and the SCI focal point. Each delegation is welcome to
bring additional members to participate as observers in the meeting and to attend parallel
technical meetings. Representatives from other small countries (including those outside the
WHO European Region), international organizations, the European Union and selected
stakeholders are also invited to the meeting.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ 6 February 2023
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION
ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE Mr Peep Peterson
BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE Minister of Health and Labour
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA
ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО Ministry of Social Affairs
Suur-Ameerika 1
Head office: Tallinn 10129, Estonia
UN City, Marmorvej 51,
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Email:
[email protected]
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01
Email:
[email protected]
Website: http://www.euro.who.int
Dear Sir,
Ninth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative (SCI): Advancing health and well-being
10–12 May 2023, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
I am very pleased to invite you to participate in the Ninth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative:
Advancing health and well-being, from 10 to 12 May 2023, with the generous support of the Government of
Luxembourg.
The SCI Roadmap towards better health in small countries in the WHO European Region, 2022–2025 was endorsed
at the Eighth High-level Meeting of the SCI, Bečići, Montenegro on 3 June 2022. The Ninth High-level Meeting is
unique: it marks the 10th anniversary of the SCI and represents the first phase of implementation of the SCI
Roadmap.
The proposed themes for the Ninth High-level Meeting are:
• advancing health equity and well-being
• accelerating action to tackle noncommunicable diseases and mental health at community level
• leveraging digital transformation in small countries
• globalizing the SCI
• reporting back on human resources for health and healthy tourism
• accessibility, availability and affordability of medicines.
Taking stock of the SCI’s previous high-level meetings, I am pleased to propose a rich political and technical agenda,
which positions this event as a unique platform where forward-thinking discussions will be held.
Selected sessions of the High-level Meeting will be open to health professionals and representatives of civil society
from the WHO European Region.
The working language of the meeting will be English. Accommodation, airport transfers and all hospitality (from the
evening of 10 May to the afternoon of 12 May 2023) for two delegates from each Member State will be generously
provided by the Government of Luxembourg.
Kindly confirm the composition of your delegation by 1 March 2023 to Dr Bettina Menne (email:
[email protected]). Each participant should register by 31 March 2023 through the link: https://identials.lu/mae-
lux/registration/high_level_meeting_of_SCI, invitation code: WHOSCI_2023.
I look forward to continuing our collaboration on this unique initiative and to welcoming you to the Ninth High-level
Meeting of the SCI in Luxembourg.
Yours very truly,
Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge
Regional Director
UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email:
[email protected]
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: http://www.euro.who.int
Denmark
Encls:
Scope and purpose
Provisional agenda
Information circular with registration link
Copies for information to:
Ms Paulette Lenert, Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, 1, rue Charles Darwin, Luxembourg (Cloche d'Or) L-1433,
Luxembourg, Email:
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]
Ms Elen Ohov, Adviser, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Social Affairs,
Suur-Ameerika 1, Tallinn 10122, Estonia, Email:
[email protected]
Ms Triin Uusberg, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Social Affairs,
Suur-Ameerika 1, Tallinn 10129, Estonia, Email:
[email protected],
[email protected]
H.E. Ms Katrin Saarsalu-Layachi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in
Geneva, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28A, Genève CH-1209 Switzerland
Email:
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]
H.E. Mr William Mart Laanemäe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia,
Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor, Copenhagen K 1265 Denmark,
Email:
[email protected],
[email protected]
Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, Tallinn 10617 Estonia
Email:
[email protected]
Dr Jean-Claude Schmit, Directeur de la santé, Ministry of Health, 13a rue de Bitbourg, L-1273 Luxembourg/Hamm
Email:
[email protected]
–2–
Saatja: YANOVSKA, Liliana K. <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 06.02.2023 10:07
Adressaat: <"Peep Peterson">
Koopia: <
[email protected]>; Mme P. Lenert
<
[email protected]>; <
[email protected]>; <"Elen Ohov">; <"Triin
Uusberg">; <"SM Info">; Ms K. Saarsalu-Layachi <
[email protected]>;
<
[email protected]>; Kaisa.Mitt-Alvarez <
[email protected]>;
<
[email protected]>; <
[email protected]>; KÖHLER, Kristina
<
[email protected]>; Dr J.-C. Schmit <
[email protected]>
Teema: Invitation letter to the 9th High level meeting of the small
countries, 10-12 May 2023, Luxembourg
Please see the attached correspondence sent from the World Health
Organization, Regional Office for Europe. One or more attachments may be
included.Veuillez-vous r¨¦f¨¦rer ¨¤ la correspondance ci-jointe du Bureau
r¨¦gional de l'Europe de l'Organisation mondiale de la sant¨¦. Une ou
plusieurs annexes peuvent ¨ºtre jointes.Mit der Bitte um Kenntnisnahme
der beiliegenden Korrespondenz (eine oder mehrere Anlagen),
Weltgesundheitsorganisation, Regionalb¨¹ro f¨¹r Europa.
