Press Release: Council agrees on new rules for patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare, Luxembourg, 8 June 2010

The Council for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs agreed on a draft directive concerning the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare, on the basis of a compromise proposal of the Spanish presidency. The draft directive aims to facilitate the access to safe and high-quality cross-border healthcare and to promote cooperation on healthcare between member states. The compromise reflects the Council's intention to fully respect the case law of the European Court of Justice on the patients' rights in cross-border healthcare while preserving member states' rights to organise their own healthcare systems.