Brussels, 04/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - A number of major dossiers will dominate the Council's work under Danish presidency. The five priority areas to be tackled in depth over the next six months are: (1) antimicrobial resistance (AMR); (2) the action programme in the field of health; (3) amendment of the directive on tobacco; (4) amendment of the transparency directive; and (5) the Health Threats Package.
In the field of health, the role of the EU is to complete national policies whenever such policies can contribute to the prevention of widespread diseases and to combating risks for physical and mental health. Initiatives should include fighting major health threats as well as surveillance of major cross-border health threats, warning in case of such threats and combating those threats.
Generally speaking, the EU has legislative power in areas where there is a need to address common safety challenges. Among other things, this means that EU member states can adopt common initiatives intended to protect public health, for example in relation to tobacco and alcohol abuse.
The EU also plays an important role when it comes to ensuring high standards for medical devices, medicinal products and the conduct of clinical trials on medicinal products for human use. The EU collects and disseminates information about best practice which can benefit the member states, and also supports local and regional health projects and campaigns. The work of the Danish Presidency of the EU Council will continue along those lines. The Danish presidency will, moreover, negotiate renewal of the programme for action and the strategy of the European Union in the field of public health, launched in 2007, to be completed in 2013.
It is to be remembered that this strategy is based on four major principles (shared health values, health is the greatest wealth, health in all policies, and strengthening the EU's voice in global health). It is geared to three strategic objectives: (1) fostering good health in an ageing Europe; (2) protecting citizens from health threats; and (3) supporting dynamic health systems and new technologies. (IL/transl.jl)