WRITTEN QUESTION E-0229/03 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commission initiative on European patient mobility.
Date: 2003-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: free movement of persons, health card, health care, health care system, health insurance, health policy, organisation of health care

C 155 E/216

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

in Hospital’ drawn up by associations in 12 European countries and which is in line with the 1989
‘International Convention on the Rights of the Child’?

(cid:1) Is the European Commission in a position to ensure that there is an end to the discrimination arising
from variations in the quality of care provided by different public health services in Europe, in order
to satisfy the principle of equal treatment?

(cid:1) Does the Commission intend to take action to remedy the legal vacuum currently surrounding
regulations on health care professionals in Europe owing to the absence of European coordination, in
order to meet the health needs of Europe’s population satisfactorily, particularly in terms of the
hospitalisation of children?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2003)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that co-operation between health systems of
Member States is growing in importance. At the same time, it draws attention to the provision in the EC
Treaty that stipulates that Community action in the field of public health shall respect Member States’
responsibilities for the organisation and financing of health services.

In order to address some of the issues raised around growing patient mobility and interaction between
health systems, the Commission has launched a high level process of reflection with Health Ministers and
key stakeholders to discuss possible perspectives for intensified co-operation and the Community’s role.
Moreover, the recently adopted action programme on public health (1) will provide an opportunity to
launch some exploratory work in these areas.

(1) OJ L 271, 9.10.2002.

(2003/C 155 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0229/03

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Commission initiative on European patient mobility

the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council meeting,

At
presented an oral report on patient mobility between Member States.

the Commission

Is a Commission study available on the development of an organisational framework in this sphere and
does the Commission intend to present in the future proposals to implement a plan to promote patient
mobility?

Is there also a study assessing the possible implications of the free movement of patients for public
accounts in the Member States?

Finally, does the Commission intend to extend the positive experience of the Netlink project, launched in a
number of European cities, to create an electronic health card which, while fully respecting privacy, makes
the health records of every citizen of the Union immediately available in any European hospital?

3.7.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/217

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2003)

In the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on 2 and 3 December 2002, the
Commission presented preparatory work regarding the High Level process of reflection on patient mobility
which involves Health Ministers and key stakeholders. This process, jointly chaired by the Member of the
Commission in charge of Health and Consumer Protection and the Member of the Commission in charge
of Employment and Social Affairs with the close involvement of the Member of the Commission in charge
of the Internal Market, was launched on 3 February 2003. One of its aims will be to identify areas for co-
operation between Member States in the fields set out by the Honourable Member.

Some preparatory work regarding inter alia the mapping of patient flows will be supported by the
Community’s action programme on public health.

At the same time, the Commission has launched a consultation process with the Member States in order to
obtain an overview of the follow-up by the Member States to the European Court of Justice judgements on
the reimbursement of medical expenses incurred in a Member State other than the Member State of
registration (1). This should form the basis for a constructive dialogue with Member States in order to
ensure this follow-up is carried out in a concerted and coherent manner.

Further to the decision of the Barcelona European Council (March 2002) to create a European Health
Insurance Card the Commission will adopt before the European Council of Brussels of 20 March 2003 a
Communication concerning the introduction of a European Health Insurance Card. In this Communication
the Commission will propose a timetable for the progressive replacement of the current paper forms
needed in the framework of the co-ordination of national Social Security schemes under 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 (2), for health treatment in another Member
State. Initially the European Health Insurance Card will carry in visually readable form the information
needed for the granting and reimbursement of health care provided in a Member State other than that in
which the recipient is insured. The third and ultimate phase will lead to the electronic version of those
forms. The timing of this latter phase depends among other things on the result of current pilot projects
such as Netcards and Netlink. The eEurope 2005 Action Plan, approved by the Seville European Council
(June 2002), envisages using the European Health Insurance Card as a basis for promoting a common
approach to patient identifiers and developping new functions such as storage of medical emergency data.

(1) Kohll (C-158/96), Decker (C-120/95), Smits and Peerbooms (C-157/99) and Vanbraeckel (C-368/98).
(2) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971.

(2003/C 155 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0273/03

by Evelyne Gebhardt (PSE) to the Commission

(30 January 2003)

Subject: Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of

professional qualifications

The new proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of
professional qualifications (1) is to be welcomed. This piece of legislation is in the interest of all European
citizens, since it represents a further step towards bringing about the free movement of workers within the
EU. The Commission has also succeeded in including in its draft directive matters relating to consumer
protection and safeguarding the quality of training.

In Germany, nevertheless, a degree of uncertainty remains as regards safeguarding the quality of training in
particular. More and more people have complained to me that the new directive impinges on the powers
of the Member States. Among other things, it is claimed that the directive will extend responsibility for
to all self-employed
training in trades, which in Germany rests exclusively with master craftsmen,