The Grand Duchy will contribute a total of €46.5 million over the next four years to activities organised by the World Health Organisation and donate more funds as the country signed a new set of deals with the organism on Friday.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Health Minister Martine Deprez met with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during his work visit to the country.
Following a meeting on current affairs and crises, the government representatives and Tedros signed two new partnership agreements to reaffirm Luxembourg’s support of the organisation.
The first one, a strategic partnership framework covering the period form 2025 to 2028, sees Luxembourg contribute €46.5 million to WHO activities, while the second one constitutes a voluntary contribution of €1 million from the health ministry.
“The need to promote global health has become evident, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am proud that we continue to support the WHO in this mission in the coming years. Promoting health is never an expense but an investment in people,” said Bettel in a statement on Friday, stressing that the framework is “the largest financial contribution of Luxembourg Cooperation to the WHO to date”.
The grant from the health ministry – given in addition to annual mandatory contributions – will go towards strengthening the organisation’s EU offices in preparing for health crises and reducing health inequalities.
Bettel following the meeting also announced an additional €500,000 contribution to the organisation’s Mpox response programme.