On 21 May 2021 in Rome, the European Commission and Italy, as chair of the G20, will co-host the Global Health Summit.

The Summit is an opportunity for G20 and invited leaders, heads of international and regional organisations, and representatives of global health bodies, to share lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and develop and endorse a ‘Rome Declaration’ of principles.

Principles can be a powerful guide for further multilateral cooperation and joint action to prevent future global health crises, and for a joint commitment to build a healthier, safer, fairer and more sustainable world.

The Summit will build on

• the Coronavirus Global Response, a pledging marathon that last year raised close to €16 billion from donors worldwide for universal access to coronavirus treatments, tests and vaccines

• the existing work of multilateral institutions and frameworks, notably the World Health Organization and the International Health Regulations

• other health initiatives and processes, including those taking place in the G7 and G20

Participants and actors

• G20 members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. Singapore, Spain, and the Netherlands are guest countries.

• Heads of state or government from Portugal (as Presidency of the Council of the EU), Norway (as Co-Chair of the ACT-Accelerator), and Switzerland

• Leaders of international and regional organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the African Union, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

• Representatives of global health actors such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), the Global Fund, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

The preparation of Summit principles will be an inclusive process informed by scientific evidence, civil society and other stakeholder’s views, including those expressed in relevant international fora and multilateral institutions. These include among others, the G7, the G20, the WHO’s World Health Assembly, the Independent Panel for pandemic preparedness and response, and the High Level Independent Panel (HLIP) on financing the global commons for pandemic preparedness and response.