RA VI Management Group – 10th Meeting -Highlights
The 10th Meeting of the RA VI Management Group (MG-10), chaired by Dr Elena Mateescu, RA VI president, focused on advancing regional coordination, shaping WMO’s next Strategic Plan, and supporting reforms to strengthen the Regional Office for Europe.
Regional Consultations for Strategic Plan 2028–2031
The Group endorsed a practical format for gathering Member input into the upcoming Strategic Plan. Virtual, half-day consultations grouped by language will engage Permanent Representatives, Hydrological and International Advisors, and key partners. Emphasis was placed on inclusiveness, particularly for underrepresented countries, and coordination with UN system planning. A refined proposal will be submitted at MG-11.
Supporting Regional Reform and Staffing
MG reaffirmed support for adding two Technical Coordinators to the Regional Office to address critical capacity gaps and enhance regional technical coordination. Members agreed to advocate for the proposal through the upcoming WMO governance processes, emphasizing the need for internal budget realignment rather than additional funding. Ensuring equity across WMO regions remains a key concern.
Progress on Early Warning for All
Mark Rieder will chair the newly established High-Level Task Team on Early Warning for All, with hybrid meetings planned. Regional coordination will be strengthened through input from the Informal Conference of Southeastern Europe NMHS Directors (ICSEED), to be hosted by Serbia, with outcomes to be reported at MG-11.
Advancing Youth Engagement
The meeting welcomed the proposed WMO Youth Action Plan, introduced by RA VI Youth Focal Point, Georgiana Luftner. Regional priorities include establishing a Youth Association, launching mentoring and internship initiatives, and integrating youth data into expert tracking systems. A youth representative engagement is also being considered in the next RA VI Scientific Forum. Activities will commence following approval at EC-79.
Additional Updates
Progress was noted on gender equity (41% female expert participation), upcoming WIS and WIGOS manual updates, and infrastructure coordination. A regional information note on optimizing resources will be prepared by Fernando Belda.
Looking ahead, the next RA VI MG meeting will take place in person back to back to the EC-79.