Third programme for the Union's action in the field of health (2014-2020)

The Council agreed a partial general approachon the third multi-annual EU programme in the field of health for the period 2014-2020.

The programme aims to encourage innovation in healthcare and increase the sustainability of health systems, to improve the health of EU citizens and protect them from cross-border health threats.

These general objectives will be pursued through actions grouped under four specific objectives:

(1) innovative and sustainable health systems,

(2) increased access to better and safer healthcare,

(3) prevention of diseases and promotion of good health and

(4) protection from cross-border health threats.

The general approach is partial since the budget to be made available for the next EU public health programme will depend on the outcome of the negotiations on the next multiannual framework. The Commission proposed to support the new programme with an amount of EUR 446 million.

The Commission reserves its position on the entire compromise proposal. It particularly highlighted its fundamental disagreement on:

• the change of the Title;
• the reordering of the objectives;
• the procedure on how to adopt the work programme;
• the introduction of a no-opinion clause and the footnote regarding drug prevention.