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CPME wants more funds for Health in the EU financial perspectives 2007-2013

Dear Members of the EU Council and EU Parliament,

Looking at the political agreement as it was formulated under the UK Presidency on the EU financial perspectives for 2007-2013, CPME is very concerned regarding the amount of money which will be allocated to health.

A frozen budget will mean that less money will be available every year and this smaller amount will have to accommodate not only health, but also “other internal policies” including youth, culture, audiovisual matters and consumer protection! Indeed, according to this agreement, the amount of money allocated to budget heading 3b is set at 520 million Euros every year which will not be adjusted to inflation.

This does not reflect the importance of the budget line at all. It is well known fact that there is a real necessity to invest in health. Each EU citizen needs and deserves increased resources for protecting their health through a vigorous public health policy.

Therefore CPME would like to call on you all once more to ensure that the amount suggested by the European Commission in its health and consumer programme i.e. 1203 million euros is devoted to health as we all know the importance of a healthy Europe and the importance EU citizens attach to it.

The Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) represents all medical docotrs in the EU which is approximately 2 million physicians. It is an international, non for profit association under Belgian law composed of the National Medical Associations of the EU. It also unites associated members (countries currently negotiating with the EU), associated organisations (specialised European medical associations) and observers.

For more information, contact:

Secretary General, Lisette TIDDENS-ENGWIRDA               

CPME Secretariat:            Tel.: +32 2 732 72 02

                                     Fax: +32 2 732 73 44

                                     e-mail:secretariat @cpme.be

For more information about CPME, consult our website: http://www.cpme.be