Slovenian Presidency: Priorities for health (January 2008-June 2008)
As from 1 January 2008, Slovenia is the first new EU member States to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The presidencyshall continue to strive for the implementation of joint priorities and commitments mutually developed within the framework of the 18-month programme of German-Portuguese-Slovenian Presidency. Priorities are the promotion of health by encouraging a healthy lifestyle, particularly healthy nutrition and physical activity, prevention and control of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and flu pandemics, innovations in healthcare and accessibility of healthcare services.
Slovenia as the presiding country shall concentrate on:
reducing the burden of cancer disease, which remains one of the more severe public health problems in the EU regardless of the numerous activities and endeavours of the Member States. The goal is to promote additional activities at a political level, and to adopt orientations in support of different measures both at the level of EU and in Member States.
the reduction of alcohol use and the damage associated with excessive consumption, the latter being the third most important causative factor of disease and premature death in the European Union, especially among the younger population. Alcohol is also the main cause of health inequalities among the EU States as well as of domestic violence and violence against children. The problem should be addressed by the exchange of good practices and experience between the Member States, as well as by established examples of innovation in reducing alcohol-related accidents and injuries.
the IT system development in healthcare, which facilitates faster intervention and more effective information exchange between health institutions.
Besides the listed priorities and further implementation of the joint commitments of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia, the dossiers on the agenda inherited from the preceding Presidencies shall be taken over. The foreseen more demanding dossiers include: the provision of healthcare services, which would ensure the European citizens high-quality and safe healthcare services and their flow; the European Health Strategy with its basic objective to define balance and comprehensiveness in the area of public health at the EU level, which shall contribute to a better health of European citizens; and the management of the area of human organ donation and transplantation.
In related news, the Member of the ENVI Committee (Environment, Public Heath and Food Safety) of the European Parliament had an exchange of views withMrs Zofija Mazej Kukovic, Slovene Minister for Health.
In her speech, the Minister set out of the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency and focused in particular on the plans contained in the health agenda and the priorities of the Slovenian presidency in the public health field.
She explained that cancer was a key concern and she acknowledged the work done by the EP and initiatives by MEPs. She pointed out the need for an integrated approach from prevention all the way to palliative care, saying they would present Presidency conclusions to the June Council.
The priority issues, judging by the number of questions raised by MEPs, was the initiative on cancer and the conference plannedfor early February. Mr Bowis (GB-EPP) and Ulmer (D-EPP) both raised the link between hepatitis and liver cancer, claiming that intervention was needed at an earlier stage.
Only one MEP, the French Socialist Ms Ferreira, raised the issue of alcohol to point out that in regards to alcohol and obesity, the social and economic aspects must be taken into account.
Calendar of events of the Slovenian Presidency
* 07.02.2008 - 08.02.2008 Conference on Cancer
* 29.02.2008 Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO)
* 13.03.2008 - 14.03.2008 Meeting of Directors-General for Health
* 02.04.2008 - 03.04.2008 Meeting of the High-Level Committee on Public Health
* 02.04.2008 - 04.04.2008 Conference on Alcohol (Barcelona)
* 05.05.2008 - 07.05.2008 eHealth Conference
* 07.05.2008 EU Drugs Coordinators Meeting
* 16.05.2008 - 17.05.2008 7th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty
* 09.06.2008 - 10.06.2008 Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO)