Date: | 09.06. - 10.06.2008 |
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Venue: | Luxembourg |
Policy area: | Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs |
Type of event: | Council of Ministers |
More: | A meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will be held in Luxembourg on 9 and 10 June. Council of Ministers responsible for Employment and Social Policy, which will meet on 9 June 2008 in Luxembourg, will endeavour to find a political solution to two extremely sensitive directives – the Directive concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time and the Directive regulating the working conditions of temporary agency workers. Both directives, which are of utmost importance for European workers, will be discussed in a package. Among other important items on the agenda of the Council meeting is also the political agreement expected to be reached on the Employment Guidelines for 2008–2010 that have been amended on the basis of an opinion of the European Parliament. In the field of social policy the ministers will, among other things, adopt a general approach to the missing parts of the Regulation on the coordination of social security systems and to the new chapter of the Regulation which lays down the rules for its implementation. Therewith, the Slovenian Presidency will take an important step forward towards the adoption and entry into force of the legislative package aimed at simplifying and modernising procedures for efficient use of various social security systems for migrant workers. The Council will also adopt conclusions on equality between women and men. On the second day of the conference, 10 June, EU Health Ministers will convene at a meeting chaired by the Slovenian Minister of Health, Ms Zofija Mazej Kukovič. In the morning, the Ministers will discuss reducing the burden of cancer, antimicrobial resistance and implementation of the EU Health Strategy. The key to achieving strategy goals and resolving other important strategic issues, however, is intensified and more structured cooperation between the Council and the Commission. The Ministers are therefore expected, in their conclusions, to confirm a reworking of the mandate of the high-level group on healthcare. The Ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on information to patients on medicinal products, emphasising the need to make a distinction between information and advertising. The afternoon session of the Council meeting will see the presentation of a progress report on the discussions on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on novel foods aimed at ensuring food safety, protection of public health and consumers' interests as well as smooth functioning of the single market. The European Commission will provide information on the proposal for an EU legislative framework relating to the enforcement of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare. The Slovenian Minister of Health, Ms Zofija Mazej Kukovič, will report on the different matters discussed during the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.
Video: |
EPSCO Council meeting (Employment and Social Policy) on 9 June in Luxembourg - event announcement
EPSCO Council meeting (Health) on 10 June in Luxembourg - event announcement
Slovenian EU Presidency reaches agreement on temporary agency workers and working time
EU Health Ministers confirm commitment to reducing burden of cancer
Achieving EU Health Strategy objectives should be easier in future
Agenda of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) 133 KB
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO): Conclusions - Press Release 308 KB