The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development is currently being considered by the institutions. Research is, of course, an area where it makes sense for all our member states to pool their resources: a common research programme on subjects of common interest is far more effective than duplicating each other 25 times over!

Part of the programme relates to medical research on public health issues. That has come under pressure from those who argue that it does not meet the priorities of economic competitiveness as defined in the Lisbon Agenda.

But this is a short-sighted view which should be refuted by ministers and MEPs who are currently deliberating on the programme’s priorities. Health research is not only worthwhile in its own right, but it is also worthwhile in terms of its economic merits.

Take, for example, respiratory health, which is currently missing from the programme. Respiratory health problems are Europe’s second biggest killer, accounting for one in four deaths. That costs our health systems EUR 102 million per year. It is also the major cause of absenteeism from work. It gets far less media coverage than cancer or cardiovascular diseases, but it ranks alongside them both in scale and in needing further research on countering the growth of lung diseases, asthma and so on. We must make sure that area of research forms part of the 7th programme.