The European Commission is the executive body of the EU institutions. It is the guardian of the Treaties, with the right to propose, to execute, and monitor compliance to the legislation. It manages the day-to-day business of implementing EU policies and allocating EU funds. It also makes sure that everyone abides by the European treaties and laws. It is therefore a key contact for stakeholders willing to shape the EU agenda.
The Commission is constituted of a College of Commissioners and is made of 27 national Commissioners each with a different policy portfolio. They jointly adopt proposals made by each of their colleagues in their field of responsibility. Each Commissioner is appointed by the government of his or her Member State and confirmed by the European Parliament subject to individual hearings. The College is renewed every five years, the same year as the election of the Members of the European Parliament. Maltese national John Dalli is the current Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy.
The President of the European Commission is designated by the head of governments jointly. He allocates portfolios to the 26 other Commissioners. The current Commission President is Portuguese national Jose Manuel Barroso.
The services of the European Commission are organised in directorates general (DGs), which are similar to ministries at the national level, and which deal with specific policy areas. All DGs are placed under the leadership of one Commissioner. More than 90% of the services are based in Brussels. DG Health and Consumer Policy (SANCO) is overseen by Director General Paola Testori Coggi, and is the DG responsible. There is also a DG Research which develops and implements the European research and innovation policy, including in the field of health. To subscribe for the newsletter Health-EU, visit the website: www.ec.europa.eu/health-eu/newsletter_en.htm
The Commission has in particular since 2008 taken a number of initiatives to improve access to better quality care for patients with rare diseases:
- Commission Communication on Rare diseases, adopted on 11 November 2008, and which creates an integrated approach for the EU action in the field of rare diseases;
- Council Recommendation on a European action in the field of rare diseases, adopted on 8 June 2009, which advocates for the development of National Plans for Rare Diseases was adopted;
- Decision of the Commission creating a European Union Committee of Experts on Rare Diseases, adopted on 30 November 2009,
- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare, providing for the development of European reference networks on rare diseases (awaiting the European Parliament second reading).