"Thousands of lives are saved each year in Europe by organ donation and transplantation. Many more could be saved if we could reduce the scantiness of organs": Markos Kyprianou, EU Health Commissioner, comments the note adopted by the Executive, offering measures to strengthen cooperation between the member states in this medical area. In addition, it announces the intention of developing "a directive laying down quality and safety regulations for such donations". According to the Cypriot Commissioner, "a European donor card and common regulations would give added value to the national efforts that tend to ensure a sufficient number of organs" are explanted from dead persons. The Executive’s proposals include the creation of the "explantation and transplantation coordinator" in every European hospital. To corroborate its assumptions, the EU Commission published the results of a survey by Eurobarometro, stating that "56% of the population are willing to donate their organs after death, but this figure rises to 77% for people who have discussed the issue within their families". 81% of the population agree on the introduction of a donor card, "but so far only 12% of them have one".
