EU Commission pushes for European health union

Brussels – Completing the process of European integration also involves a European Health Union. The EU Commission published today (May 22) a statement highlighting the significant achievements in protecting people’s health at the European level. The COVID-19 pandemic, or better, the EU’s demonstrated ability to manage and overcome such a complex time, kicked off discussions on a Health Union. Therefore, the EU wants to continue on this path even if the greatest obstacle comes from the member countries since health is a matter of national and not EU competence. 

The EU went to great lengths to protect the health of its citizens during the pandemic. Thanks to the EU’s vaccine strategy, all Europeans had simultaneous and equal access to COVID-19 vaccines. It helped limit the spread of the virus and save millions of lives. Not only that, the EU-wide purchases, the European vaccination certificates, and especially funding given to economic activities to restart after lockdowns indisputably showed the effectiveness of the EU. The consequence of what was addressed during the fight against COVID, on the part of the Union, is the desire to continue contributing to its citizens’ health and social welfare.

The EU did not stop at defeating the pandemic but sought to create a more virtuous health model with the ultimate goal of establishing the European Health Union. Purchasing medicines equally among member states, digitizing medical care, and creating tools to deal with health crises (like the Hera project) are examples of the EU’s work in this regard.

European Health Union is an important goal. Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety outlined the positive account of what has been achieved so far. “The unity and solidarity that emerged when faced with the most difficult health crisis in modern times has led to the creation of a strong European Health Union,” she said. However,  even if the EU is going in the right direction, it is only a first step, Kyriakides said. “Our citizens rightfully expected more in the health sector, we will continue to develop our Health Union in the coming years.”

Much still needs doing. According to an analysis commissioned by the European Parliament, the completion of the Health Union through common supplies and better prevention than that of member states can save about 109,000 lives each year. The Europe of Health remains an ambitious but complicated project, especially since the issue of health, under the Treaties, is of national competence. However, what the EU did during the pandemic showed that managing health at the European level would bring benefits, so the Commission wants to push on this path.