Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, health is likely to have a prominent place in the work of the next trio of EU Council Presidencies (Germany, Portugal and Slovenia), although it is mainly a matter of national jurisdiction.
A new draft work programme for the trio, dated 20 May, puts more emphasis on health than the previous version (see EUROPE 12481/9).
"Only if health policy succeeds in containing and eventually overcoming the threat posed by Covid-19, can a sustainable recovery in all other sectors of the economy and public life take place", explain the Presidencies, who support the establishment of more resilient health infrastructures.
According to the trio, pandemic preparedness needs to be strengthened, "in particular by promoting the digital exchange of health data with full respect for privacy rights and by strengthening existing trans-European structures such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control".
They also push for the updating of legislation in the field of medicines and medical devices. Reflection on the creation of 'common treatment structures' between affected countries will be encouraged, as will work on the creation of joint EU laboratories, through the Joint Research Centre, for the development of medicines and vaccines.
For the Presidencies, a global response to Covid-19 "requires greater regional collaboration on new diagnostics, therapies and vaccines", and the EU and its Member States will help partner countries to strengthen their global health systems.
The trio also want to give the EU and its Member States "a stronger and more strategic voice in international fora dealing with global health, such as WHO".
In addition, the trio propose to hold a European Social Summit in May 2021, under the Portuguese Presidency.
See the draft: https://bit.ly/2XEAggm (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)