Welcome to the April 2008 edition of the EPHA Newsletter.
April was a busy month for health, not only with the packed policy agenda in Brussels (see this month’s articles on the Alcohol Forum, conference on Health literacy and others) but also as health issues were consistently making headlines across Europe.
The developing food crisis is hitting Europe as well as other continents and this has provoked a number of responses, from protectionism in some corners, fierce criticism of agricultural policy in others and and angry reactions to bio-fuels. One thing is clear, at a time of high food prices it is the poorest who suffer the most whether they live in Europe or Africa, and affordable food is a distant luxury for many.
Food was hitting headlines for other reasons also this month, as the battle on GMOs continued in Brussels. The decision on the approval of the Amflora potato, suspected to increase anti-biotic resistance in humans, was delayed until next year although that did not prevent the manufacturer taking out paid slots in the Brussels and international media insisting the Commission approve immediately. NGO campaigners reacted furiously to the lobbying by industry, and were successful in preventing immediate adoption, but the Commission was again unable to show leadership by rejecting the approvals outright despite the scientific concerns and rejection from Member States. The story continues as this is bounced back to EFSA yet again.
The other main story in Brussels was the voluntary register for lobbyists. Civil society groups are disappointed at some of the weak proposals being put forward and are working hard to insure that loopholes are plugged and the process increases in transparency. The scandal peaked as it emerged that an industry lobbying group was organising lobbying activities from offices within the European Parliament building itself and the Parliament has promised tougher action as a result. As this edition went to print a suggestion had been put in to grant lawyers immunity from the register of lobbyists. So far NGOs are very unimpressed, and there is more hard work ahead.
Finally we are delighted to draw your attention to this month’s Spotlight on Members which includes Europa Donna, the International Aids Vaccine Initiative and the French National Association for Alcohol Addiction.
Read all the online articles of our Newsletter for April 2008
EPHA members can find the following new information in the Members Only section:
Please note that if an EPHA member would like to highlight their activities in the EPHA Newsletter, the deadline to submit a news item is Friday 23 May 2008. Please send your items to the EPHA Secretariat
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