The Commission has presented its Annual Policy Strategy which paves the way for establishing a policy agenda for 2010. While ensuring the continuity of the institution’s strategic planning system, the Annual Policy Strategy takes account of the fact that a new Commission will be in office in 2010. The Annual Policy Strategy (APS) is the first step of the Commission’s planning system. It aims to launch the interinstitutional dialogue on the priorities for next year and to prepare for the Preliminary Draft Budget which the Commission will be presenting in April. Four key areas are pointed out as priority, namely: economic and social recovery, climate change and sustainable Europe, the centrality of EU citizens, and the role of Europe as a world partner. Health-related issues are transversal to the themes.