“In a world of adversity and uncertainty, Europe must choose to stick together and dare to think and act big. To live up to the legacy of our past, to deliver for the present, and to prepare a stronger Union for the future.” (p5, Political Guidelines)
This message is a key part of the introduction to "Europe’s Choice”, an important document delivered by President Ursula von der Leyen on 18 July 2024 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, when she was still a candidate for a second term to her mandate. Her candidature was, of course, successful.
It is vital to watch how the European policy space will develop in the future. Therefore, EHTEL has looked at some of the important statements made about the next five years of the European Union on digital health in that “Europe’s Choice” document.
What are the proposed priorities relating to digital and digital health?
Key proposals are included chiefly in the proposed plan’s section on European sustainable prosperity and competition, e.g., as a “New Prosperity Plan”. They cover preventive health, cybersecurity, AI, and the use of data under potential actions for a more circular and resilient economy:
- “We will also step up our work on preventive health, [...] for mental health, including at work, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as on treatments for degenerative illnesses and research on autism. This will build on the successful model of the Beating Cancer Plan.” (p9)
- “I will propose a European action plan on the cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers in the first 100 days of the mandate.” (p9)
- “We will also develop with Member States, industry and civil society an Apply AI Strategy to boost new industrial uses of AI and to improve the delivery of a variety of public services, such as healthcare.” (p10)
- “Europe needs a data revolution. This is why we will put forward a European Data Union Strategy.” (p10)
Source: European Commission
Under actions intended to put research and innovation at the heart of the European economy, there are plans for biotechnologies – including a Biotech Act in 2025 – and a European Strategy for Life Sciences (pp10-11).
In addition...
The plan later also covered topics under "Supporting people" and "Protecting our democracy ..." that are likely to be of interest to people working social/societal issues e.g., dealing with regional disparities; mental health and the status of young people; and digital challenges like creating "a right to disconnect".
What now?
Now re-elected as President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, held talks with the presidents of the various political groups in the European Parliament on Wednesday 11 September. The subject: the next Commission’s proposed structure and portfolios. It is said that this exchange of views was to guide the hearings process to be held in autumn 2024 with the individuals proposed as candidates as future European Commissioners by the Member States. The hearings process with candidate/proposed European Commissioners is now underway.
Overall, it will remain vital to watch out for actual decisions made and new directions taken as progress is made throughout the autumn of 2024. Watch this space!
Want to read and see more?
The Political Guidelines document is available here.
A video of, and the full content of the speech to the European Parliament are available here.