Brussels, 21/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 20 June, Françoise Grossetête's report (EPP, France) on the European Commission's third multiannual action programme was adopted unanimously by the environment, public health and food safety committee at the European Parliament. Grossetête stated: “Improving the efficiency of our health systems has become even more urgent since the economic crisis. More than ever, we must see health as an investment in the future, not as a cost or as an adjustment variable for social budgets. The health sector must be a lever for growth, creating jobs in times of crisis, and appear as a real pillar of the European economy”. This new programme will bring clear European added value to the health of European citizens and the €446 million budget planned for 2014-2020 must be protected during budgetary negotiations because health is a priority, emphasised the MEP. The report, however, would like the programme to put more emphasis on sicknesses linked to ageing, which affect increasing numbers of people (for example, more than 7 million people in Europe suffer from a form of dementia linked to old age) and which generate heavy health, economic and social repercussions. Prevention and innovation must be promoted. (IL/transl.fl)