Statement on the future engagement of the EU in healthcare We, the undersigned Members of the European Parliament, are deeply concerned about the prospect of reducing EU engagement in the area of healthcare outlined by some of the scenarios in the White Paper on the Future of Europe. European integration has brought considerable benefits for the health of Europeans. This cooperation must be sustained to ensure that citizens across the EU enjoy equality of opportunity to receive quality health care and services in their country. Patients should not pay the cost of non-europe in healthcare! We believe that Europe is about more than a common market and currency. Strengthening the economic foundations of the European project is undoubtedly crucial, but it remains merely a means of achieving prosperity in the Union. Health is a precondition for prosperity and the ambitious European agenda for growth and jobs cannot be achieved without healthy European citizens. European health systems are struggling to respond to the pressing challenges of ageing populations, strained health budgets and rising levels of health inequalities. These challenges transcend national borders and call for common European solutions. Ignoring them would not only be economically inefficient, but also politically dangerous. Wide disparities in health undermine social cohesion and foster political discontent, thus hindering cooperation and the process of European integration. In order to secure the future of the European Union we need to counter populist rhetoric and deliver on the expectations of European citizens. Recent Eurobarometer surveys have consistently shown that around 70% of Europeans wish to see more EU engagement in the area of health. We call for continued European Union action in the field of health and enhanced cooperation between EU Member States as a prerequisite for the sustainable development of our Union.
List of supporting MEPs (in order of signing): Andrey KOVATCHEV (EPP) Biljana BORZAN (S&D) Karin KADENBACH (S&D) Kateřina KONEČNA (GUE/NGL) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP) Lieve WIERINCK (ALDE) Seán KELLY (EPP) Alojz PETERLE (EPP) Paul RÜBIG (EPP) Miriam DALLI (S&D) Ivo BELET (EPP) Françoise GROSSETÊTE (EPP) Eugen FREUND (S&D) Jutta STEINRUCK (S&D) Brian HAYES (EPP) Stefan ECK (GUE/NGL) Renate WEBER (ALDE) Sofia RIBEIRO (EPP) Marian-Jean MARINESCU (EPP) Eva MAYDELL (EPP) Georges BACH (EPP) Bart STAES (Greens/EFA) Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA (ALDE) Romana TOMC (EPP)
Igor ŠOLTES (Greens/EFA) Carlos ZORRINHO (S&D) Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK (EPP) Dieter-Lebrecht KOCH (EPP) Michał BONI (EPP) Tunne KELAM (EPP) Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ (S&D) Tanja FAJON (S&D) Pavel POC (S&D) Ivan ŠTEFANEC (EPP) Ivica TOLIĆ (EPP) Merja KYLLÖNEN (GUE/NGL) Olga SEHNALOVÁ (S&D) Charles TANNOCK (ECR) Miroslav MIKOLÁŠIK (EPP) Salvatore Domenico POGLIESE (EPP) Lidia Joanna GERINGER de OEDENBERG (S&D) Mairead McGUINNESS (EPP) Laurenţiu REBEGA (ENF) Ivo VAJGL (ALDE) Hilde VAUTMANS (ALDE) Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN (EPP) Linda McAVAN (S&D) Elena GENTILE (S&D) Manolis KEFALOGIANNIS (EPP) Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER (EPP)
Karol KARSKI (ECR) Costas MAVRIDES (S&D) Nathalie GRIESBECK (ALDE) Gabriel MATO (EPP) Nessa CHILDERS (S&D) Estefanía TORRES MARTÍNEZ (GUE/NGL) Marek PLURA (EPP) Soledad CABEZÓN RUIZ (S&D) Anneli JÄÄTTEENMÄKI (ALDE) Marian HARKIN (ALDE) Lambert van NISTELROOIJ (EPP) Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (GUE/NGL) Lucy ANDERSON (S&D) Louis MICHEL (ALDE) Julie WARD (S&D) Peter LIESE (EPP) Carlos COELHO (EPP) Karl-Heinz FLORENZ (EPP) Carolina PUNSET (ALDE) Monika BEŇOVÁ (S&D) Soraya POST (S&D) Deirdre CLUNE (EPP) Pilar AYUSO (EPP) Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN (EPP) Francisco José MILLÁN MON (EPP) Tibor SZANYI (S&D)
Lefteris CHRISTOFOROU (EPP) István UJHELYI (S&D) Daniel BUDA (EPP) Takis HADJIGEORGIOU (GUE/NGL) Dame Glenis WILLMOTT (S&D) Dubravka ŠUICA (EPP) Ramón Luis VALCÁRCEL SISO (EPP) Georgi PIRINSKI (S&D) Nessa CHILDERS (S&D) John Bowis (former MEP)