The European Conservative - Sovereignty Under Siege: The Implications of WHO’s Pandemic Proposals

At the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA), the World Health Organization (WHO) extended negotiations on the pandemic treaty, officially known as the “Convention and Protocols on Pandemic Preparedness and Response,” for up to a year to overcome differences and preserve progress. While the WHA agreed on revisions to the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR) on June 1st, 2024, an international pandemic agreement remains elusive. These documents could significantly alter how countries respond to pandemics, raising alarms about the erosion of national decision-making and the influence of private interests on health policies. The recent failure to finalize the treaty after two years underscores deep divisions and significant resistance. Both the treaty and IHR amendments aim to enhance global pandemic cooperation but risk national sovereignty. The treaty requires a two-thirds majority at the WHA and ratification by national parliaments, while IHR amendments need only a simple majority, bypassing parliamentary scrutiny and raising concerns about reduced national oversight.

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