Although most party’s were receptive to EPHA input, the only European party preparing its manifesto at this time is the European Socialists PES with a broad European Manifesto->http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en].
EPHA was given the opportunity to present three main public health goals in the PES Manifesto document. The Manifesto is grouped under four main commitments:
Save our planet;
New Social Europe;
European democracy & diversity;
EU in the world.
Most European Platforms have also been able to contribute to the Socialist manifesto although currently EPHA is the only public health contribution.
EPHA welcomed the PES challenge for a new Social Europe because current policies are not preventing inequalities from growing each day.
For EPHA, the creation of a new Social Europe must include:
- setting health inequality targets;
- integrating public health into other policy areas;
- involving people in community development approaches to health promotion;
- ensuring and improving access for all to healthcare;
- monitoring and evaluation of policy;
- health impact assessment of policy;
dissemination of good practice and research
Political acknowledgement, priority and target setting is crucial for changing current debate in Europe. Reducing inequalities in health has to be seen as an important objective for health and social policy.
Without political commitment, change is unlikely; with it, change is possible.
Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) have a clear and potentially powerful role in bringing about local and national partnerships to reduce health inequalities.
European Democracy is a fundamental principle of the EU and the basis of all our societies. EPHA emphasises that the European Parliament has an important democratic role to play and should continue its work to ensure the quality delivered by policy makers, particularly elected representatives to hold the EU Institutions to account by ensuring they act in the public interest.
Under Save Our Planet, EPHA believes that Europe needs to consider its leadership position globally in tackling climate change. The next European Parliament will see huge challenges, emergency challenges in climate change, energy and food prices. The European Parliament needs to be bold and decisive on a micro and macro level in particularly in tackling Europe’s Industrial and Agricultural policies. Not only do these policies play a major part in the security of our planet but they have a major impact on public health.
To read EPHA’s contribution and input from other stakeholders please visit the Manifesto’s website
EPHA will continue to work with all political parties to ensure that public health remains high on the political agenda in 2009.
