On 9 September 2008, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) met to vote the Draft Report on the White Paper entitled ’Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013’ as well as a series of amendments.
The Commission White Paper outlines a comprehensive strategy for health policy in the European Union 2008-2013, keeping in mind the division of competences between the EU and the Member States, major challenges ahead as well as the existing legislative and financial instruments. It builds on common values and principles of EU healthcare systems, agreed by Member States in 2006 and defines three main objectives (’fostering good health in an ageing Europe’, ’protecting citizens from health threats’, and ’supporting dynamic health systems and new technologies’) with associated actions. It proposes a model of ’structured cooperation’ for the implementation of the strategy, which would mean a new form of cooperation between the Commission, Member States (also at regional and local level) and stakeholders, and which would replace some of the existing implementation mechanisms.
The Rapporteur - Slovenian MEP Lojze Peterle (EPP) - welcomes the Strategy and underlines the need to pay more attention to disease prevention. He also points out that individual’s responsibility on his/her own health should be acknowledged also in the health strategy. He is in favour of the proposed structured cooperation, but calls for an explicit involvement of social partners in it.
For further information
EPHA related article
European Commission adopts EU Health Strategy on 23 October 2007.
