Latest developments
1 December 2009
Member States' Health Ministers were unable to reach agreement to adopt the Commission's cross-border healthcare proposals. Speaking at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council meeting, outgoing Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou expressed regret at the failed negotiations, describing patients as the 'main losers'. The (amended) draft Directive and the Council's failure to agree will be considered by the incoming European Commission in 2010.
23 April 2009
Members of the European Parliament voted to adopt the draft Directive, with 
amendments, at its first reading debate under the co-decision procedure.
The next stage in the procedure is a first reading by the Council of the European Union.
20 April 2009
The UK Government published its response to the Department of Health's consultation on 20 April 2009.
March 2009
The draft Directive was discussed at the 21 March meeting of the Environment and Public Health (ENVI) Committee of the European parliament.
The European Parliament's press release summarises the debate, in which the committee adopted 25 amendments to the draft Directive.
The amended Directive is expected to be debated by the full house of MEPs during the week of 20th April 2009.