Let us build a true European Health Union

Imagine a place where you and your loved ones can access the cures and medicines you need, no matter where you live. A place where health professionals and researchers get the resources they need to find novel treatments for some of today’s most serious diseases. Where your health comes first. This is the Europe the EPP Group dreams of. As Christian Democrats, we put people’s wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. What is politics about if not taking care of what matters the most to people?

In the previous European legislature, we proved this when the European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, delivered the COVID-19 vaccine in record time to all Europeans, equally. In 2019, the EPP Group launched an EU Master plan to fight cancer. Many said it was mission impossible, but we took the first step. We now have a special fund of €4 billion to support our mission. But, for us, this is just the beginning.

Over the next five years, we want to take it a step further and make the European Health Union a reality. Our capacity to innovate is the key. No other place in the world has the creative drive that we have. Europe must become the world’s laboratory, where the best medicines and treatments are being developed, where we train the best doctors and nurses, and where the next generation of pioneers in medical research and pharmaceutical innovation are born. We want to work better together in Europe to prevent and better manage cross-border health threats, strengthen our health systems and diversify our supply chains to prevent shortages of medicines or medical equipment.

No European should ever struggle for access to quality healthcare because of where they live. Reducing health inequalities and guaranteeing that every citizen has access to quality care must be the way forward. To achieve this, doctors and nurses must have equal opportunities across the EU. No region should be neglected because health professionals have no other choice but to leave their own country.          

Europe must become the world’s laboratory, where the best medicines and treatments are being developed, where we train the best doctors and nurses, and where the next generation of pioneers in medical research and pharmaceutical innovation are born.

In tomorrow's Europe, citizens will be able to seek healthcare wherever they want and be confident that they will receive quality healthcare when moving to another country. Suffering from a disease should never be a barrier to free movement in Europe.

We envision Europe as the powerhouse of health innovation, harnessing the power of big data and AI to drive groundbreaking advancements, such as our rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine using mRNA technology. While ensuring the full implementation of the Beating Cancer Plan, we want to take the next step and develop a European plan to address Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. We will also launch a European Cardiovascular Health Plan, in response to the fact that cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer in the EU. This plan should include a European Knowledge Centre and promote a joint cardiovascular and diabetes health check. This is crucial, as 85% of the persons living with diabetes die from a cardiovascular disease.

But when it comes to health, physical wellbeing is not everything. We firmly believe that mental health is also important. More and more Europeans are speaking up for better access to affordable quality psychological support. That's why we are committed to launching an EU Action Plan for Mental Health. Psychological support should not be a privilege of the few. We want to ensure that all Europeans can get the support they need. We also need to tackle the stigma that often accompanies mental illness.

Health is not about national borders, it is about joining forces. This is where Europe can make a difference. Our goal is simple: to create a true European Health Union that improves people’s lives and leaves no one behind.

Explore the EPP Group's vision for a united and secure Europe with economic strength and social responsibility. We want to ensure that every European, regardless of their background, has a fair chance to earn a living and embrace the European way of life. Learn more about the EPP Group Priorities: A Europe that Protects YOU