Between 2002 and 2007, I served as coordinator in the Unit for EU Enlargement and the Council of Europe at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Our main focus was on bilateral Matra and EU Phare Twinning projects aimed at preparing the Baltic States, Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria for accession to the European Union. We also supported some initiatives in Russia, primarily in the area of primary health care. One memorable visit took me to Almaty, the city where the landmark Declaration on Primary Health Care was adopted in 1978.
I was interviewed for a Dutch-language article on infectious diseases during this period. The projects we supported were diverse—for example, improving public health in Lithuania, shaping drug policy in Romania, and aligning professional qualifications in Poland. Our role was to assist Dutch organizations in securing these (particularly EU-funded) projects and to participate in official seminars as representatives.
Fred Lafeber 