Spain wants the alternative proposal to improve the rights of EU citizens without assuming the cost to the Public Health System. According to the Spanish Minister of Health, Trinidad Jimenez, "should begin to work again" on an EU directive

The scheme rejected by the Council last December  included that member states would return the cost of healthcare paid by EU citizens resident who chose to receive care in other European countries. Spain will seek during his presidency a compromise to pass a directive that "meets goals of equity, solidarity, equality and cohesion," said the minister.

However, until the new European Commissioner for Health, the Maltese candidate John Dalli, starts acting, and sais his opinion on it, the Spanish presidency "can not go about it," he said.

Today,  the 'Europe for patients' campaign, launched in September 2008, highlights the importance of working together with Member States and pooling information, expertise and sharing practice in a number of healthcare related areas. For example; rare diseases, cancer, patient safety, organ donation and transplantation, antibiotic resistance and patients rights in cross border healthcare. Nevertheless, EU has not created any binding rule in this regard yet.

During his visit to Brussels, Jimenez has met with his Belgian counterpart, Laurette Onkelinx, and organizations like the European Network for Combating Poverty in the European Year against Poverty and Social Exclusion.