Columns 27 May 2024

Youth Voting: Health

Here in Belgium, the overlapping regional, national, and EU elections will take place on June 9th and there is a lot of choice at each level. It can be hard to know who to vote for and who best aligns with your views. One of our key focus areas at Schuttelaar & Partners is health and we believe it is vital that it is high on the agenda at the next elections. Our latest EU magazine can help shed light on this too! 

With mandatory voting, and a near 90% turnout in recent elections, every vote is worth fighting for by the 10+ parties across the different regions and communities. Accounting for approximately 12% of the population, 16–25-year-olds can play a vital role in shaping political outcomes, especially now that 16- and 17-year-olds can vote.  

Amid conflicts, climate change, and democratic challenges, the politicians’ focus does not often lie on health, especially since the COVID pandemic has almost entirely disappeared from the headlines. Despite health being a Member State competence, the EU still has a significant mandate. This includes supporting the modernisation of health systems and infrastructure, providing financial support, and coordinating the exchange of best practices and health promotion activities.  

Through their health programs, they aim to better prevent and address future pandemics, improve the availability and affordability of medicinal products and medical devices, and support health research. In the current and next Parliament, their focuses link to cross-border threats, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, and the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe.  

Party Manifesto Analysis 

With so many options to choose from at both national and EU level, it can be hard to know which party to vote for. Fortunately, the European Public Health Alliance has analysed the manifestos of several European Groups in relation to health. These do not directly align with national manifestos, but national parties will send their elected MEPs join these larger groups. Below, we share shortened summaries from EPHA, you can find the full information here.  

European Green Party (Ecolo, Groen) 

  • Does not fully address the urgency of the health workforce shortage with no mention of medical deserts, training needs, or difficult working conditions. Research is not mentioned, neither are current files such as Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and European Health Data Space 

  • Mentions non-communicable diseases and mental health but does not offer concrete solutions, similarly both digital transformation and health system resilience are not sufficiently detailed 

  • Most of the 16 areas analysed are well addressed, including public health, equity, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and crisis preparedness, and the EU's international commitments. As expected, climate and environment policy are well addressed in relation to health too

  • Key proposals: Green and social deal, Universal Health Coverage legislation, and both the right to disconnect and right to remote work 

Party of European Socialists (Vooruit, Parti Socialiste) 

  • No mention of non-communicable diseases, lack of emphasis on prevention, and no mention of workforce shortages 

  • Insignificant information about permacrisis, health system resilience, digital transformation, or air pollution, and little connection to current EU files 

  • Good development calling for a stronger health union, access to care (including fair pricing and preventing shortages), as well as research around AMR, vaccines, and rare diseases

  • Equity and poverty (including mobility and child poverty) are well covered, as is climate change, food systems, and mental health including a call for a dedicated strategy  

  • Key proposals: Full implementation of Child guarantee, push for adoption of directive on gender-based violence, and Mental Health Strategy 

The Left (PVDA/PTB) 

  • Does not address non-communicable diseases and mental health, and insufficiently addresses prevention and AMR 

  • There is room for further development regarding universal access, healthcare workforce shortages, and concrete steps to factor in the importance of environmental policies. More depth is required across climate policies as well as health crisis preparedness 

  • Public health is well highlighted, as is strengthening public health systems, equity (including gender, LGBTQIA+, housing, and poverty), with specific measures outlined for each 

  • Food systems are highlighted and linked to health well too, including through environmentally sustainable agriculture 

  • Key proposals: EU Fund for public services, Directive on inequalities and discrimination as well as on Reproductive health, Equal pay directive, and fostering green investments 

European People's Party (CD&V, Les Engagés) 

  • No mention of health in all policies, AMR, or commitments to global initiatives.  

  • Contains elements that could be detrimental to public health or hinder anti-discrimination policy measures 

  • Lacks ambition for disease prevention and health promotion, insufficient mention of health workforce, access to care, and medicine shortages 

  • Good development around non-communicable diseases, funding for health research, and mental health, and pandemic preparedness 

  • Key proposals: Cardiovascular Health Plan, Plan to address Alzheimer's disease, and Action plan for Mental Health 

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats/ Renew (MR, openVLD) 

  • No mention of non-communicable diseases, mental health, research, resilience and preparedness, or AMR

  • Limited depth of focus or priority put on public health, sustainable food systems, access to care, and the health workforce 

  • Underdeveloped information on health equity, climate, and digital transformation 

  • According to EPHA, none of their 16 key topics were sufficiently addressed 

  • Key proposals: EU-wide restraining orders, push Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive, and right to abortion enshrined in the EU charter

Other Belgian parties (and their EU groups) not represented by this analysis: 

European Conservatives and Reformists, ECR (N-VA) 

  • The ECR released a manifesto but does not mention health or wellbeing.  

Identity and Democracy, ID (Vlaams Belang) 

  • The group VB has not released a manifesto for the upcoming elections 

Défi (No apparent affiliation at EU level) 

Last month Schuttelaar & Partners, in cooperation with the Young Professionals Network, hosted a watch party event for the Maastricht Debate between the leading candidates for the EU election. With over 70 people in attendance from across sectors, we got to hear more about the next Parliament's possible agenda. In combination, and to provide even more information, we've recently released our EU Magazine filled with information about what's coming next and what to look out for!