Brussels, 27/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - The G10 Medicines Group (of individuals representing the pharmaceutical industry, patients' associations and relevant government departments, set up in March 2001 on the initiative of Commissioner Erkki Liikanen (Industry) and David Byrne (Health and Consumer Protection) to consider how best to enhance the EU's pharmaceutical industry's competitiveness while safeguarding patient interests) has announced new transparency initiatives. It has agreed to launch an eight-week consultation exercise on the EU's medicines policy on the basis of a working document covering pricing, co-payments and reimbursement; information to patients; evaluating cost-effectiveness; the science-base and the research environment in Europe; competitiveness, benchmarking and innovation; the single market and fragmentation due to national public health policies; and generics. The document outlines the various areas being covered in the consultation exercise, but includes a disclaimer that the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the view of the European Commission or the members of the G10 group. The document can be consulted on the web at the following address: http: //pharmacos.eudra.org. The G10 will be presenting its report to Commission President Prodi by April 2002; the group's next meeting is being held on 26 February 2002.