The Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU will work to conclude negotiations with the European Parliament on the pharmaceutical package, announces Denmark in its six-month work programme published on Tuesday 1 July (see EUROPE 13653/10).
“Adoption of this proposal will improve patient access to medicines, encourage innovation throughout the European Union and simplify the procedures for approving new treatments”, states the programme.
The Danish Presidency will also give priority to examining the European Commission’s proposal on critical medicines “with the aim of strengthening the security of supply of essential medicines” (see EUROPE 13668/18). The aim is to reduce dependence on third countries and prevent shortages of medicines in the EU. The provisional agendas mention the objective of a ‘general approach’ by the Member States at the EPSCO (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs) Council on 2 December.
Under the aegis of the World Health Organization (WHO), Denmark will be leading negotiations on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP11) and the Convention on Pandemics.
At the EPSCO Council on 2 December, the Danish Presidency is also planning an update on the state of negotiations on the pharmaceutical package, an exchange of views on new tobacco and nicotine products (in particular their impact on children and young people) and a debate on the negotiations for an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (see EUROPE 13644/19). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)