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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L'EUROPE
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО
Ninth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries /03
Initiative (SCI): Advancing health and well-being in
small countries in the WHO European Region
Luxembourg 30 January 2023
10-12 May 2023 Original: English
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
Dear Participant,
We are pleased to provide you with the following information regarding the practical
arrangements for the above meeting.
1. Site of the meeting
Cercle Cité (Cercle Municipal)
Address: Place d'Armes, L-2012 Luxembourg
Phone: +352 4796 5133
Email:
[email protected] Web www.cerclecite.lu
A place of prestige and historical importance in Luxembourg City, Cercle Cité is an open
space, welcoming culture enthusiasts, institutions, associations and artists. This exhibitions
hall and a conference center took on the name Cercle-Cité after an adjacent building on the
site of the former Ciné Cité was connected to the Cercle by means of a bridge over the Rue
Genistre in order to expand the Cercle's facilities.
2. Working language
The meeting will be held in English only.
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3. Opening and closing sessions
Participants are kindly requested to arrive latest in the afternoon / early evening of
Wednesday, 10 May 2023. A reception will be held that evening at the Luxembourg City
History Museum starting at 19:00 hours. The opening session of the Ninth High-level
Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative will take place at the Cercle Municipal (Cercle
Cité) in Luxembourg City (located at the eastern end of the Place d’Armes, in the historic
central Ville Haute quarter of the city) on Thursday, 11 May 2023 starting at 09:00 hours.
The meeting will end at 13:00 hours on Friday, 12 May 2023 and will be followed by lunch.
4. Working hours
The working hours of the Ninth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative will be
from 09:00 to 17:30 hours on 11 May 2023 (onsite registration and badges as of 08:30) and
from 08:30 to 13:00 hours on 12 May 2022.
Participants to the online Media Briefing scheduled to take place 12 May 2023 between 13:00
and 14:00 hours will receive instructions for online connection in due course.
5. Documentation
Documentation for Ninth High-level meeting of the Small Countries Initiative includes:
• Information Circular
• Scope and purpose
• Provisional programme
• Provisional list of participants
• Small Countries Initiative Roadmap: Towards Better Health in Small Countries of the
WHO European Region, 2022–2025
• Luxembourg statement for adoption at the Ninth High-level meeting
6. Registration
Meeting registration will take place online.
Please register by 31 March 2023 using the following link:
https://identials.lu/mae-lux/registration/high_level_meeting_of_SCI or the barcode above.
To access the registration form, the following code must be entered: WHOSCI_2023
Please complete the online registration only when all information can be provided. This is
necessary to guarantee a smooth registration. The online registration reserves the hotel and will
provide relevant information regarding your arrival and departure times / dates, dietary
requirements, eventual accompanying persons and cultural programmes. By registering online,
you will also simultaneously provide the relevant information to our teams in both Luxembourg
and Venice.
Participants to the online Media Briefing (12 May 2023 between 13:00 and 14:00 hours) who
physically come to Luxembourg should also register through the same link above.
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Registration for the online Media Briefing for those attending remotely can be done at the
following link:
https://identials.lu/mae-lux/registration/high_level_meeting_of_SCI_media
The following code must be entered: WHOSCI_Media_Briefing
Folders and badges will be provided at the registration desk in front of the conference hall of
the Cercle Cité between 08:30 - 09:00 hours on 11 May and 8:00 and 8:30 on 12 May 2023.
7. Accommodation and meals
Rooms have been reserved in the center of Luxembourg city, at the Novotel and Sofitel hotels,
adjacent to the other (Unless other / private arrangements are in place). The Ministry of Health
of Luxembourg will kindly cover the accommodations and buffet breakfast for 2 members of
each delegation.
All participants will be invited to two lunches, one dinner and the welcome reception.
Please note that we cannot guarantee the hotel booking unless you complete the online
registration form by the deadline indicated above. Rooms will be assigned upon the closure of
the registration process.
