Press Release: Pharmaceuticals: high level group established to look at medicines for Europe

Work on a new agenda to improve the framework for competitiveness in the pharmaceutical industry and to harness its power to deliver on Europe's health care goals was launched in Brussels on 26 March 2001. Commissioners Erkki Liikanen and David Byrne met health and industry ministers, pharmaceutical leaders and patient representatives to establish common ground and agree objectives. These stakeholders will meet three times over the coming year to take stock of progress and suggest solutions to problems as and when they arise. The stakeholders' group will report to Commission President Romano Prodi in April 2002.