The European Parliament has adopted its negotiating position on the European Commission’s proposals for the “EU4Health Programme”, with 615 votes in favour, 34 against and 39 abstentions. Commencing in 2021 and replacing the existing EU Health Programme (2014-2020), the EU4Health programme is intended to prepare the EU for major cross-border health threats and make health systems more resilient.
The negotiating position of the Parliament sets out that Programme should not only focus on cross-border health threats and future epidemics, but also long-term challenges such as ageing population and inequalities in health. Building on the Commission’s initial proposal, the Parliament also supports:
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An EU communication portal for the public to share information and to send alerts to European citizens
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Stronger mandates for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
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The development of a European system for monitoring, reporting and notifying shortages of medicines, medical devices, vaccines, diagnostic tools, and other healthcare products
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More robust health systems and digitalised healthcare through the creation of European eHealth Records
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The establishment of a Steering Group consisting of independent public health experts.
The EU4Health programme will now be finalised in the trilogue negotiations between the Parliament, Council and Commission. You can read more on the negotiating position here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20201109IPR91115/eu4health-meps-pave-the-way-for-an-effective-eu-health-programme
