Political agreement on the EU Health Programme 2007-2013

The proposed budget of € 365.6 million for the EU Health Promme 2007-2013 should help improving citizens´ health security, promote health and generate and disseminate health information and knowledge.
“Improving health plays a key role in addressing challenges such as population ageing, security threats or labour shortages. Health has a role to play in achieving Europe´s full potential for prosperity, solidarity and security. The new Health Programme will be instrumental in reaching these goals,” said Markos Kyprianou, European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner. A formal “common position” of the programme will have to be adopted by the Health Ministers Council in early 2007 before it will go through the European Parliament in second reading.

 

The main objectives of the programme are:

 

-         Improving health security with actions that will protect citizens against health threats. This would include developing EU and Member States´capacitiy to respond to cross-border threats, including preparing for coordinated EU and international response to health emergencies.

-         Promoting Health by fostering healthy active ageing and helping to bridge health inequalities. Actions concerning nutrition and the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and drugs will be continued.

-         Health information and knowledge: Under the third objective, the Commission will strengthen the exchange of knowledge and best practice in areas where the EU can provide added-value in bringing together expertise from different countries, e.g. rare diseases, children´s health or any other important area. Another point is the promotion of EU health monitoring and the development of indicators and tools as well as ways of disseminating information to citizens, such as the health-EU portal