main menu

jump to content

This Project has received funding from the European Commission
The European network of health promotion agencies Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung National Institute of Public Health, NIPH Finnish Centre for Health Promotion (FCHP) The Institute of Public Health in Ireland National Social Marketing Centre International Union for Health Promotion and Education European Partners

related content

jump to content

content

to related content

You are here: > EU Policy

EU Policy

EU adopts actions on Health Inequalities

In October 2009, the European Commission  adopted a Communication on ‘Solidarity in Health: Reducing Health Inequalities in the EU’ that sets out actions that it will take to help address health inequalities, including:

- Collaboration with national authorities, regions and other bodies
- Assessment of the impact of EU policies on health inequalities to ensure that they help reduce them where possible.
- Regular statistics and reporting on the size of inequalities in the EU and on successful strategies to reduce them.
- Better information on EU funding to help national authorities and other bodies address the inequalities  

Click here for the Communication and additional background materials.

Throughout the EU, those who have the least access to economic and social resources tend to have the worst health. In addition, new EU Member States lag behind the old EU-15 average of life expectancy and other key health indicators.

Decision-making at the EU level can affect health inequalities in EU Member States. This section of Portal provides information on specific policy areas of EU Policy making which could support or in some cases, if left unchecked, undermine EU Member State’s efforts to tackle health inequalities.

It includes:

  • A specific focus on some important areas to illustrate the nature and effects of specific EU-level initiatives on health inequalities
  1. Cohesion Policy
  2. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
  3. Social and Economic policy
  4. Sustainable Development Policy
  5. Environmental Policy
  • Links to information on a number of other policy areas that could affect health inequalities in Member States.
     
  • A number of case studies from EU Member States that provide concrete examples of the effects of EU policies and programmes on health inequalities.

This information is intended to raise awareness and inspire policy makers and practitioners that are working on the issue of health inequalities to examine, respond to and benefit from EU-level policies and programmes as part of their efforts in this area.

New EC health strategy launched

The European Commission has adopted a new health strategy, 'Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013'. Building on current work, this Strategy aims to provide, for the first time, an overarching strategic framework spanning core issues in health as well as health in all policies and global health issues. The Strategy aims to set clear objectives to guide future work on health at the European level, and to put in place an implementation mechanism to achieve those objectives, working in partnership with Member States.

The Strategy focuses on four principles and three strategic themes for improving health in the EU. The principles include taking a value-driven approach, recognising the links between health and economic prosperity, integrating health in all policies, and strengthening the EU's voice in global health. The strategic themes include Fostering Good Health in an Ageing Europe, Protecting Citizens from Health Threats, and Dynamic Health Systems and New Technologies.

.