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Services in the Internal Market
In January 2004, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive to create a internal market in services.
The proposal has been controversial and faced strong opposition by civil society groups, trade unions and some Member States.
The proposal will now be discussed by the European Council after being processed by the European Parliament.
You can follow the legislative process in the European Parliament Legislative Observatory file and in the Pre-Lex website.
This section contains news on the legislative process, background documents and reactions from EPHA members and other organisations on the issue.
Last article modified in this page or in one of the sub-section August 20 2008.
9/07/2008
Europe urges more transparency of health spending
As the Commission readies to propose rules to improve cross-border access to health care in the EU, the 27 Member States together with 26 other World Health Organization (WHO) European region countries have committed to more accountability regarding the way their health systems are financed. EPHA urges Member States to duly implement their commitment.
Some 500 European health decision-makers, including ministers of health and finance, gathered to discuss "sensitive and politically charged (...)
Some 500 European health decision-makers, including ministers of health and finance, gathered to discuss "sensitive and politically charged (...)
3/07/2008
EU pilot project to remove linguistic barriers for care abroad
A Commission Recommendation on the interoperability of electronic health records aimed at ensuring EU doctors have access to vital information on patients’ medical data, wherever such information may be located, opens the door to a large-scale EU pilot project.
Background
The lack of interoperability in systems and services, such as electronic health records, patient summaries and emergency data sets, has been identified as a major obstacle towards the widespread take-up of eHealth (...)
Background
The lack of interoperability in systems and services, such as electronic health records, patient summaries and emergency data sets, has been identified as a major obstacle towards the widespread take-up of eHealth (...)
7/07/2008
Royal College of Nursing Comments on Health Services Directive
Comment on the European Union’s proposals on patients’ rights to cross border healthcare from Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
Dr Carter said: “The RCN cautiously welcomes today’s announcement on European Union (EU) cross border healthcare because it clarifies the rights and responsibilities of patients seeking care in other EU member states.
“However, this new directive will only work if the EU puts in (...)
Dr Carter said: “The RCN cautiously welcomes today’s announcement on European Union (EU) cross border healthcare because it clarifies the rights and responsibilities of patients seeking care in other EU member states.
“However, this new directive will only work if the EU puts in (...)
4/07/2008
After more than a decade, the European Commission released the directive on patients’ rights in cross border healthcare.
After repeated delays, the proposal for a Directive on patients rights regarding cross-border healthcare was released on 2 July 2008. With the proposal, the Commission will try to create legal certainty on this issue and possibly avoid new court cases because the EU Treaty gives individual patients the right to seek healthcare in other Member States.
EPHA’s Secretary General, Monika Kosinska, expressed the view of the Public Health Community on the proposal on BBC World News the same day. (...)
EPHA’s Secretary General, Monika Kosinska, expressed the view of the Public Health Community on the proposal on BBC World News the same day. (...)
31/05/2007
Health services under attack in the European Parliament
An amendment asking the reintroduction on health services in the ’services directive’ was voted AGAINST by the European Parliament. EPHA and 7 leading health organisations sent a letter (attached) to Members of the European Parliament urging the Parliament to oppose this amendment.
On the 23 May 2007, the European Parliament adopted the Vergnaud report on health services. The report is an own-initiative report on “the consequences on the exclusion of health services from the scope of (...)
On the 23 May 2007, the European Parliament adopted the Vergnaud report on health services. The report is an own-initiative report on “the consequences on the exclusion of health services from the scope of (...)
2/05/2007
European Parliament report on Social Services of General Interest
The European Parliament has adopted its own-initiative report on Social Services of General Interest.
The report makes clear that SSGIs are one of the pillars of the European Social model.
The rapporteur, Joel Hasse Ferreira (PT - PES), criticises the European Commission approach for not being clear enough about the terminology: the European Parliament therefore calls for the European Commission to clarify concepts such as ’public services’, ’services of general interest", ’services of (...)
The report makes clear that SSGIs are one of the pillars of the European Social model.
The rapporteur, Joel Hasse Ferreira (PT - PES), criticises the European Commission approach for not being clear enough about the terminology: the European Parliament therefore calls for the European Commission to clarify concepts such as ’public services’, ’services of general interest", ’services of (...)
30/03/2007
Meeting the costs of health care abroad
The European Commission (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal opportunities) has launched a website on the costs of health care abroad hereby enhancing the role of the European Health Insurance Card.
Despite the title of the website, it does not address the costs of health care, but provides information about the European Health Insurance Card, proving answers to questions such as: who is covered?, what is covered?, which countries are involved?, and what should you do if you lose your (...)
Despite the title of the website, it does not address the costs of health care, but provides information about the European Health Insurance Card, proving answers to questions such as: who is covered?, what is covered?, which countries are involved?, and what should you do if you lose your (...)
31/05/2007
*UPDATED* European Commission Consultation on health services
*UPDATED with the results of the consultation* The European Commission has opened a consultation for the future EU legislation on health care services.
Following this consultation, the Commission intends to bring forward appropriate proposals in 2007.
Commission report on responses to the consultation
According to the European Commission report summarising responses received, a total of 276 responses have been registered from national governments, regional authorities, international and (...)
Following this consultation, the Commission intends to bring forward appropriate proposals in 2007.
Commission report on responses to the consultation
According to the European Commission report summarising responses received, a total of 276 responses have been registered from national governments, regional authorities, international and (...)
1/09/2006
EU Health systems common values and principles recognised
In June 2006, Ministers of Health of the 25 Member States adopted common values and principles which are to guide EU health systems.
The conclusions of the Council follows the exclusion of healthcare services from the scope of the Services Directive and foresees the future Community framework on health services, currently developed by the European Commission.
It also takes into account the recent European Court of Justice rulings over the right to treatment, reimbursement, and patients (...)
The conclusions of the Council follows the exclusion of healthcare services from the scope of the Services Directive and foresees the future Community framework on health services, currently developed by the European Commission.
It also takes into account the recent European Court of Justice rulings over the right to treatment, reimbursement, and patients (...)
31/08/2006
Rising health costs put pressure on public finances
According to OECD Health Data 2006, health spending continues to rise in OECD countries, growing faster than GDP in every OECD - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - country (except Finland) between 1990 and 2004.
In most OECD countries, the bulk of healthcare costs is financed through taxes, with 73% of health spending on average publicly funded in 2004. Ensuring sustainable financing of health systems is therefore critical for governments, as health spending as a share (...)
In most OECD countries, the bulk of healthcare costs is financed through taxes, with 73% of health spending on average publicly funded in 2004. Ensuring sustainable financing of health systems is therefore critical for governments, as health spending as a share (...)
Credits
The European Public Health Alliance runs projects which receive financial support from the European Commission. The views expressed in this website do not necessarily reflect the official views of the EU institutions.
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