Overall objectives and commitments of the EU
Although the achievement of the Lisbon Agenda will lead EU policies in the next 12 months, it should be noted that the Austrian and Finnish presidencies have set out as one of their key objectives the importance of concentrating on issues that affect citizens in their every day life.
There is a growing concern amongst the European institutions that the European Union (EU) should better demonstrate its added-value to European citizens. Examples of this are the initiative launched by Margot Wallström called Plan D and the resolution adopted by the European Parliament in January rejecting the EU budget.
Besides, both Austria and Finland (countries that will hold the EU presidency during 2006) will pay particular attention to ensuring transparency in the exercice of the function of the Presidency. It echoes concerns raised by NGOs and the European Parliament in 2005 about the lack of transparency of the Council of the European Union.
The financial perspective will be high on the agenda for the Council, the Commission and the Parliament. The agreement reached in December 2005 opened negotiations on a new Interinstitutional Agreement. The Austrian Presidency aims to finalise it by June and the Finnish Presidency plans to reach an agreement on the different Framework Programmes (ie detailing how the EU budget will be spent) by the end of 2006 the latest.
2006 should also see moves with regard to the European Constitution. In June 2005, it was agreed that Member States will organise national debates as part of the reflection period. An overall assessment of the reflection period will take place in the first half of 2006, with some follow-up actions planned in the second half.
The health of people living in Europe will be affected by several new initiatives or on-going processes which are listed below. It should also be noted that one of the priorities of the Austrian presidency concerns women’s health.
Mainstreaming health into other policies
Media: The Austrian presidency seeks to obtain an agreement on the revision of the Television Without Frontiers Directive as soon as possible. A first debate will be held in the Education, Youth and Culture Council in May. The Parliament will begin its first reading in January.
Environment: The two presidencies intend to complete the Community Environement Action Plan, with the submission of the 7 thematic strategies by the Commission during the first half 2005. Negotiating REACH will be one of the main activities in the field. The second reading should take place this year and the Finnish presidency expects a final agreement by the end of the year. Besides, three related proposals will be released on the restrictions for marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations. By mid-2006, it is expected that the European Commission will adopt a proposal for a regulation concerning the classification and labelling of hazardous substances and mixtures, which should be adopted in 2006 to enter into force at the same time as REACH.
Research: The objective set out by the 2 forthcoming presidencies is to launch the 7th Framework Programme of Research at the end of the year. A political agreement at the Competitiveness Council should be reached in May and the Parliament will vote its first reading in March.
Services Directive: The negociations and agreement on the Services Directive should be completed by the end of 2006. A political agreement at the Competitiveness Council should be reached in May, while the Parliament will finalise its first reading in February.
Road Safety: The European Commission is expected to submit an initiative and/or a legislative proposal concerning safety on the European Transport Network (Spring 2006) as well as a proposal on cross-border enforcement of road safety legislation.
Agriculture: The EU institutions will work towards consolidating the newly reformed Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), and show the contribution of the European model of Agriculture to the Lisbon strategy. They also intend to finalise the sugar refom. An adoption of the Sugar reform is scheduled at the February meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
Health and safety: The two presidencies aim to come to an agreement on the Working Time Directive revision. (Expected agreement from the Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council in March 2006) The European Commission is also set to publish a proposal amending the Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens and mutagens at work. In June, the Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council will examine a proposal for a Directive amending and symplifying procedures in existing health and safety Directives. Besides, in late 2006, a new strategy on health and safety at work is to be revealed during the first half of the year.
Regarding Injury prevention and safety promotion, the European Commission will publish a communication in Spring 2006 with a possible recommendation of the Council on Injury prevention and safety promotion. Such a recommendation will be examined by the Council in June.
The legislative framework
The Health and Consumer programme: The positions of the Council and the European Parliament with regard to this tremendously important dossier are expected by the end of the first semester. The European Parliament will vote in April and the Council in June. It is likely that the second reading will take place during the second part of the year as the Finnish presidency expects to come to an agreement by the end of 2006.
Medicines: The two presidencies will carry on work on the regulation on medicinal products for paediatric use, revision of legislation on medical devices (on the agenda of the Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council in June). A proposal for a regulation on advanced medicinal products will be debated by the Council in June 2006.
Patients’ safety: The Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council will examine in June a proposal for a recommendation of the Council on Improving Patient Satefy by prevention and control of health-associated infections.
Tobacco: The EU intends to play an important role in the First Conference of the parties to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (start negotiations on protocols to the Convention in February 2006).
Mental healh and alcohol: In late 2005, the European Commission launched a Green Paper on mental health. Expected results should be available in late 2006 with the launch of a potential strategy on mental health in December 2006. The Alcohol strategy is expected for the Autumn.
Communicable Diseases: The two presidencies plan to focus on HIV/AIDS inside and outside the EU through a communication (on the agenda of the Council in June). They will also carry on addressing pandemic preparedness (in link with the Avian Influenza threat).
Food and Nutrition: After the launch of a Green Paper on nutrition and physical activity in 2005, the Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council should reach conclusions on the matter in June. Furthermore, the presidencies will try to reach an agreement on the regulation on the addition of vitamins and minerals and the controversial Food and health claims Directive. They will also begin working on proprosals which are expected in Spring on food improvement agents (food additives, flavours and enzymes). Another initiative from the European Commission on adult-onset diabetes is also expected in Spring 2006.
The international framework: the EU will closely monitor, follow and implement other WHO activities such as the entry into force of the new International Health Regulations, children’s Environmental Health and the European Strategy on Non-Communicable Diseases.
More information:
Provisional Agendas of the Council part 1
