Western Balkan CVO Regional Forum for
Corporation and Communication
(WB CVO Forum)
It is recognised, that at Western Balkan (WB) region an enhanced communication and cooperation will promote regional success in animal health control as well as One Health approach. In that regard, with support of ADEWB (I) Project, WB CVO Forum was established according to the Protocol for establishing and functioning WB CVO Forum. The Protocol overviews the administrative and technical organization of regular regional meetings, as a tool that ensures transparent communication and effective cooperation among Western Balkan veterinary services.
The WB CVO Forum was established at WB CVO meeting, held in Petrovac, Montenegro, in July 2021. With support from the ADEWB (I) Project, the first WB CVO Forum was held in Sarajevo-BiH in November 2021, and the second in Ohrid-MK in April 2022. Planned schedule of the meetings is twice per year. The members of the WB CVO Forum are CVOs of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*1, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
The WB CVOs Forum agreed on the key Forum’s long-term objectives, such as:
- Identifying the WB countries common needs and priorities for which regional cooperation and communication is essential. Further strengthening the prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses;
- Strengthening the regional cooperation of the WB countries veterinary services to effectively align with the WOAH standards and EU acquis (Chapter 12);
- Establishing mechanisms for the veterinary services and other stakeholders (e.g. laboratories, universities, research institutes, industry) input and contributions at regional level as required (e.g. regional strategies and action plans).
For the duration of the ADEWB (I) and ADEWB II project, the project team will act as a secretariat of the WB CVO Forum.
All planned activities are conducted in accordance with the values of partnership, integrity, transparency, rights, professionalism, quality and cultural sensitivity.
Collaborative and transparent efforts shall enhance and support regional success in animal health control as well as in One Health approach and will improve the access of agriculture products from the Western Balkans to the EU internal market and to non-EU countries markets.
1 *This designation is without prejudice to the position on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the IJC Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence
