Following the agreement on the Reform Treaty in October 2007, Member States face the challenge of ratifying the Treaty in record time in 2008 so that the text is adopted before the European Parliament elections in June 2009.
Related to these big questions on the future of Europe, DG Budget will launch a review of the EU to examine what reforms are needed to get the EU read to address the political key challenges of the next decade. EPHA will be part of a working group of the EU Health Policy Forum which will develop ideas and a position paper for DG Budget on how to maximise public health in their budget review.
DG SANCO’s work plan for 2008 contains few surprises, it is closely linked with the new Public Health Programme 2008-2013.
The main objectives are:
improve citizens health security: the focus will be on health threats and health safety (for example, pharmaceuticals and information to patients).
promote health: including the reduction of health inequalities.
The main focus will be on children and young people, workforce health, Strategy papers on mental health and sexual health.
generate and disseminate health information and knowledge: E-health.
The draft legislative proposal on food and nutrition labelling has been delayed until January 2008, (it was initially scheduled before the end of 2007). This new law will replace and update many complex rules on general food and nutrition labelling.
In November 2008, DG Sanco will publish a Recommendation to improve patient safety by prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. A Recommendation will follow on patient safety and quality of health services. In the same month of November, DG Sanco plans a Recommendation on action in the field of rare diseases (including genetic diseases). A proposal for a Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments is also expected.
Some priority actions were identified by the overall Commission for 2008 such as tackling climate change. DG Sanco will accompany this by publishing in December 2008 a Communication on the EU action to combat the health consequences of climate change.
Fore more information, please visit the Commission’s website:
