Health is crucial for the wellbeing of individuals and society. Protection against illness and disease, quality healthcare, safe and hygienic homes and workplaces, as well as a healthy environment are something many Europeans take for granted.

In a world where masses are able to travel the globe, threats to the health of EU citizens from communicable diseases cannot be quarantined within national borders. Diseases caused by smoking, poor nutrition or pollution are a matter of concern in all EU countries, as are the challenges ageing populations pose to healthcare systems. In an internal market, the safety of pharmaceuticals is a shared responsibility.

Health policy remains a national competence. There are only a limited number of EU legislative rules governing public health. However, health related issues are increasingly addressed at the European level as coordinated policies, in order to better answer the challenges common to all member states.

In October 2007, the European Commission adopted a new White Paper on Health Strategy, ‘Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013’. Building on previous work, this strategy aims to provide a broad cross-policy framework covering core issues in health as well as health in all policies and global health issues. The Second Programme of Community Action in the Field of Health 2008-2013 supports the strategy and is in force as of 1st of January, 2008.

The EU Health Strategy, ‘Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013’ focuses on three main aims:

• fostering good health in an ageing Europeby promoting good health throughout the life span, aiming to prevent health problems and disabilities from an early age and tackling inequities in health linked to social, economic and environmental factors;
• protecting citizens from health threatsincluding pandemics and bioterrorism as well as new communicable disease patterns caused by climate change;
• supporting innovative technologiesthat can be used to optimize healthcare systems.

The strategy of the Commission lists several common values and principles that should be followed in healthcare systems of EU member states. These include universality, access to good quality care, equity and solidarity.

In March 2007 the Commission presented proposals for a specific Consumer Policy Strategy for 2007-2013. The strategy sets out the challenges, role, priorities and actions of EU consumer policy for this period.

The overall objectives of the Strategy are:

• to empower EU consumers. Putting consumers in the driving seat benefits citizens and significantly boosts competition. Empowered consumers need real choices, accurate information, market transparency and the confidence that comes from effective protection and solid rights.
• to enhance EU consumers’ welfare in terms of price, choice, quality, diversity, affordability and safety. Consumer welfare is at the heart of well-functioning markets.
• to protect consumers effectively from the serious risks and threats that cannot be left to individuals. A high level of protection against these threats is essential to consumer confidence.

In September 2010, Commissioner Dalli presented the results of his ‘sweep’ investigation into websites selling electronic goods, concluding that 84% of sites under scrutiny were safe to buy from because they complied with EU law. This figure was almost double that of the previous year, when only 44% of sites were found to be in compliance. He then turned his attention to websites selling tickets to cultural and sporting events.