Welcome to the August 2004 edition of the EPHA newsletter.
In mid August, incoming Commission President Barroso surprised everyone by announcing the Commissioner portfolios a fortnight earlier than scheduled. A new post of Vice-President with responsibility for communication with citizens has been created and this role will be filled by Mrs Wallstrom, former environment Commissioner.
The portfolio of Health and Consumer Affairs has been left unchanged as one job which has been allocated to the Cypriot Commissioner Mr Kyprianou. This leaves the Commission structures out of sync with the other institutions. At the European Parliament pharmaceuticals and medical devices come within the remit of the Committee that deals with health rather than the industry Committee. The new EU Constitutional Treaty specifically lists medical products (pharma and products) as part of Article III-179 on public health.
There are ongoing public consultations by the European Commission on future health strategy, on human tissues and cells and on nanotechnology. Nominations are also invited for experts to be part of a Commission Food Advisory Forum. Plans are also moving ahead for the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) with the search for a Director and press launch in Stockholm. In September 2004 the draft of a new Directive on Paediatric Medicines is expected from DG Enterprise. HIV/AIDS in Europe will be the focus of a major international conference in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The Dutch Presidency kicked off with the publication of a Report on health in Europe and key events include conferences on Priority Medicines, zoonotic diseases and a closing event on Sports and education.
In September the EPHA Secretariat will continue the focus on the European Parliament especially re-establishing the Intergroup on health and providing information for MEPs on key health priorities.
Read all the online articles of our newsletter for August 2004.
