On Wednesday evening (July 28), the Italian Minister of Health, Ms R. Bindi, and Ms Eva Biaudet, the Finnish Minister of Health and Social Services, will discuss the orientation of the work of the EU in health issues during Finland’s Presidency. The EU will be able to respond better to topical challenges now as it has for the first time a specific commissioner for health. Finland and Italy wish to seek concrete means to assess the impacts of all EU actions on human health. Today a topical example is the so called dioxin problem. Numerous directives intended to improve the internal markets will influence people’s health.

Finland has raised mental health issues higher on the EU agenda, as they are a big health problem throughout Europe. Ministers Biaudet and Bindi will also discuss promotion of mental health in Europe.

A large EU Conference on Promotion of Mental Health and Social Inclusion will be arranged in Tampere, Finland, in November, where these issues are to be dealt with in more detail.