EU Presidency Trio announce health priorities

On 1 January 2010, Spain took over the six-month, rotating EU Presidency from Sweden and launched a new EU Trio Presidency together with Belgium and Hungary. With regard to public health, the Presidency Trio is expected to take action, amongst others, in the field of:

• social determinants of health and reduction of health inequalities;
• promoting healthy lifestyles and combating obesity and prevention of addictions;
• innovative healthcare approaches addressing chronic diseases, e-health, and the provision of quality and safe services to the ageing population

The EU Spanish Presidency (Jan-Jun 2010) has in particular committed to focus on:

• health inequalities;
• organ donation and transplantation - the Presidency aims to organise a conference in March 2010 and conclude negotiations by 8 June 2010;
• chronic diseases (with a special focus on cardiovascular diseases) - Spain aims to discuss a policy framework to tackle the problem of chronic diseases;

The Spanish Presidency also aims to organise two expert conferences on e-health and on patient safety related to cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, and chronic mental health.
The next Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council meetings are scheduled for 8-9 March 2010 and 7-8 June 2010 when each of these topics will be addressed by the Member States.

The EU Spanish Presidency website and programme are available at: www.eutrio.es.


EU Presidency Trio announce research priorities

On 1 January 2010, Spain took over the six-month, rotating EU Presidency from Sweden and launched a new EU Trio Presidency together with  Belgium and Hungary. With regard to research, the Presidency Trio is expected to, amongst others:

• consolidate the European Research Area (ERA) by promoting an enhanced ERA governance and implementing provisions related to the free movement of knowledge
• review the effectiveness of mechanisms of the European Research Council and Joint Undertakings (e.g. Innovative Medicines Initiative - IMI) and the Research Framework Programme.

The next Competitiveness, Internal Market, Industry and Research Council meetings are scheduled for 1-2 March 2010 and 25-26 May 2010 when these topics will be addressed by the Member States

The EU Spanish Presidency website and programme are available at: www.eutrio.es