EU public health policy aims to :
- protect and improve the health of EU citizens
- support the modernisation and digital transformation of health systems and infrastructures
- increase the resilience of European health systems
- equip Member States to better prevent and respond to future pandemics.
In public health, the EU has only a supporting competence, i.e. it complements Member States’ action. However, its investment and involvement in the health field has increased over the years, in particular to address new challenges.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, which hit the continent hard, the European Union has begun a policy of massive investment in the health field.
Pandemic and major diseases
A network for the surveillance and control of communicable diseases, set up in 2011, is helping to prevent epidemics. The European Union provides extensive support to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and other organisations that are trying to curb the spread of HIV (prevention, screening, information, etc.).
It is also the world’s largest donor to the COVAX mechanism set up by the WHO to ensure access to low-cost Covid-19 vaccine for developing countries.
Prevention in everyday life
The EU is also involved in health promotion in the areas of tobacco, alcohol and nutrition. To combat alcoholism, the EU has promoted cooperation between Member States and has set up committees and forums that regularly bring together the various stakeholders in the fight against alcohol. For tobacco, the European Commission has launched several campaigns aimed at young people, such as “HELP – For a life without tobacco” in 2005, and since 2016, a European directive which regulates the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and tobacco products has also become applicable in all Member States. The EU Drugs Strategy (2013-2020), which aims to contribute to reducing demand and supply as well as health and social risks, has been extended for the period 2021-2025. On nutrition, in 2007 the Commission adopted a strategy on nutrition, overweight and obesity related health issues. The promotion of sport and the distribution of fruit and vegetables in schools are some of the initiatives supported by the European Union.
The European Commission is also considering the creation of a Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA). This should enable better coordination in the face of cross-border health threats. Its creation was opened to public consultation on 31 March 2021, and the authority should become operational in 2023.
Health crises
Major global epidemics (influenza A (H1N1), Escherichia Coli, Ebola, Covid-19…) require urgent dialogue and cooperation at European level. To this end, the Council of the EU brings together the Health Ministers of the 27 Member States to promote the coordination of national policies. Depending on the circumstances, the European Council can also be mobilised.
The European Union has the possibility, in the event of a serious crisis and in an emergency context, to relax its policies and standards to facilitate the containment of an epidemic. In the case of the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the continent from spring 2020 onwards, the Commission announced the relaxation of several budgetary and competition rules in order to give Member States more room for manoeuvre in their economic responses to the crisis.
Vaccination strategy
With its new vaccination strategy, the EU is supporting efforts to accelerate the development and availability of safe and effective vaccines within less than a year, for most vaccines.
The Commission has concluded advance purchase agreements with several vaccine producers on behalf of the Member States and has secured more than 4.2 billion doses of vaccines for European citizens and for countries around the world where vaccines are less available.
Safety
The European Medicines Agency publishes updated information on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines authorised in the EU. This information is published monthly for each authorised vaccine.
These safety updates summarise the data available since the vaccine was authorised. They also indicate if there is any safety information that requires further analysis.
Funding : EU4Health programme
Budget: 9.4 billion Euros
Objectives
- Obligation to ensure a high level of human health protection, in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ;
- Strengthening of existing structures and mechanisms for improving the level of protection, prevention, preparedness and response to risks at EU level ;
- Improving cross-border cooperation to combat health threats ;
- Expanding the Union’s role in prevention and international cooperation.