EU ministers meet: agenda to cover pharmaceutical package, vaccine-preventable cancers and social dimension of the single market

The EU ministers will meet at the Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 June 2024. The items of the ministers' agenda include the social dimension of the single market, the revision of pharmaceutical legislation, the health sector's role in crisis preparedness, and the possibility of adopting a Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers. Minister Kaisa Juuso will represent Finland at the meeting of the Employment and Social Policy Council on 20 June and Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen at the Health Council on 21 June.

New innovations and affordable and effective medicines

The health ministers will discuss a progress report on the wide-scale revision of the EU's pharmaceutical legislation, and debate the incentives system for developing medicinal products, which is to be updated as part of the revision. The key objectives of the revision include strengthening the EU's competitiveness and attractiveness for innovation in the pharmaceutical sector, and ensuring access to effective and affordable medicines in all Member States. The revision process will include a discussion on the types of incentives that could support the achievement of these objectives.  

Finland supports the objectives of developing new medicinal products and promoting the development of medicines for diseases for which there are currently no adequate pharmacotherapies. Finland considers it important that new medicines are accessible in each EU Member State. However, it must be ensured that the development of medicinal products to treat diseases that may affect the health of entire populations is sufficiently encouraged. 

“It is important that we strengthen the EU's competitiveness and an environment that promotes innovation and investment while, at the same time, we improve access to medicinal products in order to meet the needs of patients throughout the EU. Predictability and clarity of incentives are important both for pharmaceutical development and for society and users of medicinal products,” says Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

Vaccine-preventable cancers and improving crisis preparedness

At the meeting, the ministers are to adopt a Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers and the Council conclusions on the future of the European Health Union. 

Finland considers it important that the conclusions included in the Council's communications to the next Commission cover the prevention of non-communicable diseases and an approach applying the concept of comprehensive security to preparedness.

“Strengthening the EU's crisis preparedness is one of the priorities of the Finnish Government,” says Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

Minister Grahn-Laasonen's schedule will include meetings with the health ministers of Hungary, Poland and Denmark.

A well-functioning single market promotes wellbeing and employment

The ministers for employment and social affairs will hold a debate on the social dimension of the single market. In Finland's view, ensuring competitiveness, a well-functioning internal market and economic growth will promote people's wellbeing and employment in the EU area.

“Securing a skilled and educated workforce, further improving the free movement of workers, and supporting the digital transition are important areas of promoting growth and competitiveness. People's health and wellbeing can also be seen as factors of growth and competitiveness,” says Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso. 

The debate draws on a report commissioned by the Member States from former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta on the future of the European single market.

Improving the functioning of European Works Councils

The ministers will seek to agree on their negotiating position on the Directive on European Works Councils, following a proposal presented by the Commission in January 2024 to revise the directive. The Councils represent European workers in multinational companies with over 1,000 employees. 

With the proposed amendments, the Commission seeks to facilitate the implementation of the directive, make it easier to establish European Works Councils, promote more meaningful sharing of information and consultation, and ensure that the Councils have the necessary means to carry out their duties. The Commission also aims to improve gender-balanced representation in the Councils.

Finland supports the objective of addressing the shortcomings observed in the application of the European Works Councils Directive. However, increased administrative burden and costs should be avoided. Finland also supports the objective of improving gender-balanced representation in the Councils. Finland considers it important that enough national room for manoeuvre will be left for Member States to implement the sanctions and obligations arising from violating the obligations laid down in the directive.

Minister Juuso's schedule will include a meeting with the Swedish Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson. 

• Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Social policy) - Consilium (europa.eu)
• Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health) - Consilium (europa.eu)

Inquiries

Pasi Korhonen, Director of International Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 175
 
Ville Korhonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, International Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 010  

Jenni Heikka, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 163

Nuutti Hyttinen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 073 

Teresa Salminen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Social Security, tel. +358 295 163 109

Email addresses are in the format [email protected].