EESC opinion on the Commission’s Communication on Health Inequalities

In his opinion, Dave Wilcox, Committee of the Regions rapporteur on health inequalities, welcomes a number of points made by the European Commission, amongst which the recognition of the considerable impact policies can have on health, especially the Common Agricultural Policy. He therefore encourages policies in general and the common policy in particular, to further consider the health outcomes and inequalities they can generate.

While the Committee welcomes the Commission’s will to deepen its work on Roma inclusion, it also calls on the Institutions to consider other vulnerable groups and the impact social and cultural particularities may have on individual behavior.

The further development of horizontal cooperation (intersectoral cooperation) and vertical collaboration (between the different levels of decision making) with an emphasize on the role region can play and the Committee’s collaboration with DG SANCO is also expressed in the Committee opinion. Indeed, the CoR mentions its interest to work more closely with DG SANCO, particularly on health inequalities issues.

Financially, the CoR would like to see the structural funds used to help reducing health inequalities. “If we want to reduce health inequalities then the EU has to put some resources behind that objective. Structural funds could be put to more widespread use in this area” said Dave Wilcox.

Globally, the disappointments expressed in the Committee’s opinion concern the fact that health is rarely mentioned in the EU2020 Strategy. It therefore encourages the deeper integration of the importance of health inequalities in the document’s agenda. The CoR also regrets that the Commission did not fully address the consequence of a harmful consumption of alcohol.

Disappointed, the CoR particularly highlights the lack of consideration of the economic crisis impact on health-related issues. It reminds that the economic dimension of healthcare services and the economic impact of a healthy population have to be increasingly considered.

Finally, the Committee of the Regions would like to see the development of new indicators such as “health life indicators” or acknowledgement of a healthy life, rather than purely economic indicators.

For further information:

Committee of the Regions press release

European Commission Communication "Solidarity in Health: Reducing Health Inequalities in the EU"

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