Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 18-19/06/2015, 18-19 June 2015

Main results

Today's agreement is a decisive step forward to improve patient safety and strengthen European competitiveness. Guntis Belēvičs, Minister for Health of Latvia 

Health

Medical devices 

The Council agreed the substance of its negotiating stance on two draft regulations aimed at modernising EU rules on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices. The main objective of the two draft regulations is to ensure that products such as hip replacements, pacemakers and laboratory tests are safe.

The agreement reached in the Council will allow the next presidency to take contact with the European Parliament to prepare negotiations between the two institutions.

"Today's agreement is a decisive step forward to improve patient safety and strengthen European competitiveness. Further work both within the Council and between the Council and the European Parliament is, however, needed to ensure that the benefits of the new rules are put into practice", said Guntis Belēvičs, the Latvian minister for health and President of the Council.  

• Reform of the EU rules for medical and in vitro devices

EU alcohol policy 

A majority of ministers backed a call of the Slovenian delegation to present a new framework for the EU's alcohol policy. This framework would help member states to tackle the abuse of alcohol and alcohol related harm. According to the WHO, alcohol is the third leading risk factor for disease and mortality in Europe.  

European agenda on migration 

Several ministers stressed the importance of the health dimension being properly reflected in the European agenda on migration. 

Ministers held a fruitful debate on the employment and social policy aspects of the recommendations. The EU is now in the very early stages of recovery, however there are still challenges to be tackled.  Uldis Augulis, Latvian Minister for Welfare

Employment and social policy  

The Council discussed the employment and social policy aspects of the 2015 European Semester exercise.  

The President of the Council Uldis Augulis, Latvian Minister for Welfare said "Ministers held a fruitful debate on the employment and social policy aspects of the recommendations. The EU is now in the very early stages of recovery, however there are still challenges to be tackled. Member States have implemented important structural reforms and these efforts will continue."  

The Council reached a political agreement on the following four guidelines for the employment policies of the member states:

• boosting demand for labour
• enhancing labour supply, skills and competences
• enhancing the functioning of labour markets and fostering social inclusion 
• combating poverty and promoting equal opportunities

• European Semester in 2015

On youth employment, the Council adopted conclusions on the European Court of Auditor's special report on the EU youth guarantee scheme and took stock of implementation at the EU level, including the youth guarantee and the European alliance for apprenticeships.  

It took note of progress reports on the women on company boards directive and on the equal treatment directive, and adopted conclusions on equal income opportunities for women and men: closing the gender gap in pensions.  

• Outcome of meeting