A new strategic approach to health for the EU (2008-2013)
The present White Paper sets out a new Community health strategy until 2013, which is designed to confront the growing challenges to the health of Europe's citizens, such as population ageing, cross-border health threats or illnesses linked to unhealthy lifestyles. This strategy is also intended to strengthen, in a single strategic framework, Community cooperation in the areas in which the Member States cannot act alone, ensure that health is better understood at European level and worldwide, and secure a bigger role for health in all policies. To this end, the White Paper proposes four principles and three strategic objectives for the coming years.