From the 1st of July to the 31st of December of 2023, Spain will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

In order to align the priorities during the presidency with those of the 2024 presidencies (Belgium and Hungary), the three countries have formed a trio to find common solutions to the challenges and tasks ahead.

Flags of Belgium, Spain and Hungary

On health-related priorities mentioned at the 18-month Programme of the Council (1 July 2023 - 31 December 2024), “The trio will work to further strengthen the EU Health Union and the resilience of health systems that are accessible to all, build preparedness for future health emergencies and promote health and healthy lifestyles.” It will also “strive to improve the prevention of health risks through a ‘one health’ approach”, and “work on supporting European health strategies inter alia on mental health, cardiovascular disease and rare diseases, as well as the global health initiative”.

In this document, the trio also intends to “focus on strengthening fair labour mobility in the Union, access to social protection and to the protection of workers, and on ensuring health and safety, inclusiveness and non-discrimination at work” and to “pay particular attention to stress and burn-out at work, in line with the new Commission initiative on mental health.”

These priorities are aligned with those of the Europe Region of World Physiotherapy and we hope that these presidencies will be successful in achieving these goals.

More information on the health agenda of the upcoming presidency can be found here (Spanish language).