The Construction of Healthier Europe: Lessons from the Fight Against Cancer

39 Pages Posted: 22 Jul 2008

See all articles by Louise G. Trubek

Louise G. Trubek

University of Wisconsin Law School

Mark Nance

North Carolina State University

Tamara K. Hervey

University of Sheffield - Faculty of Law

Date Written: July 22, 2008

Abstract

The increasing involvement of European-level institutions in public health is often told as a story of bureaucratic, neo-liberal expansion. According to this history, the European Commission, backed by a like-minded European Court of Justice, has sought to expand its powers against the wishes of the Member States and their citizens, who see European Union involvement as a threat to the "European Social Model." Drawing on a case study of the EU's involvement in fighting cancer through the "Europe Against Cancer" programme, we offer an alternative explanatory account for the emergence of EU health policy. We show how networks of experts and activists have driven the EU's involvement. We also show how the EU's activities have not been solely in the form of top-down directives, but rather in the form of networked governance based on knowledge creation and policy learning. This approach requires minimal EU involvement or funding to achieve significant advances in cooperative health system reform based heavily on policy entrepreneurs. We draw lessons from the history of Europe Against Cancer for the future development of EU health policy.

Keywords: health, European Union

JEL Classification: I18

Suggested Citation

Trubek, Louise G. and Nance, Mark and Hervey, Tamara K., The Construction of Healthier Europe: Lessons from the Fight Against Cancer (July 22, 2008). Univ. of Wisconsin Legal Studies Research Paper No. 1062, Wisconsin International Law Journal, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1169363

Louise G. Trubek (Contact Author)

University of Wisconsin Law School ( email )

975 Bascom Mall
Madison, WI 53706
United States

Mark Nance

North Carolina State University ( email )

Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27695
United States

Tamara K. Hervey

University of Sheffield - Faculty of Law ( email )

Crookesmoor Building, Conduit Road
Sheffield S10 1FL
United Kingdom

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