EU work
The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs plays an active part in EU cooperation. The EU cooperates on both health and social issues.
Health issues concern, for example, protection against infectious diseases, the possibility of receiving health care in other EU countries, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, narcotics and tobacco.
The social field comprises poverty eradication, disability issues, elderly issues and the coordination of social security systems.
The forms of cooperation vary. Certain areas are controlled by regulations and directives. In other areas, Member States collaborate through the `open method of coordination´, which entails comparing themselves with each other in order to learn from good experiences and examples.
Issues are taken up and decided upon by the EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council. The Council meets about four times a year. In addition, the ministers concerned meet three times a year informally as arranged by the country holding the EU presidency. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss and share knowledge and experience of current and long-term issues.
Related
- Infectious disease control in the EU
- Preparedness for Pandemic Influenza in the EU
- Antibiotics resistance issues in the EU
- Alcohol and health issues in the EU
- Narcotics issues in the EU
- Tobacco issues in the EU
- Eating habits and physical activity issues in the EU
- Elderly issues in the EU
- Social insurance issues in the EU
- Financial family policy issues in the EU
- Rights of the child issues in the EU
