EUROCAM has had several meetings with officials of the European Commission, especially at DG Health and Consumers. Currently, there are clear signs that the EU Commission has taken a more positive stance towards CAM.

Patients should have access to the medicines of their choice

Commissioner for Health Mr Tonio Borg, stated in his keynote opening speech at the CAM Interest Group meeting in the European Parliament on 27 June 2013: ‘It is an important principle of the Union's pharmaceutical legislation that patients should have access to the medicinal products of their choice. This includes innovative medicines as much as traditional herbal and homeopathic medicinal products….Patient empowerment is on the increase. It progressively serves to put patients in the driver's seat – taking charge and control of their own health. Patients often know what treatment works for them, and which healthcare is efficient for their condition. This can include the use of complementary medicine.’ 

Summit on Chronic Diseases

At the EU Summit on Chronic Diseases (3 and 4 April 2014) Dr Benno Brinkhaus, Professor of Medicine at the Charité University Medical Centre Berlin, was invited to give a presentation on 'The role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for prevention and treatment of chronic disease'.