Vienna SOM on avian and human pandemic influenza
The Republic of Austria is hosting on behalf of the European Union, in association with the European Commission, the
Vienna senior officials meeting on
avian and human pandemic influenza
on 6 and 7 June 2006
Invitations have already been extended to countries and relevant international organisations. A Copiy of the letter of invitation is available here.
A draft programme can be downloaded here.
Aims of the Vienna SOM on avian and human pandemic influenza are, inter alia,
- to bring all relevant international governmental and inter-governmental actors together, for:
- a stocktaking on the current situation of avian influenza and human pandemic preparedness planning word-wide: by countries, continents, and regions as well as by global and regional intergovernmental organisations;
- an overview on disbursement of pledges made at the Beijing international donors conference (17-18 January 2006), and a discussion on specific funding requirements and strategies;
- a discussion on international strategies to fight avian influenza and to prepare for a possible human influenza pandemic; and
- the strengthening and further structuring of the international partnership in this field including the planning on future meetings.
Notifications (composition and size of delegations):
Participants of the Vienna SOM should be senior government officials from capitals in charge of avian influenza and human pandemic preparedness.
Due to restrictions in the historic conference centre (see below), national delegations from capitals are limited to maximum three persons - of whom two have access to the main conference room at the same time. Countries represented by Embassy members only will be issued one conference badge. International organizations will be issued maximum two conference badges.
A notification form is available here, can be completed online and directly sent to the conference secretariat and should be submitted before May 31.
In case you need a visa please contact the Austrian Embassy or Consulate in the country of your residency as soon as possible, as the processing time of your application can take several weeks.
Is there no Austrian representation in the country you reside in , please contact the relevant Embassy or Consulate of a Schengen member country.
Conference centre:
The SOM will be held at the conference centre of the former Imperial Palace (Hofburg) in Vienna, Josefsplatz 3 - at the very heart of the city. It is accessible by various means of public transportation within a few minutes' walk (underground U3/Herrengasse - exit "Herrengasse" -, U1 and U4 Karlsplatz - exit "Oper" (State Opera House); trams 1 and 2 / State Opera House or Bellaria).
There is no parking space on streets nearby, the closest underground garages are situated at State Opera House (Opernring, Kärntner Strasse 51, 5 minutes walk), Freyung (8 minutes walk) and Am Hof (8 minutes walk). Overview on garages.
A map of Vienna can be downloaded here.
Tourist informations are available here, too, both by the City of Vienna - and the Vienna Tourist Board (also in a number of languages).
Map of Conference Centre and venues of receptions:
We are offering you here a map containing detailed indications on the location of the Conference Centre (at the former Imperial Palace), of the two evening receptions - Palais Palaviccini (June 6) and Albertina Museum Palace (June 7) - as well as of nereby undeground stations.
Delegates' registration:
Registration for notified delegates will be conducted:
- on Monday, June 5, 2006, from 12 to 16 hrs. at the conference secretariat at the Austrian MFA Herrengasse 13, 2nd floor, room no. 2.20.20 where authorized persons can also collect the delegates' materials for entire delegations
- from Tuesday June 6, 2006, from 8.30 hrs. at the Conference centre (see above)
Language regime:
The (plenary) proceedings will be simultaneously translated from / to English, French and Spanish. In case of individual specific requests (e.g. private interpreter accompanying the delegation), please contact the Conference Secretariat (see below).
Hotel reservations:
Participants are advised to make their own hotel reservations. Hotel reservation forms for online booking at selected hotels are available here and should be returned before May 6.
In order to ensure available accommodation block bookings have been undertaken at four Vienna hotels: Le Meridien*****, InterContinental*****, Hilton Vienna Stadtpark*****, and Ananas****. From Hotel Meridien, InterContinental, and Hilton Vienna Stadtpark, the conference centre can be reached on foot (approx. from 7 to 15 minutes walk). From Hotel InterContrinental, Hilton Vienna Stadtpark and Ananas there are direct connections by underground (1-2 stations from each).
Airport transfers:
The international airport of Vienna (Schwechat) is linked to the city centre (Landstrasse - Wien Mitte, underground lines U3, U4 and Schnellbahn) by a special train (CAT - City-Airport-Train; off Hotel Hilton Vienna Stadtpark) which runs every 30 minutes. Special busses (Vienna Airport Lines) are connecting the airport to Schwedenplatz (underground lines U1 and U4).
Taxi transfers cost from about € 30 to the city centre. Pre-ordered taxis (eg C&K, Tel. +43.1.44.444 or Airportdriver) cost € 25 to anywhere in Vienna.
Conference secretariat:
The Conference secretariat is until (and including) June 5, 2006 situated within the International Health Policy Division of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs at
viennasom@bmaa.gv.at
Tel: +43.50.1150.4400
Fax: +43.50.115.9343
During the conference - ie on June 6 and 7 -, the conference secretariat is located next to the plenary hall at the conference centre (phone: +43.(1) 532365-8/9).
