EU and Canada commit to closer cooperation in field of health
The EU and Canada pledged on 18 December to have closer cooperation, including sharing of scientific expertise, in order to improve the health of citizens. Leaders from both parties at an EU-Canada summit in Ottawa, Canada, declared that the EU and Canada share similar challenges and approaches to protecting and promoting the health of citizens. They recognised the need for greater cooperation, including in new areas, to protect the health security of citizens in the face of new threats. 'Through dialogue, sharing of scientific and technical expertise, exchange of best practices, a transparent approach to issues of common concern and cooperation in developing knowledge and understanding of issues, we can learn from each other and improve the quality of our respective health decision-making, while strengthening global health. We will deepen our cooperation in the pursuit of our shared public health goals,' declares the joint summit statement, which was attended by both European Commission President, Romano Prodi, and head of the European Council, Guy Verhofstadt. Canada and the EU also committed themselves to working together in the fight against communicable diseases, particularly AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.