Chirac, Schroeder and Blair met on 16 February 2004 and set forward their ideas on how to make the EU more competitive. Specifically they called for a ’Super commissioner’ whose job would be to cut red tape and ensure that all EU legislation is checked for its impact and cost to business before it is approved. The big 3 summit also included the health ministers who discussed healthcare reform.
The three leaders sent an open letter to the Irish Prime Minster as President of the EU with recommendations for the Spring Summit (25-26 March 2004). The letter included the following section:
Modernising the European Social Model
No-one must be excluded from participating in life in society due to serious illness, long-term inability to work, family circumstances or age. The best way to ensure that at the EU level is via the exchange of best practice, ensuring that all can use the best possible techniques to suit the different circumstances encountered in 25 Member States. Europe is currently faced with a demographic slowdown and an ageing population. This situation is troubling and calls for an urgent response.
Comprehensive support for families can improve the demographic pattern in the long term. An improved system of childcare for working parents can increase the employment rate, particularly amongst women. The demographic trend necessitates fundamental reform to maintain our pension systems. To secure pensions, we need more people in employment. The proportion of
older persons in work also has to grow through promoting active ageing and senior workers employment. Our goal remains establishing long-term equilibrium between the social adequacy of benefits and the financial sustainability of old-age security.
We need to focus on providing broad access to a top quality health service. The challenge of keeping health care costs under control is a great concern here. The OECD average has increased from 7,1% of GDP in 1988 to 8,4% in 2001. Member states have to improve spending efficiency in their healthcare systems. Preventive measures have to become more of a priority, above all to fight cancer where smoking is one of the most important risk factors. All measures should be taken to reduce tobacco consumption. Finally, an urgent EU solution is needed to address the impact of the recent ECJ judgements on
the Working Time Directive, particularly but not exclusively in the health sector.
Europe has to actively promote public health and prevention, particulary to counter new viral risks. Similarly it must make a major effort to engage in research on a vaccination against AIDS and on rare diseases.
Read the Letter to the Irish Prime Minister which states that the Health Ministers will put forward a working document to the Health Council.
