HEALTH AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
PUBLIC HEALTH
In the field of public health, the Presidency Trio will promote actions to improve the health of EU citizens, in line with the EU Health Strategy and the World Health Organisation's data, and apply the measures set out in the third Union Health Programme (2014-2020), taking due account of the current economic situation.
The three Presidencies consider it necessary to ensure an adequate representation of health in the European Semester process. The three Presidencies will support the continuation of the reflection process on chronic diseases and the reflection process on modern, flexible and sustainable health systems, in particular the importance of ensuring the sustainability of health systems, their availability as well as capital in providing safe and quality healthcare for all citizens, seeking to improve primary care and its relationship with the hospital system.
In all areas of action, the three Presidencies will highlight and support the identification and adoption of innovative approaches, including cost-benefit assessments, which could have a positive impact on citizens' health as well as on the economy. The three Presidencies will, in close cooperation with the Commission, evaluate the results achieved in implementing the Directive on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare.
The three Presidencies will implement the programme on health promotion, disease prevention and healthcare, taking into account organisational issues and with a stronger focus on the most vulnerable groups. They will give priority to individual and collective prevention, with a particular focus on primary and secondary prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, their occurrence and high costs of human, socio-economic and health conditions. In this context, particular attention will be paid to promoting healthy lifestyles with a focus on promoting physical activity and healthy nutrition.
Due attention will also be paid to strengthening cooperation at EU level on serious cross-border threats to health (in particular in relation to emerging or re-emerging communicable diseases), in particular through the proper implementation of legislation across the EU.
MEDICINAL PRODUCTS AND HEALTH DEVICES
In the context of the announced revision of the regulation on advanced therapy medicinal products, the directive on the donation of human tissues and cells and the directive on the collection and distribution of human blood and blood components, the three Presidencies will actively continue to work on the proposals submitted by the Commission.
The Commission is currently working on a revision of the Veterinary Medicines Directive, which will require a horizontal review in the Council in order to avoid unnecessary inconsistencies in the legislative framework on medicinal products for human use. The three Presidencies will work on this proposal as soon as it is adopted by the Commission.
The three Presidencies may also examine whether and how the ongoing revision of the Directive on the transparency of measures regulating the pricing of medicinal products for human use and their inclusion in the public health insurance system continues.
FOODS
Protecting citizens' health requires constant attention in relation to food safety. The three Presidencies will pay priority attention to the development of a legal and policy framework to continue ensuring food safety for all citizens, including the prevention of food fraud.
The proper implementation of two important legislation, the Regulation on the provision of food information to consumers ("food labelling") and the Regulation on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes and the overall diet replacement for weight reduction will be important for strengthening information, transparency and a high level of food safety for Union citizens.
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