WRITTEN QUESTION P-1835/01

by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 June 2001)

Subject: Health implications of enlargement

The Treaty of Maastricht brought public health matters within the EU's sphere of competence, subject to compliance with the subsidiarity principle. Community action in this field is directed towards the prevention of diseases, in particular the major health scourges, by promoting research into their causes and their transmission, as well as health information and education.

Health is not one of the absolute priorities with a view to enlargement, although it is used as an indicator of the problems and challenges to be overcome by the candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and it should therefore be accorded proper importance in the transition policies. Health is an essential factor in economic development and should be recognised and treated as a priority.

According to a Commission working document (SEC(1999) 713 of June 1999), the health situation in the CEECs, particularly as regards communicable diseases, is increasingly alarming. Most of the candidate countries have yet to adopt a modern approach to surveillance, have poorly-equipped laboratories and inadequate resources and find it difficult to maintain appropriate systems for the notification of communicable diseases. Migration is expected to increase following accession, and this brings with it a greater risk that communicable diseases, particularly sexually transmitted diseases, will spread.

Furthermore, the social and financial status of health-care professionals and the incentives provided in those countries compare very unfavourably with those in the EU Member States. This has an adverse effect on the motivation of health-care professionals in those countries, and one can therefore expect there to be a strong tendency for those among them who speak foreign languages to emigrate.

Given the above, what support measures does the Commission intend to take, possibly in conjunction with the EIB, to help improve this situation?

Is it planning to involve the candidate countries in Fifth framework programme activities in the health field?

Is it considering the introduction of an aid scheme aimed a stepping up exchanges of experience relating to the use of information systems and technologies in health care?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The Commission fully agrees with the Honourable Member on the important health challenges that the candidate countries are faced with. The Union must therefore play its full part in assisting the candidate countries to address these problems, using all the available means. In its negotiations with the candidate countries, the Community has therefore stressed the importance it attaches to assuring a high level of human health protection in the definition and implementation of all Community policies.

In this context, the Commission is taking action on a number of fronts with the aim of providing practical support and assistance to the candidate countries. These include first encouraging the candidate countries to participate actively in the Community's public health activities, such as the Community network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases, which was set up by Parliament and Council Decision No 2119/98/EC of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community(1). The candidate countries are also invited to develop a health monitoring system in order to obtain health data and indicators comparable with the Community health monitoring system, and to report to the Union on progress achieved.

In addition, the candidate countries are being encouraged to participate in the proposed new public health programme from its outset. Furthermore, they have been invited to provide detailed information on how they are preparing for Community activities in the field of public health (Article 152 (ex Article 129) of the EC Treaty) and on the likely changes that are needed to their health system because of these activities. They are also encouraged to participate in the Fifth framework research and technological development programme activities in the health field.

More generally, the Commission is in contact with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the relevant international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), to strengthen co-operation in providing assistance and support to the candidate countries.

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.