European Public Health Alliance Workshop European Union European

European Public Health Alliance Workshop European Union European Public Health Alliance Directive on services Agnese Knabe Project coordinator European Public Health Alliance Civic Alliance – Latvia The Citizen in the centre in EU, Bratislava 25 -26 November, 2005

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

WHY EU? 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

EU Principles The main principle of European Integration National interests Trans-national interests Balance between both interests

EU enlargement Enlargement 1973. 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 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 in force today Treaty 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 Community Development 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. Amendments Amsterdam (1997) Nice (2000)

EU Institutions 4 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 Parliament of EU 1952 established Election procedure Direct elections once 5 years (since 1979 before the national parliamentarians directly involved in EU) 732 MEP

EU Institutions Parliament works Plenary sessions 7 political groups 17 committees Intergroups The seats of the Parliamentarians Population – big states More 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 Ministers of member states Competences Legislation together with Parliament Till 90 s Council was the only institution with legislation rights but the role of Parliament has increased since that time

EU Institutions Work of the Council Approves the legislation acts initiated by The Commission. COREPERS The 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 Presidency To ensure the efficiency of the work of The Council of Ministers Each 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 2005 Luxemburg/UK 2006 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 General Each Commissionaire has its Directorate General 30 DG 20 000 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. employees 2. employers 3. other 317 members elected Council for 4 years

EU Institutions Committee of Regions To represent the regions and its people and advocate their interests Represents the interests of local and regional authorities (health, education, social cohesion)

What EU rights to health exist? 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

Health in the European Commission 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 Parliament 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

The role of NGOs on health 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 New Public Health Programme 2007 - 2013 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

Why health needs to be addressed at EU level 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

European Public Health Alliance 39 -41 Rue d’Arlon B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 2 230 30 56 Fax: +32 2 233 38 80 epha@epha. org www. epha. org