The European Union unveiled new social measures on Wednesday, including giving people the right to shop across the bloc for health care, in a bid to counter charges it is detached from the day-to-day worries of its citizens. A second draft law presented by the European Commission also proposed new measures to fight discrimination against the old, disabled or homosexuals.
The Commission's "Renewed Social Agenda" came three weeks after Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty reforming the EU and is meant to counter accusations that it is divorced from the everyday problems of its citizens. "Recently a lot has been said about the need to bring the EU closer to its citizens. This is exactly what we are doing today with our social package," EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou told a news conference.
The "No" vote camp in Ireland had portrayed the EU as distant, bureaucratic and incapable of protecting its citizens from the negative effects of globalisation while promoting liberal policies that benefit big companies.
Under its planned law, patients in the EU will be allowed to receive non-hospital treatment outside their home country without pre-approval from their doctor or health authority. The patient's home healthcare service will have to pay the bill - but only up to the amount the treatment would cost in the home state. When the cost of treatment is larger, the patient will foot the difference.
EU countries will be allowed to block reimbursement for people receiving hospital treatment in another state if there are too many such patients. The Commission does not expect a flood of people crossing borders for treatment. The bill will now be considered by the EU's 27 governments and the European Parliament.
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION: Another draft law seeks to stop discrimination outside work on grounds of age, sexual orientation, disability and religion or belief. Such discrimination at work is already illegal.
"There is an inequality in our legislation itself because people are protected from discrimination outside the workplace only on grounds of gender and race or ethnic origin. We must ensure equal treatment for all grounds," said EU Employment and Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimir Spidla. For example, a lettings agency could be sued in court if it denied an apartment to people because they were homosexual.European businesses criticised the proposal, saying it may boost their costs.
"It is not clear what impact this package will have on European businesses What does `beyond the workplace' actually mean? What will be the implications and costs for businesses?," said Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General of the Eurochambres group.
The proposal would not cover family law, so it would not try to legalise homosexual marriages. Nor would it try to change national measures that ensure the secular nature of their education system. Politicians in Germany and some other countries have said the EU is seeking to intrude too much into national law with its anti-discrimination proposals.
The Commission also proposed strengthening the role of pan-EU works councils in big multinational companies, a proposal much criticised by employers' groups, which fear it would slow corporate decision-making. The EU executive also urged member states to offer better life opportunities to Roma people, who still suffer discrimination. More EU aid funds should be used to help the Roma, also known as gypsies, it said.