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EU health policy, programmes and institutions

Coronary heart disease: a European priority

Latest World Health Organisation (WHO) figures show that cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease and stroke) is Europe's number one killer.[1] Tackling the inequalities of risk factors between and within countries is a clear priority for pan-European policy development if the progress in reducing rates of cardiovascular disease seen in countries like Finland is to be reproduced elsewhere.

European public health strategy and structures

The European Union has approved a six-year public health strategy and €330 million for 2004-2010. Details can be found here:  http://europa.eu.int/index_en.htm

The European Union's competency in public health has been extended following the ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam (1999). EU Health Policy consists of three policy strands:

The EU intends to appraise all its policies through health impact assessments. The EU has recently established an European Union Centre for Disease Control in Sweden and there will be a review of its role in chronic disease prevention after 2007.

The EU also has a European Food Safety Authority based in Parma which is a technical resource to the European Commission and European Parliament on food and health issues. The EU is funding strategic programs of action on nutrition and physical activity and tobacco. Full details are available at http://europa.eu.int/pol/health/index_en.htm

EU health policy and programmes have to be supported by the European Commission, Health Council of Ministers and European Parliament. The agenda is suggested by the European Commission and the EU member state which holds the Presidency for a six month period. The recent UK Presidency (July to December 2005) focused on health inequalities and the Finnish Presidency will focus on Health Impact Assessment. The European Commission has developed a European Health Platform for pan European organisations to inform EU health policy.

The National Heart Forum contributed to consultation on the EU six-year public health strategy a proposal for a programme of community action in the field of public health (2001-2006)[COM (2000) 285 final) highlighting the major health threat posed by coronary heart disease throughout the EU.

Available at http://www.ehnheart.org/content/default.asp

The European Heart Network (2005) has submitted a response to the further development of the EU health programme supporting the doubling of the budget which is being considered by the EU parliament. Each year there is a call for proposals for work in line with annual priorities.

The EU is developing a policy research programme for public health as part of the seventh research framework program. 

The National Heart Forum submitted an earlier response to the Communication on the development of public health in the European Community [COM (1998) 230 final]. Contact NHF for a copy of the response.

The EU has established a platform between the food industry and marketing industries, and civil society groups to progress collaboration on the prevention of obesity. The European Heart Network is part of this forum.

> EU health policy, programmes and institutions
> European Heart Health Initiative and European Heart Network


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