Novotel Luxembourg Centre Sofitel Luxembourg Le Grand Ducal
35 Rue du Laboratoire L-1911 40 boulevard d'Avranches, 1160
+352 24 87 81 +352 24 87 71
Please settle your bill directly with the hotel for any other charges (for accompanying persons,
laundry, room service, bar bills, telephone calls, any extras etc.).
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8. Travel itinerary
Luxembourg Airport (LUX), the primary and the only international airport in the country, is
situated approximately 6 km to the east of the country's capital city, Luxembourg. Other nearby
airports include Hahn (HHN) (89.8 km), Charleroi (CRL) (152.1 km), Cologne Bonn (CGN)
(157.6 km) and Strasbourg (SXB) (161.1 km).
Please note that if you are arriving or departing from an airport other than Luxembourg
Airport, transport to or from the airport cannot be guaranteed for logistical reasons.
9. Transfer from Luxembourg airport to the hotel / reception place and vice versa
The Ministry of Health of Luxembourg is kindly arranging for transfer of the participants
from/to the Luxembourg Airport in accordance with the information entered on your online
registration form.
For the arrival on 10 May and the departure on 12 May at/from Luxembourg airport, the VIP
Lounge (Salon d'honneur) of the airport can be booked online by the respective Embassy
through the Protocol online service at least 2 working days before the arrival. Please note
that the VIP Lounge can only be booked for the Head of delegation and the members of
delegation travelling on the same flight. All other participants will have to go through the
main terminal.
Please find hereafter the link for the access request: mae-protocole.public.lu, as well as the
link regarding the procedure for the reservation of the VIP Lounge, with the conditions of
access (in French only): https://maee.gouvernement.lu/fr/directions-du-ministere/protocole-
et-chancellerie/visites-etrangeres/salon-honneur.html (no payment is requested).
Participants who are not members of the SCI delegations and provide full information through
the registration link listed under number 6 above will be transferred by private bus to the hotel
or to the reception, depending on their time of arrival. Taxi and/or public transport are available
for those who have not booked online airport transfers.
Reception
Luxembourg City History Museum
14 Rue du St Esprit, 1475 Luxembourg
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Public transport in Luxembourg is free, no need to purchase tickets.
Taxis are available in front of the airport. The price is around 30 EUR. Taxis can be also ordered
at +352 48 22 33.
10. Transfer from the two hotels and the venue and vice versa
For participants who are not members of an SCI delegation and who arrive on 11 May, the
following transfer options are available: taxi or bus lines 6 and 16: "Aéroport
Luxembourg/Findel" stop to "Centre, Fondation Pescatore" stop. From there it is a 5-minute
walk (600 metres) to the Cercle Cité venue.
On 11 May, the Cercle Cité (venue) can be reached:
From the two hotels:
a. On foot (1.3km): a member of the local conference team will be waiting outside each
hotel to walk with you to the venue. The exact time will be communicated to you (the
information will be also available at the reception);
b. By bus, this will be particularly important in case the heavy rain;
c. By public transport: Bus line 3 or 5 from the stop: "Bonnevoie, Huese Vic" to the
stop: "Centre, F.D. Roosevelt".
From the Cercle Cité back:
a. On foot (1.3km): a member of the local conference team will be waiting outside the
venue to walk with you to the hotel;
b. By bus (as above);
b. By public transport: Bus line 3 or 5 from stop: "Centre, F.D. Roosevelt" to stop:
"Bonnevoie, Huese Vic".
In the evening, a bus transfer will be organized from the Novotel and Sofitel hotels (the exact
bus parking lot will be announced in due course) to the social dinner and back (time tbc).
On 12 May, the Cercle Cité (venue) can be reached:
From the two hotels:
As described for 11 May, please see above.
From the venue to the hotel:
A bus will be organized:
• From the venue to the hotel (for participants who check out on 12 May in the morning,
leave their suitcase at the reception and leave immediately after the end of the event) and
then to the airport, and
• From the venue directly to the airport. In this case, please take your luggage to the
venue in the morning.
For those staying longer or participating in the cultural programme, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs will organize another bus transfer to the airport based on the scheduled departures
(which will be announced only after the registration process is completed).
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For those staying an extra night or longer, please let us know in advance. We will be happy to
organize transfers to the airport for heads of delegations and / or provide necessary
information about transfer to the airport based on your departure date and time.
11. Visa policy of Luxembourg
Luxembourg is part of the Schengen area. Non-EU citizens of the Small Countries whose
passport are on the White-Schengen list, do not need a visa for short-term stays of up to 90 days
over a period of 180 days.
