Slovakia to challenge adoption of 'critical' global pandemic agreement

20/5/2025 6:45

Slovakia's COVID-19 vaccine sceptic prime minister said on Monday that his country would challenge the adoption of a potentially groundbreaking global treaty on improving pandemic preparedness by calling for a vote at the World Health Assembly.



After considerable disagreements were bridged, World Health Organization member states had agreed in principle on the text of the legally binding agreement in April.



If there is a vote, two-thirds of the 194 WHO member countries must vote in favour for the agreement to pass at the World Health Assembly committee on Monday, before formal adoption by a plenary session on Tuesday.



While the Slovak move is unlikely to gain much backing, supporters of the agreement see it as symbolically problematic following protracted negotiations.