The European Parliament held hearings on 13-15 April 2004 for the new Commissioners nominated by the 10 acceeding countries. Mr Pavel Telicka, the Czech Commissioner designate will shadow Commissioner Byrne on the Health and Consumer Protection portfolio.
Mr Telicka confirmed his interest in remaining for the next Commission (2004 - 2009) but said it would be premature to identify a portfolio. He told MEPs that he preferred for DG SANCO to remain intact in the new Commission (2004 - 2009) because of the close connections between food safety, public health and consumer affairs.
His nomination to the SANCO dossier was endorsed by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee on the basis of the written responses to a questionnaire and his performance during a debate with MEPs. The Plenary will vote on 5 May 2004 on whether to approve the enlarged Commission, which will temporarily consist of 30 members.
When asked what are are the main challenges facing EU in the next 5 years, Mr Telicka stated:
European citizens are enjoying better health than ever before. However, we are still facing important challenges to health. These include the rise of chronic diseases linked to lifestyle, such as cancer, and other changes in the disease pattern as a result of the ageing of the population, citizens’ rising expectations for health information and healthcare. The rapid spread of allergies, respiratory diseases and diabetes, the increasing incidence of obesity are other key problems to be confronted. Also, the fight against tobacco must continue.
In addition, communicable disease threats remain. This includes HIV/Aids on which I intend to take a special interest in the months to come. New problems have arisen and can arise, for example the outbreaks of SARS and of avian influenza in recent times. The consequences of terrorist attacks inside and outside the EU have also underlined the potential gravity of manmade threats to the health of our population.
Mental health represents another challenge given that some 25% of the European population suffers from some form of mental illness at sometime during their lives.
The main challenges are to improve the Community’s capacity to address health threats through strengthening the provisions on public health in the future Constitution; to actively promote health and develop an effective strategy on health determinants; to develop our health information systems, and to support co-operation between health systems. We should increase investment in health, emphasise the importance of good health as a productive factor in the economy and bring health-related work across the Community into a coherent health policy framework.
Questions submitted to Pavel Telicka
Parliament Environment committee endorses Pavel Telicka’s appointment.
Explanation of the appointment procedures for the Commissioners in 2004.
