Rådet (beskæftigelse, socialpolitik, sundhed og forbrugerpolitik), 6.-7.12.2018, 6.-7. december 2018

Main results

Health issues, 7 December 2018

The Council adopted a recommendation on strengthened cooperation against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vaccination rates vary widely across the EU. We need to learn from each other and work together to counter vaccine hesitancy and provide our citizens with the accurate information about the benefits of vaccination. Beate Hartinger-Klein, Federal Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection of Austria

The document sets out a number of actions to be undertaken by member states and the Commission, within their respective competencies, in particular regarding vaccination plans, the establishment of a European Vaccination Information Sharing system, monitoring of benefits and risks of vaccinations, and the strengthening of vaccine supply, as well as communication and education activities relating to the benefits of vaccination and to counteracting vaccine hesitancy.

• Council recommendation on strengthened cooperation against vaccine-preventable diseases

Ministers also held an exchange of views on Tackling vaccine hesitancy at EU and national level: Challenges and possibilities in a digitalised world. The debate was based on a presidency steering note inviting ministers to share best practices to increase vaccination coverage, consider ways of fighting disinformation on vaccines and vaccination in particular on the Internet and provide their views on the reasons for the variations in vaccine hesitancy between member states.

• Tackling vaccine hesitancy at EU and national level: Challenges and possibilities in a digitalised world

Any other business

Ministers took note of a progress report from the Presidency on the proposed Regulation on Health Technology Assessment. The proposal of the Commission creates a framework for joint assessment at EU level by member states' bodies of the relative clinical effectiveness of certain medicines and medical devices.

• Proposal for a Regulation on health technology assessment and amending Directive 2011/24/EU - Information from the Presidency

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The Commission presented to ministers the key findings of its report “Health at a Glance: Europe 2018”. On 22 November 2018 the Commission launched the second State of Health in the EU cycle with the publication of the report “Health at a Glance: Europe 2018”. The report presents comparative analyses of the health status of EU citizens and the performance of the health systems of the 28 EU member states, 5 candidate countries and 3 EFTA countries.

• State of health in the EU - Information from the Commission

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The Commission provided information on the implementation of Directive 2011/62/EU on falsified medicinal products that is due to begin on 9 February 2019. From this date economic operators throughout the supply chain, including pharmacies and hospitals, will need to scan medicine packages to verify their authenticity.

• Implementation of Directive 2011/62/EU on Falsified medicinal products - Information from the Commission

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The incoming Romanian presidency presented its work programme in the area of health.

Vigtigste punkter på dagsordenen

Rådet skal drøfte beskæftigelse og socialpolitik 6. december og sundhed 7. december.

Den Europæiske Arbejdsmarkedsmyndighed

Ministrene skal drøfte et forslag til forordning om en europæisk arbejdsmarkedsmyndighed, der skal sikre, at alle EU-regler om arbejdskraftmobilitet håndhæves på en retfærdig, enkel og effektiv måde. Målet er at nå frem til en generel indstilling.

I welcome the general approach we agreed today on the ELA. The proposal represents a good balance between establishing an effective body to assist Member States in implementing EU legislation in the areas of cross-border labour mobility and social coordination, and respecting national competences. Beate Hartinger-Klein, Federal Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection of Austria

• Forslag til forordning om en europæisk arbejdsmarkedsmyndighed - generel indstilling

Ministers also held a policy debate on the European Semester 2019, based on a Presidency steering note.

• Presidency steering note

In relation to the debate the Commission presented:

• the Annual Growth Survey (AGS)
• the Alert Mechanism Report (AMR)
• the draft Joint Employment Report (JER)
• a draft Council Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area

The Council approved its contribution to the employment and social policy-related aspects of the Recommendation

• European Semester 2019 Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area - Approval of the contribution on the employment and social aspects

Ministers endorsed the key messages prepared by the Employment Committee (EMCO) and the Social Protection Committee (SPC) following the thematic reviews on the "Social Aspects of Digitalisation" and "Digitalisation and Robotisation of Work".

• Thematic reviews on the "Social Aspects of Digitalisation" and "Digitalisation and Robotisation of Work"

They also endorsed the EMCO key messages on the implementation of the Recommendation on long-term unemployment.

• Implementation of the Recommendation on long-term unemployment: EMCO key messages

The Council reached its position (general approach) on a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work.

The proposal agreed today is a further decisive step towards protecting the health of workers in the EU. This directive will significantly improve the working conditions for millions of our citizens and avoid tens of thousands of ill-health cases. Beate Hartinger-Klein, Federal Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection of Austria

• Proposal for a directive amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work

Ministers reached a political agreement on a proposal for a Council recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self-employed.

Over lunch ministers held a debate on the following topic: "MFF investment in people: contribution of EU funds and programmes to convergence, fairness and competitiveness." The debate was based on a presidency steering note

• Presidency steering note

The Council also took note of a progress report on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). The proposal aims to ensure that the EGF continues to operate beyond 2020.

• Proposal for a regulation on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund

Minsters examined a set of conclusions on Gender Equality, Youth and Digitalisation.

The Presidency concluded that the text was supported by 26 delegations including the Presidency.

The conclusions had been prepared as part of the annual review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action by the EU and its Member States.

• Gender Equality, Youth and Digitalisation - Presidency Conclusions

Ministers also took note of a progress report on the proposal for a Directive on equal treatment. The proposal covers religion and belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. It seeks to fill a gap in EU legislation, extending the protection against discrimination beyond employment, to areas such as access to goods and services.

• Progress report on the proposal for a Directive on equal treatment

Any other business

Ministers were briefed by the Presidency and the Commission on the outcome of the Tripartite Social Summit (16 October 2018, Brussels).

The Presidency also provided information on the progress on a number of current legislative proposals, as well as on the Joint Declaration "Gender Equality as a Priority of the European Union today and in the future".

• Joint Declaration "Gender Equality as a Priority of the European Union today and in the future"

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The incoming Romanian presidency presented its work programme in the areas of Employment and Social Policy.