After the Regional Coordination meetings on Animal Health organized in Avila (April 2008), Algiers (February 2009) and Paris (May 2009), a Joint Permanent Committee meeting of the Mediterranean Animal Health Network (REMESA) was organised in Tunis on 15-16 July 2009 by the FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer, the FAO-ECTAD Regional Unit for North Africa and the Spanish CVO, in order to examine the REMESA annual Action Plan (July 2009-June 2010) prepared by the FAO-ECTAD Regional Unit for North Africa and presented throughout the meeting.

During this meeting it was also discussed the need to define a REMESA priority actions working framework for the next 12 months and the need to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the main REMESA actors, particularly for the Joint Permanent Committee. The CVOs, or their representatives, of the ten countries participating to the first meeting of the Joint Permanent Committee (JPC) of the Mediterranean Animal Health Network (MAHN/REMESA) decided:

• The approval of the REMESA annual Action Plan (July 2009-June 2010) prepared by the FAO-ECTAD Regional Unit for North Africa and discussed during the meeting.

• The approval of the ToR of the JPC, prepared and discussed during the meeting (see details in annex).  The designation, by each CVO, of a REMESA focal point.

• The names and addresses will be communicated by each CVO to the FAO-OIE/RAHC-NA within the two weeks following the end of the meeting (before 31st July).

• The joint annual presidency of the JPC by Spain and Algeria in 2010.

• The transmission to the members of the JPC, as soon possible, of a detailed workplan, prepared by the FAO-ECTAD Unit for North Africa, corresponding to the first six months of the REMESA annual Action Plan. This six month workplan, as well as the 2009-2010 Action Plan, will be revised to include the OIE contribution as soon as their regional strategic planning is formulated.