Over 100 million people in the EU use alternative and complementary medicine — and the figure is rising. The great importance of complementary medicine for Europe’s citizens is not reflected in EU funding for research or in other funding, such as the Innovative Medicines Initiative.

1. Why does the Commission completely ignore the growing field of complementary medicine in its research funding and other funding?

2. Can the Commission give an overview of how much EU funding, in comparison with conventional medicine, goes to complementary medicine or where funding is planned?

3. It has been made clear that the second programme of Community action in the field of health 2008‑13 (Decision No 1350/2007/EC(1)) should recognise the importance of a holistic approach and take into account alternative medicine. Can the Commission indicate specifically how it will be taken into account? Will the Commission allocate funding to alternative medicine?

4. When does the Commission intend to rectify the current discrepancy in funding?

5. Does the Commission intend, in the context of international EU cooperation with China, to support research projects to improve understanding of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?

6. By what measures does the Commission intend in future to counteract the continuing disappearance of homeopathic and anthroposophical remedies from the internal market caused by the London‑based EMEA, the EU’s authorising body?

(1) OJ L 301, 20.11.2007, p. 3.