Council Conclusions on common values and principles in European Union health systems

Abstract

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 1. NOTES that the European Commission in its amended proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on services in the internal market has decided to remove healthcare services from the scope of the Directive, thereby incorporating amendments proposed by the European Parliament. 2. NOTES that the European Commission has stated that it will develop a Community framework for safe, high quality and efficient health services, by reinforcing cooperation between Member States and providing clarity and certainty over the application of Community law to health services and healthcare. 3. RECOGNIZES that recent judgements in the European Court of Justice have highlighted the need to clarify the interaction between the EC Treaty provisions, particularly on the free movement of services and the health services provided by national health systems. 4. CONSIDERS that health systems are a central part of Europe's high levels of social protection and make a major contribution to social cohesion and social justice. 5. RECALLS the overarching values of universality, access to good quality care, equity and solidarity. 6. ENDORSES the attached Statement on common values and principles that underpin the health systems in the Member States of the European Union (Annex). 7. INVITES the European Commission to ensure that common values and principles contained in the Statement are respected when drafting specific proposals concerning health services. 8. INVITES the Institutions of the European Union to ensure that common values and principles contained in the Statement are respected in their work.