The EU answer to globalisation exists and has a name: the European Social Model. The EU is not only focused on economic growth but also on a set of common principles which contribute to the prosperity of the EU: social justice, equality and solidarity. Social policy is a national responsibility, but the European Social Model is a reference for national social systems. The European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee is an advocate for a more "social Europe" with better social cohesion and more and better jobs. Last October, the Parliament called for ambitious targets to reduce poverty when it approved its latest report on Social Protection and Inclusion.

 

 

 

That includes modernising the European Social Model to invest in people through job creation, equal opportunities, lifelong learning and up-to-date social protection and to combat social exclusion. "Rethinking (it) means strengthening and making it economically and socially sustainable in the long term," said José Albino Silva Peneda (EPP-ED/PT), the 2006 EP rapporteur on a "European social model for the future". 

 

So far, the Lisbon Agenda has paid less attention to social policy than to price stability, cost cutting and budget deficit reduction, according to a 2005 report by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/PT).Globalisation is intensifying competition for markets around the world...The present tendency towards an increasing liberalisation of services will increase competition and cause more job losses and poverty. The solution is to invest more in employment and flexicurity," she said. "I urge a reform of the Lisbon Strategy as an effective answer to globalisation principles."

 

Despite the focus on innovating Europe's economy and discernable progress, there is growing concern that the reform process is not fast enough and that the ambitious 2010 targets will not be reached.

 

 

While each EU country has its own system of social and economic policies and structures, all 27 countries have affirmed their commitment to the same key values and objectives based on fundamental rights for all. The EU treaties commit them to working for a high level of social protection, equality between men and women, raising living standards and combating social exclusion, among other objectives.

 

 

Many EU countries don't reimburse the costs of treatment in another member state, unless it has been authorised in advance. Patients generally prefer to be treated at home, but what if they need urgent help while abroad, or there is a long waiting list, and what about citizens living in border zones?  These issues still need to be addressed.

 

On the other side of the equation, the health systems of all EU countries are experiencing, difficulties over the fundamental challenge of controlling costs while delivering quality services to all sectors of society. EU action does not mean harmonisation but it seems unlikely that an effective solution can be found at an exclusively national level.

 

Environment and Health Committee Chairman Miroslav Ouzký said, "I would leave health care financing in the competence of national states." German Socialist Karin Jöns, the rapporteur on Health care and care for the elderly, added, "We have to guarantee access to high-quality and affordable health care services to all EU citizens regardless of their income, social status, age and place of residence."

 

 

The introduction of the EU health card in 2004 was meant to provide coverage if you fell ill during a holiday or when studying abroad, or if treatment was authorised by the national authority. Here's how it works:

 

Brigitta is insured in Sweden and has authorisation for an operation in Germany. The cost of her hospital stay in Germany is €4,000. For a similar treatment in Sweden, only €2,800 would be reimbursed, compared with €3,200 in Germany. Thanks to the authorisation, Brigitta will be reimbursed €3,200. If the home country offers a higher rate of reimbursement, the patient will receive the higher rate. 

 

If there is no authorisation, in principle you are not covered for the costs of hospital treatment in another member state.  

 

 

The Parliament is very active in this area.

Following a Parliament request, the Commission will come up with a proposal on health services, dealing specifically with patient mobility among member states and patients' rights early in 2008.

 

Of these 80,000 die from passive smoking, with research showing one bar worker a week killed in this way. There is a clear trend towards smoke-free environments throughout Europe. Many countries have introduced nationwide smoking bans but there are still improvements to be made. In October, the Parliament strongly supported a report by German Christian Democrat Karl Heinz Florenz calling for "wide-ranging measures to restrict smoking in public places".
 
"In my country 350 people die every day because of tobacco smoke. If a plane with 350 passengers crashed every day, it would be a shock. This is why we have to fight this dangerous pollutant, which contains thousands of chemicals, including 250 carcinogenic and toxic substances," said Mr Florenz.
 
All EU countries have some form of regulation on smoking, but the  scope and character varies widely.
 

Comprehensive bans on smoking in all enclosed public places and all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, were introduced in Ireland in March 2004 and across the UK by Summer 2007.

Smoke-free legislation with exemptions was introduced in Italy in January 2005; Malta in April 2005; Sweden in June 2005; Lithuania in January 2007, and in France between February 2007- January 2008.

Smoking is banned in enclosed public places and workplaces in Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain.
 
Luigi Cocilovo, an Italian member of the ALDE group said, "I think bans in Europe should safeguard the possibility, for people who want to smoke, to do so. Moreover, I don't think prohibitions and bans help smokers to give up. This goal is reached only through personal free will".
 
EP calls for further action on tobacco, snus
 
On smoking tobacco, the Parliament wants:

 

an unrestricted smoking ban in all enclosed workplaces, including catering establishments, and in all enclosed public buildings and transport in the EU;

Also wanted is an EU-wide ban on the sale of tobacco products to under 18s, including making cigarette machines inaccessible to young people and a ban on distance sales of tobacco products to young people and measures to make it easier for smokers wishing to give up to do so.
 
It has also called on the Commission to urgently investigate the health risks associated with consumption of an oral tobacco known as snus and its impact on the consumption of cigarettes. Snus is currently banned across the EU aside from in Sweden, though some say the Swedish example shows that snus can help wean people off cigarettes and reduce the number of annual deaths from lung cancer.
 
"If the rest of Europe would use snus instead of tobacco there would be yearly 250,000 less lung cancer cases. We need to investigate whether it could help decrease tobacco-related illness in Europe," said Christofer Fjellner, a Swedish EPP-ED MEP. "Smoking less tobacco is an essential part of getting a smoke-free Europe!"
 
Do Europeans want to stop smoking?
 
A May 2007 Eurobarometer survey "Attitudes of Europeans towards Tobacco" found a noticeable drop in consumption compared with the last survey in 2002, although 32% of Europeans are still smokers. The highest concentrations are in Greece with 42% and Latvia, Hungary and Bulgaria, all with 36%. Sweden has the fewest smokers with 18%.
 
Some 88% of Europeans support a smoking ban in offices, indoor workplaces and indoor public spaces like airports, shops and metros. And bans on smoking in bars and restaurants also win strong support.
 
In January 2007, the Commission launched a broad public consultation on the best way to promote smoke-free environments in the EU through its green paper "Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke". Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said: "I am heartened that public support for smoke-free work and public places in Europe remains so high. This can only strengthen the momentum towards making European public and work places smoke-free by 2009." 
 
Smoking kills in other ways
 
Cigarettes don't only cause deaths from ill-health. Data from 14 Member States show that over 2,000 deaths a year are caused by cigarette-related fires. Later this year, the Commission will come up with proposals to make self-extinguishing cigarettes mandatory in all 27 EU countries.

In the past the role of business was to primarily create jobs and profits. However, they are increasingly being asked to be socially responsible and serve the society in which it is based. This mantra is called "Corporate Social Responsibility" (CSR) and last week MEPs voted to back a report calling for its practices to be included into EU policies. It also wants a type of mandatory "environmental audit" that would mean businesses had to report on the environmental impact of their operation.

Around 50 million Europeans - almost 10% of the population - have some form of disability and 1 in 4 have a disabled family member. A recent parliamentary report said that improving access to public transport and making websites more usable are 2 vital steps in tackling unemployment among disabled people. The European Parliament is playing an active role - both as a legislator and an employer.

The holiday season has arrived. Your suitcases are packed, your neighbours are watering the plants and feeding the cat and your tickets are ready. But have you also thought about bringing your European Health Insurance Card?