Brussels, 23/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - Presenting the priorities of the Irish presidency to the parliamentary committee chaired by British Conservative Caroline Jackson, the young Irish health minister for health Michael Martin explained that he considered that the EU agenda on health was extremely dynamic as. Over the next six months, Mr Martin intends moving forward in 1) implementation of the European Centre for the prevention and control of infectious diseases; 2) prevention of cardiovascular diseases which the presidency has made one of its priorities; 3) the response to mobility of patients, (the main theme for the ministerial on 11-12 May in Cork); 4) the ratification of the convention-framework of the WHO on the fight against smoking; 5) the updating of the dossier on allegations about certain food products (EUROPE 14 January p 14). The dossier on youth and alcohol abuse will also be brought up at the request of Sweden. The presidency is also awaiting the European Commission's presentation of a communication on the future EU strategy on health.
On the initiative of Caroline Jackson, many MEPs asked the minister to take action on the requests about the clinical trials directive produced by part of the British scientific community and charities active in the cancer research domain in the United Kingdom. According to these organisations, rules in this directive are too weighty and prevent them from carrying out their research activities, notably in their tasks of improving knowledge about medicine and performing research into new indications. MEP criticised the inaction of Commissioner Liikanen and called on Mr Martin to raise the issue at the Council. Greek Socialist Minerva Malliori highlighted the problems linked to children's foods and the behaviour of food multinationals. She also raised the question of 1) access to dangerous substances via the internet particularly slimming products, 2) the considerable influence of images promoted by actors and stars who smoke on screen, 3) the request reiterated by Parliament for obtaining a Community regulation on medicines for paediatric use. Irish Green Patricia McKenna underlined the urgent need for a European health insurance card.
Ms Martin recognised that the implementation of the directive on clinical trials should not undermine research carried out by doctors on products already on the market and promised to raise the question with Mr Liikanen. Obesity and diabetes issues would also be examined in the context of the work on cardiovascular diseases, promised the minister, who said that he was also waiting for the Commission proposal on paediatric sue.
British Labour party member Catherine Stihler like other MEPs, raised the issue of alcohol abuse among the young and asked why there was not special labelling. In response, German Christian Democrat Karl-Heinz Florenz pointed to the role of parents. He was followed by Ms Jackson who said that she did not see shy the EU presidency should be dealing with children who drank too much and stated that their parents should be dealing with the matter. Belgian Liberal Frédérique Ries began again on his crusade against "fun packs", brightly coloured packages that hid warnings on cigarette packets. He also asked, as expected for a revision in the action programme budget in public health to take into account of enlargement. Mr Martin said that he agreed with Mr Florenz and Ms Jackson on the main role of parents but also of educators. Ms Jackson again insisted again on putting the issue of clinical trials on the Council's agenda in order to exercise genuine pressure on the Commission.