Workshop

European UnionEuropean Public Health Alliance

Directive on services

Agnese KnabeProject coordinator

European Public Health AllianceCivic Alliance – Latvia

The Citizen in the centre in EU, Bratislava 25-26 November,2005

European Public Health Alliance

Presentation outline

European Union

History Treaties Institutions

Public health and the EU

European Union

4 freedoms

free movement of goods free movement of persons free movement of capitals free movement of services

European Coal and Steal Community In 1951 in Paris 6 countries- Benelux, France, Germany, Italy signed Treaty European Coal and Steal Community with aim to establish Common Coal and Steal market within the Community member states

WHY EU?

EU Principles

The main principle of European Integration

National interests Trans-national interests Balance between both interests

Enlargement1973. Denmark, Ireland, UK 1981. Greece 1986 Portugal, Spain 1995. Finland, Austria, Sweden, 2004. 10 countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta, Cyprus

The biggest enlargement on EU history. The common territory enlarged for 34% and population 105 milj.

2007. Bulgaria and Rumania The preconditions for integration – continent of

Europe, juridical, free market, democratic governing principles

EU enlargement

EU Treaties

The legal base for EU regulates the aim and establishment of

institutions to reach the aims (like national constitutions)

regulates the policies of EU regulates the legislation process amendments enlargement

EU Treaties

Treaties in force todayTreaty on European (Economic) Community

Common market establishment Harmonization of common economic policies Promotion of mutual economic co-operation between the member

states (trade barriers, Common customs rules, Coordination of monetary

policy, Control of honest competition)

Treaty on European Atomic Energy CommunityDevelopment of Atomic energy under trans- national control of institutions

Treaty on European Union The base for common foreign and security policy and for strengthening common co-

operation on internal and judicial affairs between the member states.

AmendmentsAmsterdam (1997)Nice (2000)

EU Institutions4 main governing bodies

Parliament of EU Council of Ministers European Commission European Court

2 Consultative bodies• Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC)• Committee of Regions

EU Institutions

EU Institutions

Parliament of EU1952 established Election procedureDirect elections once 5 years

(since 1979 before the national parliamentarians directly involved in EU)

732 MEP

EU Institutions

Parliament worksPlenary sessions7 political groups17 committees Intergroups

The seats of the ParliamentariansPopulation – big statesMore then population – small states

EU Institutions

The Competences

Legislation Budget Approval of international treaties Approves the Commission Monitors the Commission work

EU Institutions

Council of MinistersMinisters of member states

CompetencesLegislation together with ParliamentTill 90s Council was the only institution with

legislation rights but the role of Parliament has increased since that time

Work of the CouncilApproves the legislation acts initiated by The Commission.

COREPERSThe decisions is made by the permanent missions of member states (COREPERS)

Prepares the meetings of the ministers Regulates the relations between the member states

EU Institutions

EU Institutions

PresidencyTo ensure the efficiency of the work of The Council

of MinistersEach country for 6 months is a Presidential role

The Competencies To prepare and to lead the meetings of the

Council To ensure the coherence and continuity of the

decisions To find out the practical solutions

2005Luxemburg/UK2006 Austria/Finland

EU Institutions

European Commission The executive body 25 Commissionaires (one per country) (27

– rotation procedure) Each country nominates the candidature Parliament adopts the Commission Common interests of the EU

EU Institutions

Competencies Legislation initiation Monitoring Executive Prepare the Budget monitors the financial recourses of

Structural funds

EU Institutions

Directorates GeneralEach Commissionaire has its Directorate

General30 DG20 000 Bureaucrats Weekly meetings on EU policies and accepts

the legal acts and political documents

EU Institutions

Consultative bodies• ECOSOC (Economic and Social Committee)• Committee of Regions(The interests of society, voice of society)ECOSOC • Gives expertise (suggestions) regarding the legal

acts of the Commission, but it is just Consultative 3 groups

1. employees2. employers3. other

317 members elected Council for 4 years

EU Institutions

Committee of RegionsTo represent the regions and its people and

advocate their interests Represents the interests of local and regional

authorities(health, education, social cohesion)

Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty states:

“A high level of health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities”

But the EU must respect Member State responsibilities for organisation and delivery of health care

What EU rights to health exist?

“Everyone has the right of access to preventive healthcare and the right to benefit from medical treatment under the conditions established by national law and practices”

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, Adopted in Nice, 12/2000

What EU rights to health exist?

DG Health and Consumer Protection (public health, food safety, animal health, monitoring of health, tobacco and alcohol policies)

DG Environment (chemicals, pesticides, soil, air and water pollution, bio-diversity, nature reserves)

DG Employment and Social Affairs (health and safety at work, combating discrimination and poverty, maternity and parental leave).

DG Internal Market (Recognition of professional qualifications) DG Competition (approving mergers eg; Pharma companies) DG Agriculture (Common Agriculture Policy) DG Development (EU is the world largest source of overseas aid) DG Education and Culture (sport, youth policies)

Health in the European Commission

DG Trade (TRIPS, GATS, access to medicines) DG Research (scientific research on genomics, food safety,

causes of diseases, environmental health) DG Information Society (e-health applications) DG Transport and Energy (energy generation, rail

transport, road safety) DG Enterprise (pharmaceuticals and medical devices) DG Tax and Customs (excise duties on tobacco/alcohol) European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA)

authorisation of drugs, pharmacovigilance

Health in the European Commission

Committees Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

(ENVI) Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Internal Market and Consumer Protection

(IMCO) Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)

Inter-group on health

Health in the European Parliament

Advocacy of health rights for all

Representation of citizen and public interest

Awareness raising on health and human rights issues

Monitoring of implementation of health rights

Challenging violations of health rights

The role of NGOs on health

The Health part of the programme would have five key objectives

to protect citizens against health threats to promote policies that lead to a healthier way of

life; to contribute to reducing the incidence of major

diseases in the EU; to contribute to the development of more effective

and efficient health systems; to support the objectives above by providing health

information and analysis

The New Public Health Programme 2007- 2013

Many EU policies have an impact – direct or indirect – on the health of EU citizens

Implementation of internal market legislation is de-facto creating policy on health related issues

The European Commissioner has greater powers to promote animal welfare than to protect human health

Why health needs to be addressed at EU level

European Public Health Alliance

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Fax: +32 2 233 38 80

epha@epha.org

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