Several new proposals to increase the protection of EU public health are due to be implemented in the coming years, both as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-planned measures such as the ETIAS visa waiver program.
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe recognized the fragility of its health systems.
Furthermore, the European Commission is implementing several measures to safeguard residents and visitors to Europe in the future, including the introduction of the ETIAS visa waiver for the European Schengen Area countries.
This article explains how ETIAS will ‘contribute to the protection of public health by providing for an assessment of whether the applicant poses a high epidemic risk’ and how new reforms in European Union Health laws will also aid in protecting public health across the EU.
PROPOSALS TO BUILD UP THE EU PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
In November 2020, the European Commission proposed action plans to better combat COVID-19 and future health crises.
The proposals aim to: boost the EU's health security framework using lessons learned from the response to coronavirus; ensure a greater preparedness and response from key EU agencies such as ECDC, EMA and FRONTEX.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said "The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for more coordination in the EU, more resilient health systems" and that there needs to be a change in the "the way we address cross-border health threats".
In her opinion, the building of a European Health Union is essential “to protect citizens with high-quality care in a crisis, and equip the Union and its Member States to prevent and manage health emergencies that affect the whole of Europe.”
The Commissioner for Health and Food safety, Stella Kyriakides, has also supported the proposals, saying that “We are reinforcing the foundations for a more secure, better prepared and more resilient EU in the area of health. This will be a significant change for the capacity to respond collectively.”
However, now, the Commission has redirected its focus toward the EU4Health programme.
WHAT IS THE EU4HEALTH PROGRAMME?
The EU4Health programme, aims to bolster crisis preparedness and build more robust, resilient, and accessible health systems across the European Union.
With a remarkable budget of €5.3 billion spanning 2021-2027, it represents the EU's most significant financial commitment to health. Its establishment under Regulation (EU) 2021/522 is a testament to the EU's prioritization of public health and a step towards a European Health Union.
EU4HEALTH OBJECTIVES
The programme has four primary objectives, which are:
- Improving Health: By promoting health and preventing diseases, especially cancer, and endorsing international health initiatives.
- Protecting People: By preparing for and responding to cross-border health threats, stockpiling essential products, and ensuring access to medicines and other crucial products.
- Strengthening Health Systems: Through digital transformation, enhancing healthcare accessibility, integrating national health systems, and more.
- Developing EU Health Legislation: By implementing evidence-based decision-making.
The programme is committed to continue responding to the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, and the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe. Additionally, it emphasizes digitalizing health systems, reducing antimicrobial-resistant infections, and improving vaccination rates.
STEPS TO STRENGTHEN EUROPEAN UNION HEALTH LAWS
In addition to improving EU health crisis and pandemic preparedness, the European Commission has proposed:
- Reinforcing EU surveillance by creating an integrated surveillance system using artificial intelligence and other advanced technology
- Improving EU data reporting by required Member States to increase reporting of health systems indicators such as the availability of hospital beds, medically trained staff, and the capacity for specialised treatment and intensive care
- The ability to declare an EU emergency situation to allow for increased coordination and the development, stockpiling, and procurement of products that would aid in the easing of health crises.
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, The European Commission has also realized that the ECDC's mandate needs to be reinforced in several areas, including:
- Preparedness and response planning
- Epidemiological surveillance
- The establishment of a network of EU reference laboratories
- The capacity to mobilise and deploy the EU Health Task Force to assist local responses.
Additionally, the mandate of the European Medicines Agency will also be reinforced by the increased ability to monitor and act against the risk of shortages of critical medical supplies, and coordinate studies and clinical trials to monitor the effectiveness and safety of vaccines.
The drive to protect public health in the European Union will only be further strengthened when the ETIAS authorization system is implemented in 2026 .
HOW DOES ETIAS CHECK THE HEALTH OF VISITORS?
Although health insurance for foreign visitors is not a mandatory requirement for third-national citizens of the Schengen Area, it will soon be necessary for these nationals to complete an ETIAS application online before departure to check health, among other things.
To complete the ETIAS application form for the ETIAS visa waiver for Europe, travellers are required to provide basic personal information and passport details, including the country of issue.
Confirming the nationality of people visiting Europe is important for several reasons, one of which being the ability to identify those coming from areas experiencing an outbreak of a particular disease or illness.
ARE THERE HEALTH QUESTIONS ON THE ETIAS APPLICATION FORM?
ETIAS applicants are not asked for medical information. Travellers do not need to provide information about existing health conditions.
Required personal details include current occupation and previous travel to areas of conflict. Health questions are not included.
COULD ETIAS HAVE HELPED STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19?
Travel restrictions were implemented during the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19 spread to most countries across the world, including Europe.
Efforts to control the virus included the application of COVID-19 EU entry restrictions for third-country nationals. Had ETIAS already been in place, it would have played a key role in identifying the nationality of potential visitors before their arrival at the Schengen Area border.
These actions are in line with one of the central aims of ETIAS: providing for an assessment of whether the applicant poses a high epidemic risk.
Should a similar situation arise in the future, there are hopes that the transmission in Europe of diseases originating overseas can be minimised with the help of the ETIAS pre-screening process.
