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Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health), 30 November 2023
Main results
Open strategic autonomy (health)
Ministers held a public exchange of views on improving the EU’s open strategic autonomy in the field of health.
Many ministers expressed support for a discussion on the EU’s open strategic autonomy in the field of health and for increased EU cooperation to ensure security of supply.
They welcomed the recent Commission communication on addressing medicine shortages in the EU, especially the set up of a Union list of critical medicines and of a Critical Medicines Alliance.
They reflected on the impact on medicine shortages of immediate and long-term measures announced in recent initiatives. Health ministers shared experiences at national level in this field and exchanged views on possible measures that would promote health strategic autonomy at EU level.
The executive director of the European Medicines Agency, Emer Cooke, also provided health ministers with the Agency’s perspective and information about its relevant activities.
Ministers adopted conclusions on mental health: they considered concrete measures to take to prevent and treat mental health problems across multiple levels, sectors and ages. Improving mental health is an individual, a social and economic imperative; the conclusions focus on prioritising mental health at national level, through action plans or strategies and cooperation among member states and with the Commission.
In its conclusions, the Council highlights the importance of addressing mental health and well-being in different contexts in the life course, which benefits both individuals and societies. It recognises the beneficial role of communities, schools, sports and culture in strengthening mental health and life-long mental well-being.
As you know, we are living in a time of polycrisis that has severely hit the mental health of Europeans. The COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the climate crisis are just some of the shocks which have exacerbated already poor levels of mental health. Improving mental health is a social and economic imperative. I am extremely pleased that, in the conclusions we have approved today, we have reached consensus on crucial issues such as the need to take a cross-cutting approach to mental health that covers all policies and recognises the social, environmental and economic causes of mental health.
Mónica García Gómez, Spanish Minister for Health
The conclusions invite member states to elaborate actions plans or strategies with a cross-sectoral approach to mental health, addressing not only health, but also employment, education, digitalisation and AI, culture, environment and climate factors, among other things.
The Spanish presidency updated ministers on ongoing legislative files and their state of play, such as the EMA fees regulation (to be formally adopted soon), the regulation on substances of human origin, the European Health Data Space regulation and the pharmaceutical package.
The presidency and the Commission provided information regarding ongoing negotiations on the international pandemic agreement.
During the Spanish presidency, member states met several times at experts level and held strategic discussions on the EU’s goals and priorities and on the role of the EU in the negotiations.
The Commission informed ministers on the latest negotiating text that was circulated on 16 October 2023 by the body established by the World Health Assembly to draft and negotiate the international pandemic agreement. While the text is an improvement compared to previous texts, the EU still has concerns on some provisions, such as for instance those regarding prevention and preparedness in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and based on the lessons learnt.
The European Union remains committed to these negotiations and is ready to continue discussing in a constructive manner.
The Spanish presidency provided an overview of the conferences and events organised during its term. In non-public session, the upcoming Belgian presidency informed ministers about its work programme in the field of health.
As you know, we are living in a time of polycrisis that has severely hit the mental health of Europeans. The COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the climate crisis are just some of the shocks which have exacerbated already poor levels of mental health. Improving mental health is a social and economic imperative. I am extremely pleased that, in the conclusions we have approved today, we have reached consensus on crucial issues such as the need to take a cross-cutting approach to mental health that covers all policies and recognises the social, environmental and economic causes of mental health.