Proposal to Boost EU Residency of EU Citizens within the EU
Strengthening the European Health Union: Ursula von der Leyen's Vision
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled plans to establish a stronger European Health Union in response to the coronavirus pandemic. This initiative forms part of a broader strategic vision, backed by a €2 trillion EU budget proposal for 2028–2034, aimed at addressing Europe's health security, independence, and preparedness for future crises.
At the heart of this plan is the enhancement of the roles of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The EMA's capacity is to be increased to coordinate medicine approvals and supply chains across the EU, ensuring rapid and equitable access to treatments during health emergencies. The ECDC, on the other hand, is proposed to be empowered with enhanced emergency capacities through its EU Health Task Force (EUHTF). This includes a permanent capacity and an enhanced emergency capacity to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to epidemics at the Union level.
In addition, von der Leyen is advocating for the creation of an EU agency focused on advanced biomedical research and development. This new agency's goal would be to foster innovation and accelerate the development of cutting-edge medical countermeasures, including vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, thereby increasing Europe's strategic autonomy and readiness against pandemics and other health threats.
The strengthening of the European Health Union is a response to the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of achieving greater resilience, security, and sovereignty in health matters within the bloc. To this end, von der Leyen also plans to host a global health summit next year under the Italian G20 presidency, bringing world leaders together to discuss health competencies, which she considers a "very urgent task."
Moreover, the Health Union is intended to implement lessons from the current crisis and future-proof the "EU4Health" program. This program is to be better funded and strengthened for crisis preparedness and management against cross-border threats. Strategic stockpiles are also proposed to address shortages in supply chains, particularly for pharmaceutical products.
Finally, the Health Union is necessary to address tasks completed during the pandemic without full EU competency. Europe has accomplished more together than ever before during the pandemic, but many tasks were completed without full EU competency. The establishment of the Health Union aims to rectify this and ensure that Europe is better equipped to face future health crises.
References: 1. European Commission (2020). State of the Union 2020: A European Way of Life. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2019-2024/vonderleyen/announcements/state-union-2020-european-way-life_en 2. European Commission (2021). Health Union: A stronger European health system. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/health-and-defence/health-union_en
- The European Commission's proposed Health Union aims to foster a broader strategic vision that extends beyond health security, encompassing science, mental-health, and general-news policies and legislation.
- As part of the Health Union, an EU agency concentrates on advanced biomedical research and development, aiming to promote innovation and speed up the creation of groundbreaking mental-health therapies-and-treatments.
- In the realm of politics, the Health Union's establishment signifies a commitment to addressing health-and-wellness concerns and mental-health issues at the EU level, ensuring that Europe is better prepared for future crises.
- Policy-and-legislation centered on the Health Union will shepherd initiatives like improving crisis preparedness, managing cross-border threats, and implementing strategic stockpiles for pharmaceutical products, ultimately focusing on strengthening Europe's health-and-wellness sector and mental-health care.
