The European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) has introduced a number of initiatives since 1995 to improve the openness and transparency of its activities. In each case these initiatives were the subject of public consultation before their introduction.
This latest consultation exercise is being held at the same time as the European Union institutions are looking at proposals to revise EU pharmaceutical legislation. These legislative proposals include a number of important changes to the sort of information that the EMEA will be required to make public, but will depend on the final outcome of the legislative process. The progress of these discussions can be followed on the web site of the European Commission Pharmaceuticals Unit
The attached document sets out eleven initiatives, which are divided into two groups. The first group looks to build on existing EMEA communication tools and the second group consists of new initiatives that are independent of the transparency aspects of the European Commission legislative proposals.
Views are invited on the proposals. It is intended to present the outcome of the consultation exercise to the Management Board at its meeting of 2 October 2003. Comments should be received by Monday 15 September 2003 to ensure that they are taken into account in the paper that will be presented to the Management Board.
Comments should be sent to Emmanuel TRENADO.
