Presidency priorities and events
The general priorities of the UK Presidency will be: Economic reform, security, climate change, Africa.
Other issues that will be progressed are: Sustainable development, chemicals regulation for health, environment and competitiveness, reform of EU sugar regime, EU/US - strenghtening economic partnership.
The health priorities of the UK presidency will center around two themes: Patient safety and tackling health inequalities
Calendar of events
| mid- July | European Parliament Committee hearing |
| October 17-18 | Health Inequalities Summit |
| October 20-21 | Informal meeting of Health Ministers |
| November 28-30 | Patient Safety Summit |
| December 9 | Formal Health Council |
There will also be a number of Formal Health Presidency Events as well as Associated Events. EPHA is proud to announce that our conference ’Future Europeans - the right start in life for children and young people in Europe’ is an Associated Event. For more information see the conference website.
On the Council’s agenda
During the UK Presidency a number of issues that have been dominating the general EU agenda will be dealt with in the Health Council. It will deal with the proposals for a new Health and Consumer Protection Programme, pharmaceuticals (paediatric medicines, EMEA fees), food safety (nutrition and health claims labelling, additions of vitamins and minerals to food, food additives). There are also proposals in other Councils relating to health, namely the Working Time Directive, Services Directive and Research and Development Framework Programme.
In addition proposals on revision of medical devices legislation, pharmaceutical data protection and tissue engineering may possibly be tabled during the UK presidency.
The expected policy work in the Council include among other things:
Green paper on mental health in September
Communication on emergency preparedness and pandemics in early September
Green paper on nutrition, diet, physical activitiy in October
Exchange of views with Patricia Hewitt in the European Parliament
On 13 July 2005 UK Secretary of State for Health, Mrs. Patricia Hewitt, attended an exchange of views in the ENVI Committee in the European Parliament.
The Secretary of State outlined the various policy issues and initiatives to be pursued during the UK Presidency (as outlined above) and responded to questions from MEPs.
A wide range of issues were raised, ranging from patient mobility, cancer treatment and avian flu, to gender equality, alcohol and tobacco.
For more information please see EPHA’s report attached below.
