A consultation that will help formulate the UK's negotiating position to ensure the right legislative framework is developed around the new Patient Mobility EU Directive was launched today. The proposed Directive seeks to codify existing European case law to make clear the rules that will apply when EU nationals want to receive treatment in a Member State which is not their 'home' country.

Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou launches today the 'Europe for Patients' campaign in Brussels. The campaign highlights the different health policy initiatives the Commission intends to adopt in the coming 6-9 months. All these initiatives are bound by a common goal - better healthcare for all in Europe.

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On July 2, the European Commission released, as part of the Renewed Social Agenda, two documents with significant importance to supporting cross-border healthcare delivery.

A new research fellowship scheme opened today will provide £4 million in funding over the next three years for healthcare scientists to undertake research to improve patient services and treatment. Funded by the Department of Health and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the scheme will fund areas of research that will have direct patient benefit.

An EU-funded study has demonstrated a new technique that could be used for the early detection of breast cancer. Scientists from Finland, France and Germany used three-dimensional X-ray analysis to obtain a high-resolution, high-contrast image of the breast that is extremely sensitive to changes in the tissue, such as those that might be caused by a tumour. Their findings mark a significant improvement in the state of the art of X-ray mammography.

The European Research Council (ERC) is leading the way in the provision of financial support to some of Europe's finest researchers. Funding provided by the ERC, a total of EUR 7.5 billion, not only supports research but further stimulates pioneering research in groundbreaking new areas, areas that may not have been financially viable without ERC support.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) from UK launched a new online education and training service for health care professionals, named eHealth. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited online training is funded by the Department of Health and covers the management of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) injuries and incidents.