The EU Lisbon Agenda and the EU Health Strategy Sample Clauses

The EU Lisbon Agenda and the EU Health Strategy. The EU policies are framed by the Lisbon Agenda. The Lisbon Agenda is based on three pillars (economic, social, environmental pillar). While “health” is only mentioned in one sentence in chapter 3.3.: “Creating more and better jobs” (“In order to attract and keep more people in employment, the Commission will assist Member States in developing active ageing strategies, including measures to increase healthy life years.”), the EU Health Strategy (COM 2007a) stresses the necessity “to reinforce the importance of health within key EC policies such as the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, in terms of the links between health and economic prosperity” (COM 2007b: 2).5 Challenges like pandemics, major physical and biological incidents, bioterrorism, the consequences of population ageing and the challenge to xxxxxx a dynamic health system and the utilization of new technologies are stated to be of relevance for health policies but also for economic prosperity and wealth (COM 2007a: 3). The fourth principle of the health strategy6 is “health is the greatest wealth”. It is stated that “[h]ealth is important for wellbeing of individuals and society, but a healthy population is also a prerequisite for economic productivity and prosperity.” (ibid.: 5). It is mentioned that spending in health is not just cost, but investment, that the health sector is a provider for employment and training, a source and user of innovative technologies and a supporter for regional policy and social and economic cohesion (ibid; s. also COM 2007b: 7 ff.). In the “Commission Staff Working Document” accompanying the “White Paper: Together for health” the links between health and economic prosperity are being described more in detail. The impact of health expenditures for growth rates is mentioned. It is argued that health contributes to wealth and that wealth contributes to health, that investments in health can lead to more efficient health systems and social security schemes (more people avoiding illness in cause of medical treatment and prevention), that the health sector contributes to economic growth through innovations and multiplier effects, employment and education. It is also mentioned that links of health and wealth are not only prevalent at the macro level but also at the micro or individual level and that the values specified in the EU Health Strategy (universality, access to good quality care, equity and solidarity, gender dimension, fundamental rights, citizens’ empowerment,...