Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 16-17/06/2016, 16-17 June 2016

Main results

Employment and Social Policy

The Council held a policy debate on the employment and social policy aspects of the 2016 European Semester exercise and approved country specific recommendations.

The Council adopted conclusions on gender equality and on LGBTI equality.

European cooperation is essential in the fight against global homophobia and to improve women's rights. It is important that Europe shows where it stands. Gay rights and women's rights are human rights, without limits. Lodewijk Asscher, Netherlands' vice Prime Minister and Minister for Social Affairs and Employment

The President of the Council, Mr Lodewijk Asscher, Netherlands' vice Prime Minister and Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, declared "European cooperation is essential in the fight against global homophobia and to improve women's rights. It is important that Europe shows where it stands. Gay rights and women's rights are human rights, without limits. Everyone has the right to be who you want to be, regardless of background or origin. It is very important that we now have a common European vision and goal that ensures collective action against countries and organizations that infringe gender equality, the rights of women, gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender and intersex persons."

• Council conclusions on gender equality
• Council conclusions on LGBTI equality

The Council took note of progress reports on accessibility for goods and services, carcinogens or mutagens at work, equal treatment and on posting of workers directives. Regarding posting of workers, the Commission updated the member states on the state of play with respect to the yellow card procedure.

• Progress report on the accessibility directive for products and services
• Progress report on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work
• Progress report on equal treatment directive
• Progress report on posting of workers

The Council took also note of the EU-level sectoral social partner agreement on the ILO work in fishing Convention.

The Commission presented to the Council the new skills package.

The Council adopted conclusions on social dialogue and on combating poverty and social exclusion.

Health

Medical devices

The Council welcomed the political agreement reached with the European Parliament on new EU rules for medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices. Ministers thanked the presidency for its efforts and looked forward to the adoption of the two new regulations which is expected at the end of the year. "The new EU rules are important for patients and for companies: they help to ensure that medical devices are safe and allow patients to benefit from innovative health care solutions in a timely manner. They also contribute to promote growth and create jobs in the EU by offering manufacturers the right legal framework to produce the devices that patients need", said Edith Schippers, Minister for Health of the Netherlands and President of the Council.

• Reform of the EU rules for medical and in vitro devices
• Medical devices: deal reached on new EU rules
• Medical devices: Council confirms deal with EP

Antimicrobial resistance

The Council adopted conclusions calling upon member states and the Commission to step up their efforts against antimicrobial resistance.

Over the last 30 years, no major new types of antibiotics have been developed. Antibiotic resistance is no longer something in the future, but is happening right now, across the world. Edith Schippers, Minister for Health of the Netherlands

By preventing the effective treatment of infections antimicrobial resistance causes 700 000 deaths each year worldwide and 25 000 in Europe. The Council invited member states to have in place before mid-2017 national action plans. These plans should include measurable goals to reduce infections in humans and animals, as well as the use of antimicrobials in both the human and veterinary sector. The Council also called for a new EU action plan on antimicrobial resistance based on a one health approach covering all relevant areas: veterinary and human medicine, environment and other sectors. This action plan should help in taking further steps to prevent infections and set out the next stage in the development of new antibiotics. "Over the last 30 years, no major new types of antibiotics have been developed", said Edith Schippers, adding: "Antibiotic resistance is no longer something in the future, but is happening right now, across the world." 

• Council conclusions on the next steps under a One Health approach to combat antimicrobial resistance

Pharmaceutical system

The Council adopted conclusions calling for measures to ensure that patients have access to essential medicines at affordable prices. Due to market failures in the pharmaceutical sector, patients' access to important medicines is sometimes put at risk due to very high prices, the withdrawal of off-patent products and because new products are not always introduced to all national markets. The Council invited the member states to consider voluntary cooperation to address this problem. The Commission was invited to conduct an in-depth analysis of the existing EU legislation on pharmaceuticals, the related incentives and their impact on availability, accessibility and innovation. "Medical care needs to remain affordable in the long term. The prices we pay for medicines should therefore strike a balance between the costs of development and production on the one hand, and the value to society on the other", said Edith Schippers.

• Council conclusions on strengthening the balance in the pharmaceutical systems in the EU and its member states

Food improvement

The Council adopted conclusions aiming to help consumers to easily opt for healthy food. Ministers called for reduced levels of salt, saturated fats, added sugars and energy as well as small portion sizes. Member states were invited to prepare national action plans on food product improvement in order to make the healthy choice easier for consumers by 2020. The Commission was invited to assess existing benchmarks for the reduction of salt and saturated fats, and support the development of possible new benchmarks, as was recently done for sugar.

• Council conclusions on food product improvement

Live streaming, videos and photos

• Live streaming of public sessions and press events
• Photos and videos from the meeting, Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 16-17 June 2016