Give local and regional authorities more say over EU health strategy, says Århus councillor Nielsen

COR/06/12

Brussels, 17 February 2006

Give local and regional authorities more say over EU health strategy, says Århus councillor Nielsen

Local and regional authorities should be given more say over the EU’s global health strategy, according to an opinion adopted by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) today, 16 February.

The report, presented by Danish Socialist Bente Nielsen, highlights the fact that in many Member States, local and regional authorities are responsible for health services and public health. Yet they have little influence over the policy at European level at present .

Nielsen, a member of Århus County Council, argues that the views of local and regional authorities should be taken into account – especially in the field of mental health, diet, nutrition and alcohol-related issues.

Her opinion – a response to the European Commission’s communication Healthier, safer, more confident citizens: a health and consumer protection strategy – also voices strong concerns about health inequalities between new and old member states, between EU and third countries and within EU member countries in regard to the marginalised groups.

“It is unacceptable that average life expectancy ... is significantly lower in the new Member States than in the old Member States,” she says.

The opinion also makes reference to anomalies in regard to EU subsidies. She questions the financial support received by producers making “unhealthy foods” such as high-fat dairy products and criticises the bloc’s continuing support for the tobacco industry. The latter received €916 million in support from the EU under the 2005 Community budget, while it spent just €14.4 million on tobacco control: Nielsen says this is an “inappropriate” state of affairs, but welcomes the fact that that aid for the industry is due to be phased out in 2010.

She also expresses concern about misuse of such terms as ‘healthy’ or ‘recommended by doctors’ in food labelling – an issue regularly singled out by shoppers and consumer groups. Nielsen says that producers should not be allowed to use the fear of disease either as a means to sell their goods or mislead consumers into thinking that certain foods can replace a healthy and balanced diet.

The wide-ranging opinion supports the Commission’s view that better health makes for a more productive Europe and helps to boost jobs and sustainable growth. Nielsen recommends that health and consumer issues should be taken into account in other areas of EU policy, such as employment and agriculture, and that Community initiatives should be assessed for their impact on public health.

However, she stresses that linking health and consumer policy in this way must not result in patients being placed on the same footing as consumers in the market.

And whilst firmly in favour of a joint European health and consumer strategy, she cautions against any slide towards more EU powers in either of these areas.

EU Committee of the Regions

The Brussels-based Committee of the Regions (CoR) was established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1994 as a consultative body to provide representatives of local and regional government with a voice at the heart of the European Union. The European Commission and Council of Ministers are obliged to consult the CoR’s 317 members on proposed EU laws across a wide range of policy areas, including employment, transport and the environment. The assembly can also be consulted by the European Parliament. More information about the CoR can be found on its website at http://cor.europa.eu

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