Local government is strategically placed to have an overview of the needs of its communities. Therefore, the Office is in a position to promote dialogue and consultation with the European Commission and European Parliament on health, social affairs, and employment issues.
Key areas for local government
Although national health care provision remains under the control of individual EU Member States, EU public health policy plays a prominent role in helping Member States to combine their expertise and coordinate responses across the EU to major health threats, as well as promote cooperation between EU national healthcare systems.
WLGA European Office activity
Health
The Office keeps track on European legislation in the field of health, checks the latest developments in the EU Health Programme 2008-13, and liaises with colleagues in Welsh local authorities regarding the impact of EU health initiatives on local government in Wales. For example, the Office has monitored developments on the Green Paper on the European Workforce for Health, as well as EU plans for patient mobility and cross-border healthcare. The Office regularly attends UK Brussels Offices Health Working Group meetings, and is in contact with the NHS European Office.
Social Affairs
The Office follows developments in the EU PROGRESS Programme, and has also been monitoring developments on the Working Time Directive closely, as the implementation of this legislation would severely affect employment rights and social services delivered by local government. On housing issues, the Office works closely with CECODHAS, the European Liaison Committee for Social Housing. The Office also liaises with think tanks and social affairs organisations. For example, the Office helped to organise a Brussels seminar in May 2008 in cooperation with the Bevan Foundation, a social justice think tank for Wales. The Office will continue to work closely on Social Affairs issues, and in 2010 these issues will take on added importance given that it is the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.
For more information contact: Iwan Williams