Is the Commission coming unstuck on health?
As new Brussels media outlet, Politico.eu, has aptly noted this week, EU health policy seems to be stuck in the Brussels mud. Despite the apparent best intentions of the Commissioner for Health, the instruction from the top since the arrival of the Juncker Commission seems to be to do nothing til further notice. Hands at SANTE and most other Commission departments seem to be tied. They’re not the only ones feeling the frustration, EU Health Ministers and MEPs are starting to feel uncomfortable that the EU is failing in its duty to protect public health.
The last two weeks have given reason for optimism. Both EU Health Ministers, meeting in Riga, and the entire EU Parliament Plenary have called loudly for action to protect health – starting with a new EU Alcohol Strategy. Alcohol has been stuck since the previous strategy was allowed to lapse in 2012. The democratically elected EU Institutions (as opposed to the Commission), are now telling the civil servants to swing back into action and start doing what the Treaty obliges them to – namely to protect a high level of public health. The health harm from alcohol is widespread, causing over 120,000 premature, avoidable deaths in the EU every year – some of those victims of drink drive crashes or alcohol induced violence – but the majority from alcohol related diseases.
MEPs have noted in particular the potential of economic instruments, including Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP), to curb the harm caused by alcohol, especially amongst the most vulnerable. Scotland was to introduce this measure, but a hearing at the European Court of Justice next week will examine the arguments brought by the spirits industry that their sales should be paramount over health protection and governments’ sovereign rights to set excise duty rates to reach public policy goals. Similarly, the tobacco industry is expected to bring a legal challenge against Ireland’s excellent decision to opt for plain packaging.
It is clear that the public right across Europe merits protection from ruthless industries whose products cause harm to health and are setting a costly timebomb for our health services. These problems are very difficult to tackle by one government alone within a single market. Which is why EU legislation in the public interest is so vital. The MEPs and Health Ministers are right to call on the Commission to do more. This Commission’s legacy will be judged on how it responds to citizens and not just vested interests.
EPHA Secretary-General
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OTHER ARTICLES published on our website over the last weeks
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☐ EPHA recruits] [Communications coordinator
☐ Joint press statement] [European Parliament Resolution calls for new EU Alcohol Strategy
☐ EPHA video] [Health is not for trade
☐ [Applying ethical recruitment principles in Europe
->https://www.epha.org/6340]
☐ EPHA Open letter] [EPHA contribution to the draft Austrian tobacco legislation
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Events
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☐ EPHA 6th Annual Conference, 2-3 September, Brussels
☐ Mobility of Health Professionals in the EU – Ethical Recruitment and Policy Coherence (5 May)
☐ Launch of the MEP Friends of the Liver Interest Group – 27 May
