Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

EU Presidency 2005

The main health themes of the UK Presidency of the EU, which ran from July to December 2005, were improving patient safety and tackling health inequalities. The Presidency has now passed to Austria from 1 January 2006. This section will remain on line for reference for the time being but will no longer be updated.

EU Presidency

Austria holds the EU Presidency for the first half of 2006, to be followed by Finland.

EU Presidency 2005

EU Presidency 2005

The UK is aiming to make a lasting impact on the EU health agenda. Empowering people will be an important theme across all areas.

Tackling health inequalities programme

Summit, reports and other events

Speeches

Meeting of the European Parliament Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Presentation by UK Secretary of State for Health

Patricia Hewitt set the scene by emphasising the importance of reconnecting the EU with its citizens. She stressed the UK Presidency's commitment to making good progress on all legislative dossiers. She also outlined the two key Presidency themes, namely Patient Safety and Health Inequalities.

Stakeholder presentation

Presentation for stakeholders on the health themes and objectives for the UK's Presidency of the EU.

Directory of events

Details of meetings of health policy officials from across Europe, summits and conferences to bring together policy makers and other stakeholders, and meetings of health ministers.

Events

Delivering patient-centred innovation in medicines

This high-level meeting considered the benefits a competitive pharmaceutical industry can bring to the citizens of Europe in relation to health and prosperity.

Patient Safety Summit

28-30 November 2005 at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London.

Event reports

Delivering patient-centred innovation in medicines

This high level meeting took place in December 2005. The report gives a detailed account of the meeting and sets out some priorities for increasing the proportion of new medicines originating in Europe.

Informal Meeting of Ministers for Health

The Informal Meeting of Ministers for Health took place on 20 and 21 October in Hertfordshire. It was attended by Health Ministers from the 25 EU Member States, the accession countries (Bulgaria and Romania) and the candidate countries (Turkey and Croatia).

Tackling Health Inequalities Summit

The Tackling Health Inequalities Summit took place during 17 - 18 October 2005. The speakers included Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, England and Markos Kyprianou, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection.

European Union Chief Nursing Officers meeting

This meeting took place on 26 and 27 September 2005. It provided an opportunity for EU CNOs to meet and address issues of mutual interest around the regulation of nursing and midwifery, and to hear from expert speakers and other delegates.

EU Presidency Dental Programme - Meeting the Challenges of Change

The EU Presidency Dental Programme took place during 5 - 9 September 2005. Its overarching themes were Patient Safety and Health Inequalities.

EU Heads of Medicines Agencies (Human and Veterinary) meeting

The EU Heads of Medicines Agencies (Human and Veterinary) held the first of two meetings under the UK Presidency in Edinburgh, Scotland on 14 and 15 July 2005.

Useful links

Information on the Department of Health website related to the UK's Presidency of the EU from July-December 2005.

Access keys