12. Insurance
The organizers cannot accept liability for personal accidents or loss of or damage to the private
property of participants and accompanying persons, either during or indirectly arising from
attendance at the meeting. Participants should make their own arrangements with respect to
health and travel insurance.
13. Social activities
A social programme organized by our hosts will include:
• Welcome Reception on 10 May (19:00–21:00 hours), Luxembourg City History
Museum (details under point 9 above).
• Social dinner on 11 May (20:00– 22:00 hours) will be hosted by the Minister of Health of
Luxembourg in the south of Luxembourg, a renovated industrial steelworks area.
14. Cultural activities
On Friday afternoon, 12 May, participants who will be staying in Luxembourg are invited to
take part in various cultural programmes, offering an opportunity to learn about the national
heritage and cultural hallmarks of Luxembourg. Please note that the cultural programmes
will be also indicated on the registration page and you will be able to select your prefered
programme during your online registration.
Below are some details of the possible activities:
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TOP CITY VIEWS: Discover the most CITY PROMENADE: Discover the
beautiful panoramic views of Luxembourg city's top attractions and hidden gems,
City Luxembourg city centre, old town, fortress
walls and main monuments
EXPLORE LUXEMBOURG CITY: NATURE & HISTORY: Discover the
Discover the city centre which is part of the city's fortifications and old quarters in a
UNESCO World Heritag natural environment
PETRUSSE CASEMATES: The rocks of the EXHIBITION AT CERCLE CITÉ &
casemates come to life to tell you their exciting CITY TOUR: Discover the current
story exhibition of the Cercle Cité combined
with a city tour
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15. Dress code
The following dress codes are recommended:
• smart casual/cocktail for the social dinner
• business casual for the meetings.
16. Climate, time zone, currency, emergency contacts, food safety & power supply
Climate. Luxembourg has a moderately continental climate, with cold winters and mild
summers. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean is evident, but the altitude, which varies between
250 meters in the far south and 500 meters in the north, makes it a bit colder than the plains.
From March to May is initially cold, and then becomes gradually milder: in the capital, the
maximum temperatures are around 18 °C in May. Between April and August, there are 6 to 7
hours of sunshine per day on average. However, the weather is unstable, and while until mid-
May it can still be cold, in the second half of May, on sunny days, thunderstorms can erupt in
the afternoon. Precipitation in Luxembourg is quite frequent and relatively abundant,
amounting to around 800 millimeters average per year.
Time zone is Central European Time (GMT+1).
Currency in Luxembourg is the Euro.
Emergency numbers: Emergency – 112, Police – 113
Water safety: The City of Luxembourg provides residents with healthy drinking water.
Plug types: In Luxembourg the power plug sockets are of type F, also known as "Schuko".
This socket also works with plug C and plug E. The standard voltage is 230 V and the
frequency is 50 Hz.
17. COVID-19
The Hotel follows the requited COVID-19 measures.
For Information on COVID-19, measures, recommendations, and travel health notice for
arriving travelers, please see the link of the Government of Luxembourg:
https://covid19.public.lu/en/travellers.html
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18. Queries
We hope we have covered all the administrative issues you need to know in connection with
the meeting. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:
WHO Regional Office for Europe - WHO European Office for Investment for Health and
Development
• Lazar Nikolic at
[email protected] or cell: +39 338 79 49 347 (WhatsApp)
WHO Regional Office for Europe
• Liliana Yanovska,
[email protected] or cell: +45 61 30 59 28 (WhatsApp)
For more tourist-related information about Luxembourg, please visit:
https://luxembourg.public.lu/en.html
We look forward to seeing you in Luxembourg.
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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО
Ninth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries /02
Initiative: advancing health and well-being
Luxembourg 30 January 2023
10–12 May 2023 Original: English
Provisional agenda
1. Opening of the meeting
2. Advancing health equity and well-being
3. Accelerating action to tackle noncommunicable diseases and mental health at the
community level
4. Leveraging digital transformation in small countries
5. Globalizing the Small Countries Initiative
6. Reporting on:
• human resources for health
• healthy tourism
7. Improving accessibility, availability and affordability of medicines in small countries
8. Adoption of the Statement of the Ninth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries
Initiative (Luxembourg Statement)
9. Next steps
10. Closure of the meeting
11. Parallel technical meeting of the Small Countries Initiative focal points
12. Parallel technical meeting of small countries’ health communications officers