The European Commission wants to see health given a higher priority among the European Union’s various policies and funding programmes, to raise standards throughout the continent.

In particular, it sees greater scope in the use of the billions of pounds the European Union spends every year on regional and social projects to tackle the health inequalities which exist within and between countries.

Androulla Vassiliou, the EU health commissioner, said, “I want to see a Europe where everyone has the opportunity to enjoy a high level of health regardless of where they live or their social or ethnic background. …