Lisbon: what might have been - the EHA

[Helium Three]

Lisbon - new European Health Agency
by Helium Three Sun May 18, 2008 11:18 pm

One of the lesser known benefits of voting for the Lisbon treaty is that it will give official recognition to the new European Health Agency. The EHA was set up quietly in 2004 by EU heads of government who wanted to improve procurement of medicines and essential medical equipment across the Union. The size of the market is estimated at over €200 billion. Large savings are hoped for by standardising equipment, and dealing directly with suppliers. It is also hoped to boost EU drug companies’ export drives by promoting rationalisation. EU heads want to develop their own industrial base in this field so that they will no longer depend on US suppliers for some key products.

The EHA was not mentioned in any previous EU treaty. It was set up relying on an obscure general clause dealing with promoting an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe. EU legal experts have never been happy that this is a legitimate basis for establishing an official body which now has a substantial annual budget running into tens of millions of euro and the most rapidly growing staff of any EU body.

Therefore the Lisbon treaty has an entire section dealing with the EHA. As well as extending its powers, it will be given authority to ensure that member states live up to their new treaty promise to ‘progressively improve’ the quality of their healthcare provision for the peoples of Europe.

Yes campaigners are understandably somewhat irritated at the lack of media interest in this landmark initiative. They point out that by appointing a High Representative for Health Affairs the Union is making a clear statement of intent that it is serious about improving the health of the Union.

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[color=#FF0000]Late Editing Correction: everywhere the word 'health' appears in this report please subsitute the word 'defence'. This error occurred at subediting stage. We do apologise.[/color]

<MOD>Hilarious, but you alone have several other threads on this. Bump one of your others, please.</MOD>

That is factually wrong.

If you are talking about the defence issue raised by Article 28A.7 I have started one thread on that four months ago. Happens to be the most popular of all apart from the How will you vote thread.

Is satire now to be banned from this Lisbon forum?

[kaleidoscope]

Where is this discussed before?

<MOD>The EDA has been discussed at length in Helium's many other threads, and in other threads besides this. Dressing it up as satire does not change the role or nature of the EDA.</MOD>

[twtone]

You're gas, Helium!

Veru good posting. I have come to the conclusion that the most repugnant thing about Lisbon is that it obliges member states to increase military spending. What for? Who the hell are we afraid of ? Burundi?

[NotDevsSon]

Is satire now to be banned from this Lisbon forum?

Where is the satire?