The European health ministers are meeting in Brussels on Tuesday 3 December to attempt to adopt a recommendation on smoke- and aerosol-free environments. They will also discuss the European Health Union, in the light of the report on the future of European competitiveness that was presented by Mario Draghi in September 2024.
The meeting will be chaired by the Hungarian State Secretary for Health, Péter Takács. The Commission will be represented for the first time by Olivér Várhelyi as the new European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.
The draft EU Council Recommendation (https://aeur.eu/f/elp ) provides for effective protection in indoor workplaces, indoor public places and public transport against exposure to secondary emissions from the use of emerging products that emit smoke or aerosols, such as heated tobacco products, electronic cigarettes with or without nicotine, tobacco substitutes and any other product that emits smoke and/or aerosols. Protection should be extended to outdoor recreational areas, particularly where these are likely to be often frequented by children, young people and vulnerable people (public play areas, amusement parks, swimming pools, beaches, zoos).
The EU Council will review progress on the review of pharmaceutical legislation in the EU, with a focus on regulatory incentives. This package of measures is designed to improve the security of the supply of medicines and prevent shortages. A report from the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council has been prepared (https://aeur.eu/f/el9 ).
The ministers will also debate the European Health Union (https://aeur.eu/f/ela ).
The EU Council will adopt conclusions (https://aeur.eu/f/elc ) on improving cardiovascular health in the European Union. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the EU, accounting for around a third of all deaths.
The EU Council will also approve conclusions (https://aeur.eu/f/elg ) on improving organ donation and transplantation. Organ donations and transplants save thousands of lives every year. However, the last EU action plan on organ donation and transplantation ended almost ten years ago. Meanwhile, demand for organ transplants continues to rise, driven by the continuing burden of non-communicable diseases and an ageing population.
Other items on the agenda include: negotiations for an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, the health sector as a key element of the EU’s future preparedness strategy (information from Finland), the fight against the sale of unauthorised medicines to European citizens (information communicated by Belgium and Spain), the necessary reforms to the regulations on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices (information provided by France and Germany, supported by Ireland, Luxembourg and Romania) and voluntary cooperation for the joint procurement of medicines (information provided by Cyprus). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)