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Ref. Ares(2013)3050282 - 16/09/2013
Rue Joseph II 40
Tel. : +32 (0)2 772 22 12
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Med

ic al

Technology

Comm issioner Neven Mimica
Cabinet of Commissioner Neven Mimica
Consumer policy
European Commission
B-1049 Brussels

Brussels , 13th September 2013
Dear Commissioner Mimica,
We were delighted to hear that this week you took the opportunity to personally engage with the
Rapporteur and Shadows on the Medical Device proposal while being present in Strasbourg for President
Barroso's State of the Union address.
This file will ultimately do two things: It will strengthen the high level of patient safety; and it will send a
signal to the markets that underpin the 575,000 jobs and 4 billion euro a year R&D investment that our
SME based industry puts back into the European economy.
With President Barroso 's words on tackl ing unemployment and growth ringing in our ears, we were very
surprised to hear that in the very same building on the very same day, the Commission, faced with
equally valid options on patient safety, were responding favourably to options that, if carried, would raise
questions in the market and in the boardroom with a real risk of driving these jobs and investments out of
Europe. Furthermore , this approach seems at odds with your reflections on policy at our most recent
meeting in July.
Tod ay, Europe leads the way in healthcare and health technology innovation. But Europe is facing a
health crisis with demographics driving an unsustainable burden on national health systems. This means
we need focussed investment in innovation that bring efficiency and improved patient outcomes to health
systems and European citizens. Better health needs better investment in health . One follows the other.
But if Europe is not an attractive place to invest, one will not follow the other and Europe will risk
becoming 'second class ' in healthcare.
Given the above we would value a meeting with you at your earliest convenience to better understand the
evolution of the debate. Given the link to the overarching policy on Growth, we will also be raising our
concerns to the President of the Commission .
Yours sincerely ,

Guy Lebeau
Company Group Chairman Johnson & Johnson
Chairman, Eucomed Board of Directors

Cc:

Serge Bernasconi
Chief Executive Officer
EDMA, Eucomed & MedT ech Europe

Vice-President Tajani, Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn , Commissioner Andor

Eucomed Aisbl • info@eucomed.org • www.eucomed.org • VAT BE 0423.939.468

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