WRITTEN QUESTION E-3918/02 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU-wide health card.
Date: 2003-01-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: costing, financing, health card, health care, health insurance, health policy

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/205

(2003/C 155 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3918/02

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 January 2003)

Subject: EU-wide health card

The Commission’s action plan for skills and mobility (1) states (paragraph 3.2.1):

… an EU-wide health card should be introduced, aimed at transforming the relevant European paper
forms into an electronic card. Card holders will be able to claim access to immediately necessary
health care in a Member State other than the one where they are insured, the latter being nevertheless
responsible for the cost. The Commission will present a proposal for the introduction of an EU-wide
health card early in 2003 for agreement by 2004.

The proposal was subsequently submitted to the March 2002 Barcelona European Council. Paragraph 33
of the latter’s conclusions state that:

The European Council welcomes the Commission Action Plan …

Does the Commission envisage an approximate date for the presentation of the proposal? What stage has
been reached in the preparatory work? What will be the cost of introducing the EU-wide health card and
how will it be financed?

(1) COM(2002) 72.

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2003)

After consulting the Member States within the Administrative Commission on Social Security for Migrant
Workers, the Commission plans, by the end of February 2003, to adopt a communication on the
introduction of the European health insurance card. This will put forward a timetable for gradually
replacing the paper forms giving access to health care in another Member State under the coordination
arrangements for national social security schemes provided for by Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the
Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their
families moving within the Community (1).

On the question of the cost of introducing the European health insurance card, the Commission is not in a
position to give a reply at this stage. The cost will depend on Member States’ chosen means of introducing
the card and the technology used, and will be borne by them individually. The communication referred to
above, which will give details of the different options, will put the Member States in a better position to
decide on the means of introducing and financing the card. Nevertheless, the Commission considers that
replacing the paper forms with the European health insurance card will have major benefits for the
Member States in terms of streamlining administration and accelerating reimbursement procedures. The
overall cost of introducing the card should therefore also be seen against the productivity gains it will
mean for the social security institutions.

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971.

(2003/C 155 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3924/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(14 January 2003)

Subject: Death of the Chechen Salman Raduyev in a Russian gaol

On Sunday 15 December 2002 the Russian Ministry of Justice announced the death, at the age of 35, of
Salman Raduyev (cid:1) the first of the Chechen commanders to be arrested, tried and sentenced to life