The conference included an overview of the situation of the main animal diseases in the Mediterranean Basin, as well as a session on the new prion disease detected among camels in North Africa, emerging equine diseases of concern to the Mediterranean, and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS–CoV).

REMESA member countries reviewed their epidemiological situation as regards foot and mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants (PRR), the aim being to improve the coordination and harmonisation of the prevention and control of the two diseases in North Africa and the Middle East. Tunisia stressed the necessity of carrying out two vaccination campaigns a year rather than one, so as to keep foot and mouth disease from becoming endemic in North Africa.

The second day of the meeting focused on the review of an Italian proposal to strengthen regional scientific cooperation. To that end, REMESA member countries approved a special resolution entrusting the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, based in Palermo, Italy, with the responsibility for making premises available to facilitate the organisation of scientific meetings and providing administrative support to the coordination team, which comprises scientists from REMESA member countries.