European perspectives on global health: a policy glossary

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1. Europe must make global health a priority <strong>European</strong> health values are central to action on global health <strong>European</strong> health values are the distinctive set of beliefs about health rights and obligations that reflect <strong>European</strong> history and identity. “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the member states in a society in which pluralism, nondiscrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between men and women prevail”. Article Two of the draft of <strong>European</strong> Union ( EU )’s proposed constitution. <strong>European</strong> values for health are reflected in many of its legal instruments : • The <strong>European</strong> Social Charter, adopted by the Council of Europe ( 1961, revised 1996 ) states that : “Everyone has the right to benefit from any measures enabling him to enjoy the highest possible standard of health attainable”. • Article 129 of the Maastricht treaty ( 1992 ) requires the EU to check that policy proposals do not have an adverse impact on health or create conditions that undermine health promotion. • Article 152 of the Treaty of the EU ( Amsterdam ) 1997 introduced health as a common concern of the union, enabling action to promote and improve health rather than just protecting it. • The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, adopted in Nice in 2000 states that : “Everyone has the right of access to preventative health care and the right to benefit from medical treatment under the conditions established by national law and practices.” • In its official submission to the <strong>European</strong> Convention of 2005, the Health Policy Forum requested the <strong>European</strong> Convention Working Group on Social Europe : “To enshrine as a cornerstone of Social Europe, the unique existing principles of health equity and universality of access to health services in Europe, while respecting the right of the Member States to organise and deliver health care systems”. A <strong>European</strong> approach to global health is based on three fundamental values : to protect and improve health as : 1. A human right 2. A key dimension of human security and development 3. A global public good Such an approach is confirmed through : 1. The case law of the <strong>European</strong> Court of Justice which recognises the principles laid down in the Council of Europe’s Convention on Human Rights. This respect for human rights is incorporated into Article 6 of the Treaty. Action is outlined for cases where a Member State seriously and persistently breaches the principles. 2. The <strong>European</strong> security strategy of 2003 “A Secure Europe in a Better World” which recognises the importance of health to human security and development, while the WHO <strong>European</strong> Regional Office paper “Investing in Health is investing in Development and Human Rights” makes a strong development case for health. 3. The increasing focus of the EU on the importance of global public goods for sustainable development which underlines the need to address health not only as a development issue but also as a global public good and the recent EU engagement with global health surveillance and health protection in the countries neighbouring the EU. Action : It is important to reach an understanding of <strong>European</strong> values as they shape global health. This may be a task for the Council of Europe since this body plays a central role in defining values as applied in the <strong>European</strong> Court of Human Rights in a <strong>European</strong> Region of 46 states. A statement of <strong>European</strong> values for global health would also be an important step towards the aim of establishing health in all <strong>European</strong> 12 <strong>European</strong> Foundation Centre – <strong>European</strong> Partnership for Global Health
1. Europe must make global health a priority Union policies as proposed by the Finnish Presidency ( 1 July 2006 ) and implied by Article 129 of the Maastricht Treaty. References : Chen, Lincoln C., Evans, Tim G. and Cash, Richard A. “Health as a Global Public Good,” in Kaul, Inge, Grunberg, Isabelle, and Stern, Marc A. ( eds. ), Global Public Goods : International Cooperation in the 21st Century. New York : Oxford University Press, 1999. De Feyter, K. Human Rights : Social Justice in the Age of the Market. London : Zed Books, 2005. Dower, N. An Introduction to Global Citizenship. Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, 2003. Marinker, M. Constructive Conversations about Health. Policy and Values. Oxford : Radcliffe, 2006. Scholte, J.A. Globalisation : A Critical introduction. London : Macmillan, 2000. Sen, A. Development as Freedom. New York : Knopf, 1999. Singer P. One World : The Ethics of Globalisation. New Haven : Yale University Press, 2002. Global Health Policy Glossary 13
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About the Editors Ilona Kickbusch s
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