On Wednesday 22 May, the European Commission adopted a Communication on the European Health Union, which highlights the progress made in this area over the last four years for the benefit of citizens in the EU and around the world.
“Five years ago, it was virtually unthinkable that a European Health Union could be anything more than a vision on paper. A vision some of us had, but few believed was possible”, said the Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides.
Margarítis Schinás, Commission Vice-President responsible for ‘Promoting our European Way of Life’, praised the initiatives implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Over the coming years, the European Health Union will continue to evolve and grow to further promote the health and wellbeing of people across the EU and beyond”, according to the communication, which adds: “The world has changed irrevocably since 2019. And it will continue to change. Thanks to a robust European Health Union, the EU is now better prepared for what tomorrow brings for our citizens’ health”.
The start of this mandate was marked by the biggest pandemic in a century. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown what can be achieved through European solidarity and the adoption of decisive measures, stresses the Commission.
The European vaccine strategy has ensured that all EU citizens have access, at the same time and under the same conditions, to vital vaccines against Covid-19.
Thanks to the EU Digital COVID Certificate, economies and companies have been able to reopen in safe conditions, and the SURE programme has helped more than 31 million workers to overcome the economic consequences. The EU has also become the largest donor of vaccines and has provided almost €54 billion in emergency aid to partner countries.
Supported by substantial funding under the ‘EU for Health’ programme (EU4Health), the objectives of the European Health Union have been rapidly translated into tangible results:
- the EU is better equipped to anticipate, prepare for and respond to any major health threat. This is thanks to the strengthened legal framework for cooperation on health security, the consolidation of EU health agencies and the creation of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA);
- the pharmaceutical reform proposed by the EU will give 70 million more European citizens access to new medicines;
- a number of major initiatives have been launched as part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EU funding of €4 billion).
In addition, citizens will have access to better quality healthcare throughout the EU thanks to the European Health Data Space.
The EU recognises that mental health is as important as physical health and that it affects people from all walks of life. Large-scale actions are planned, backed by more than €1.2 billion.
Donors and recipients of substances of human origin such as blood or cells will benefit from enhanced protection under revised EU rules (see EUROPE 13314/3). On 27 May, the Council of the EU will formally adopt the Regulation on standards of quality and safety of substances of human origin.
Link to the rules: https://aeur.eu/f/cbu
Link to the EU Health Communication: https://aeur.eu/f/cb7 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)