Publications Archive

Medical findings, X-rays, prescriptions: With the Health Data Space (EHDS), the Commission wants to utilise storing and making use of sensitive patient data throughout the EU. In essence, it provides for national electronic health records that can be used across borders. The Centre for European Policy (cep) calls for better control rights for EU citizens, especially regarding the so-called secondary use of health data.

Europe's population is ageing dramatically. Care systems are facing ever greater social and financial challenges with massive staff shortages. The Commission therefore announced a new care strategy on 7 September. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) believes that a reform is urgently needed. The think tank insists on more help for friends and relatives who act as carers.

As a consequence of the Corona pandemic, the European Union wants to strengthen its preparedness and crisis response. An important building block is the new health authority HERA. The Centres for European Policy Network (cep) considers the institution to be useful, but urges the participation of the EU Parliament and the Member States in view of the distribution of competencies in the health sector.

Crowdfunding platforms, 0%-financing, buy-now-pay-later offers: The variety of quickly available online credit has increased drastically. While these offers stimulate competition, they lead to new risks for consumers. To strengthen their rights and better protect them from private over-indebtedness, the Commission is working on a new Directive. The Centre for European Policy (cep) generally regards the reform as necessary, but views some of the proposals as too rigid and not yet fully developed.

The Commission plans a "right to repair". It is intended to encourage consumers to use products longer and to oblige companies to extend the life of products as well as to guarantee better reparability. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) warns of a conflict between consumer and environmental protection.

Anti-inflammatories and antipyretics that have been tried and tested for decades, such as dexamethasone or remdesivir, play an important role in the fight against Corona. They are intended to reduce mortality in hospitals. This is possible because the patents on many old pharmaceuticals are expiring. Off-patent drugs can be highly effective in treating completely different diseases.

In the EU, around ninety million tonnes of food end up being wasted every year. Ten percent of this alone is said to be due to the misunderstanding of date marks on packaging. Often, consumers do not understand the meaning of "best before" and "use by" dates. The Commission therefore wants to launch consultations on food labelling before the end of the year. Brussels is putting forward three options for discussion.

The COVID pandemic has led to a cross-border health emergency in the European Union. On the basis of a regulation, Brussels wants to determine when such a state of emergency begins and when it ends. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) has analysed the EU proposal.

The Corona pandemic has led to a cross-border health emergency in the European Union and exposed deficits in dealing with health threats. To improve preparedness and response capacity, the EU Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is to play a key role in the future. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) has analysed the EU's plans.

The COVID pandemic has led to shortages of critical medicines and medical devices in the European Union. For this reason, the EU Commission wants to reduce deficits in the exchange between the EU Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Member States as well as companies and to strengthen the EMA's competences. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) has analysed the EU proposal for a reliable crisis preparedness system.