EU public health policy

Briefing 27-07-2020

This paper explains the origins and current role of public health policy at European Union level, details how the Union has responded to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic to date, and analyses the European Commission’s recent proposal for a flagship policy initiative in this field, the EU4Health programme, which could represent a 'paradigm shift' in how the EU deals with health. It then goes on to explore a range of possible further initiatives that could be taken to over the medium- to long-term to strengthen healthcare system across Europe. In the context of the Franco-German proposition that the EU should acquire some form of ‘health sovereignty', it looks at the possibility of developing a more comprehensive vision for, and strengthening of, public health policy, in order to better respond to current and future needs.