The Permanent Representatives Committeehas approved a compromise agreed with the European Parliament on a draft regulation establishing the EU health programme for the years 2014-2020. It herewith endorsed a compromise reached between the Lithuanian presidency and representatives of the European Parliament and the Commission on 6 November.

The new EU health programme is aimed at encouraging innovation in healthcare, increasing the sustainability of health systems, improving the health of EU citizens and protecting them from cross-border health threats. The programme will have up to EUR 449.4 million (in current prices) at its disposal.

The new EU health programme builds on the two previous programmes covering the periods 2003-2008 and 2008-2013. Compared to the former programmes the new one concentrates support on a smaller number of activities in priority areas, in line with the Europe 2020 strategy. More precisely, it seeks to complement member states’ health policies in the following four areas:

1. promotion of good health and prevention of diseases; eligible actions include for instance the exchange of good practices for addressing risk factors such as smoking, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity.

2. protection from cross-border health threats which might be improved via an increase of the capacities for scientific expertise.

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