November 20014 – Despite the existence of various pro-public health guidelines, Mr. Juncker’s Commission Programme gives cause for concern.
The European Commission President Mr. Juncker and First Vice-President Mr. Timmermans outlined the draft list of key initiatives that constitute the Commission Work Programme (CWP), with an aim for it to be adopted in Strasbourg on December 16 after a discussion with the Members of the European Parliament. In a meantime, a number of political parties in the European Parliament raised their concerns (notably, on disappearance of the Air Quality and Waste Packages, as well as the Maternity Leave Directive) and issued several independent motions for a resolution. Although a majority of cross-party MEPs oppose various plans of Juncker’s Commission Work programme for 2015, an inability to agree on wording in a resolution means the Parliament will not formally object. It’s a pity, as several proposals from the Greens, the S&D or ALDE would be very welcome by the public health community. Notably, an introduction of:
– a ‘social veto right’, or any mechanism that can prevent EU legislation that would harm the poorest, increase inequality or decrease social rights from coming into force
– a revision of the Working Time Directive, in order to dispose of the opt-out on the ‘average 48-hour working week’
– the communication entitled ‘Building a Sustainable European Food System’, as agreed by the DG AGRI, ENVI and SANCO Commissioners in April 2014
– scientifically based horizontal criteria for endocrine disruptors, thus fulfilling without further delay the Commission’s overdue legal obligations
– a legislative proposal for different types of leave (paternity, adoption, care and filial) in order to help reconcile professional, family and private life, which at the same time could break the deadlock on the maternity leave proposal in the Council
– a comprehensive European response to the fundamental rights problems of LGBTI persons, in the shape of an EU strategy/roadmap against homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, as repeatedly called for by Parliament and Member States
among others.
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What’s At Stake for Public Health in The CWP 2015?
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Among the Commission’s priorities, “A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy” is sought. Concrete measures include legislative proposals to implement the 2030 climate and energy package, which means decarbonising the economy in line with the long-term goal set out in the EU’s 2050 Roadmap. As yet, public health impacts are not properly factored into decision-making on energy and climate policy.
A Connected Digital Single Market is Juncker’s second priority, which could help millions of people gain access to a growing number of eHealth services, if well designed, policy choices must be more inclusive for disadvantaged and marginalised groups.
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What are the main threats for public health?
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The new European Commission also wants to strengthen the European single market. Among the concrete initiatives outlined, labour mobility is of special relevance for public health. EPHA has already said that it is in favour of labour mobility when the European Parliament expressed a desire to speed up the recognition process for professional qualifications, including those of health professionals. The ‘brain drain’ effects of migration of health worker, however, need urgent political attention.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) continue to be a controversial topic. Mr. Juncker has mandated the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety to review the existing decision-making process applied to GMOs. The use of GMOs should be looked at very carefully, with wide-ranging impacts across health, jobs, regional development, and environment.
One of the key tasks of Ms. Vĕra Jurová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, is to stop discrimination and promote equality. As EPHA has stated, an anti-discrimination directive – blocked by several Member States – would be a crucial piece of legislation to tackle this. The prevention of discrimination on the grounds of any health condition, social or physical barrier hindering good health and access to health services should also be included.
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Cause for Concern
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The Juncker Commission has proposed that the air quality and waste packages should be reassessed, despite both policy programmes being published less than a year ago. Air pollution is linked to 400,000 premature deaths across the EU every year and puts enormous – but avoidable – strain and cost on health systems. The air quality package is designed to address this public health crisis and is estimated to avoid 58,000 premature deaths per year, as well as saving €3bn in reducing the impacts of air pollution including major healthcare savings and creating around 100,000 new jobs.
Regarding the EU-US Transatlantic Trade Agreement and Investment Partnership (TTIP), Mr Juncker supports the US approach of not requiring port of entry food inspections and testing. The EU appears to still be supporting the inclusion of the highly controversial Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) measures in the TTIP, which allows foreign investors to sue governments who have allegedly broken their trade commitments. EPHA has already expressed its concern regarding the risks of abuse and of ‘freezing’ future legislation that ISDS implies.
The new Commission’s work must be thoroughly analysed as it develops to ensure that it protects and improves health and particularly tackles health inequalities more effectively. The 2008 crisis has presented new challenges to public health advocates, both in fighting health injustices and also in demanding public health directed European policies.