Transnational Solidarity? Cross-Border Heath-Care in the European Union

The responsibilities of the European Union surrounding public health are concentrated on coordinating and complementary practices. A mandatory European harmonisation of standards and policies is in effect in only a few areas such as pharmaceutical authorisation and health protection at the workplace. The implementation of single market rights over the national health-care systems (negative integration) is growing at the European level. This has ambivalent repercussions. Whilst the rights of patients on the basis of the four fundamental freedoms in the context of cross-border health-care have got stronger, national governments see themselves confronted with a limitation of scope for their health-care policies. The basic principles of the integration project place European pressure on national governments. They are subject to sanctions if their policies are not directly in accordance with the single market concept.