Meeting: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 7 December 2015

A meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council took place on 7 December 2015, in Brussels. The agenda included the following topics:

+ Negotiations regarding a common position on a Directive improving the gender balance among non-executive board members and encouraging equality between men and women in the field of decision-making;

+ Exchange of views on the strategic commitment to gender equality 2016-2019;

+ Negotiations to reach a political agreement on making it easier for the long-term unemployed to get back on the labour market;

+ Presentation by the European Commission on its annual growth survey for 2016, the joint employment report, the alert mechanism report and a draft recommendation for the euro area;

+ Health ministers were expected to adopt conclusions on an EU strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm, personalised medicine for patients, better support for people living with dementia and the lessons learnt for public health from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa (health security in the EU).

ESO: Background information: Council Conclusions - Equality between women and men in the field of decision-making http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-equality-between-women-and-men-in-the-field-of-decision-making/

EurActiv, 08.12.15: Council pushes for EU alcohol strategy by end of 2016 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/council-pushes-eu-alcohol-strategy-end-2016-320197

ESO: Background information: EU appoints new European Union Special Representative for the Sahel http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-appoints-new-european-union-special-representative-for-the-sahel/

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