WRITTEN QUESTION E-2085/02

by Enrique Barón Crespo (PSE) to the Council

(12 July 2002)

Subject: Comprehensive treatment plan for diabetics

On Parliament's initiative, diabetes was included in the Sixth Framework Programme for Research as one of the medical conditions to be worked on. Since there are an estimated 19 million known diabetics in the EU (and probably a further 6 million undiagnosed), does the Council not think that there is a need for a specific comprehensive priority plan (involving harmonisation of the individual Member States' regulations) relating to the disease which, in Europe, causes one death every six minutes?

Reply

(6 February 2003)

As pointed out by the Honourable Member, research on certain aspects of diabetes forms part of the research priorities of the Sixth Framework Programme for Research, as adopted by the European Parliament and Council in codecision. These priorities are sharply focused, in order to concentrate resources on narrow, well-defined areas where they can achieve critical mass and create real added-value for the European citizen. The Community contribution to the funding of diabetes research in Europe, however, is a very limited part of a considerable overall public and private RTD effort which is commensurate with the scale of the health problem.

In Section 1 of the Framework Programme Integrating European Research, the content of Thematic Priority 1.1.1., Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health, point B, Combating major diseases forsees:

Application-oriented approach to medical genomics knowledge and technologies including the use of animal and plant genomics where relevant, mainly in the following fields(1):

- combating diabetes, diseases of the nervous system (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and, where relevant, mental illness), cardiovascular diseases, and rare diseases;

()

The text of the draft Council decision adopting a specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area (2002-2006), adopted on 30 September 2002, states, with regard to combating major diseases, that the strategic objective of this line is to develop improved strategies for the prevention and management - using also advanced technologies for health - of human disease and for living and ageing healthily. It will concentrate exclusively on integrating genomic approaches through all relevant organisms into more established medical approaches for investigating disease and health determinants. The emphasis will be put on transnational research aimed at bringing basic knowledge through to clinical application. Research actions in the field of combating diabetes will focus on integrating clinical expertise with relevant model systems and advanced tools in functional genomics to generate breakthroughs in the prevention and management of this disease.

In addition, diabetes research activities in Europe will also be supported under Section 3 of the Framework Programme Strengthening the foundations of the European Research Area. This section will provide funds for fellowships as well as for networking of national diabetes research activities. This aspect is considered particularly important in order to contribute to the creation of a European Research Area.

Thus, the Sixth Framework Programme will certainly make an important contribution to the fight against diabetes, reflecting the common intention of the European Parliament and the Council. The Council would also point out to the Honourable Member that Member States are responsible for the organisation and delivery of their own health services. Furthermore, whilst Article 152(4) allows for incentive measures designed to protect and improve human health, harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States is excluded. There is therefore no scope for the Council to harmonise regulations in the area of diabetes. However, as described above the Council has taken action where it is legitimately entitled to do so.

(1) Footnote: See also Section 1.2.1. Policy support and anticipating scientific and technological needs and Heading III (Strengthening the foundations of the European Research Area) for other health-related topics.