Geneva Telegram on the 10th meeting of the negotiating body on the pandemic agreement

As expected, the discussions at this meeting focused primarily on the process and working methods of the INB and on the changes to the chairmanship of the meeting. At first glance, the negotiating modalities appear to be continuing as before, although they have not yet resulted in an agreement on the complex issues under discussion. It is now up to the member states to use the interim periods to explore the scope for negotiation and find compromises. The options for a legal framework and the expected presentation of the Secretariat are of considerable importance here. The definition of a restricted number of, but essential elements of a PABS and a suitable, binding legal framework for the following instrument could possibly meet the expectations of the African group.

The involvement of non-state actors was limited to the maximum. If they cannot participate in the meeting and only receive a summary of the previous day's negotiations, there is no room for a real exchange. This misses an opportunity to counter disinformation with more transparency and pave the way for ratification and acceptance of the new instrument. It also underestimates the role of civil society in the implementation of the agreement.

The structuring of the further process along the still open paragraphs obscures the view of what may have been put aside in the push before the 77th WHA for reasons of time. Governance issues in particular still appear to be underdeveloped and deserve special attention again in any case.

Despite critical voices that expected the political wind to have been taken out of the sails of the pandemic agreement negotiations following the conclusion of the amendments to the International Health Regulations, the INB seems to have gained new momentum in the six weeks since the World Health Assembly, also thanks to the new appointments to the chairmanship, which must now be put to good use.

Overall, the 10th session of the INB leaves a positive impression and shows that progress is still possible despite existing challenges and critical voices. The next phase of negotiations will be crucial in order to achieve concrete results and successfully conclude the pandemic agreement.

Please find the full text here.