EU takes antibiotic action
The European Union summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, has agreed a communique, stating that the EU must 'respond to citizens'
concerns about… issues related to outbreaks of infectious diseases and resistance to antibiotics'. The heads of government noted the intention of the European Commission to present formal proposals on the subject by the end of this year, signalling that they would try and give them a fair political wind within the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.
Also, the EU'S development and humanitarian aid Commissioner Poul Nielson and trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy have met European pharmaceutical industry leaders to discuss how to implement the new Brussels action programme on treating major communicable diseases, namely HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, which was approved by the Council of Ministers this May.