Statement by Commissioner Borg following the vote in Parliament on the Health Programme 2014-2020 - Main contents

European Commission

Statement

Brussels, 26 February 2014

Statement by Commissioner Borg following the vote in Parliament on the Health Programme 2014-2020

"I welcome the Parliament’s positive vote on the third EU health programme 2014-2020, and thank the rapporteur Mrs Françoise Grossetête i for her commitment and hard work.

The Programme aims to support Member States' action to improve people’s health and reduce health inequalities, by promoting health, encouraging innovation in health, increasing the sustainability of health systems and protecting EU citizens from serious cross-border health threats.

In doing so, I believe the Programme will advance the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy by fostering health as an indispensable condition for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Building on achievements and lessons learned from the previous health programmes, the new programme focusses on key objectives and priorities where I believe Europe can deliver true added value. With this programme, we will be able to:

• • 

  strengthen action to promote health and prevent diseases;

• • 

  be better prepared to protect citizens against health emergencies and to coordinate action at European level to address them;

• • 

  increase the up-take of innovation in health; and

• • 

  improve people's access to medical expertise and information for specific conditions; and improve healthcare quality and patient safety.

I would like to thank the Parliament and the Council for their work which will enable the programme to enter into force in the coming weeks.”

For more information

Memo "Q&A on the third Health Programme 2014-2020"

For more information on the Commission’s Health Programme:

http://ec.europa.eu/health/programme/policy/index_en.htm

Commissioner Borg's website

Follow me on Twitter: @borgton