Secretariat News Spring 2009

We are delighted to announce two new additions to the EPHA team from March this year. Luiza Bara has joined EPHA as Head of Policy, having previously headed up the policy team at the European Youth Forum. Tina Blain has also joined EPHA as Membership and Network Officer, on secondment from the North West of England Health Office in Brussels. We would like to welcome both Luiza and Tina.

This month we are also saying goodbye to Caroline Bollars, who is leaving EPHA for a twelve month placement at the WHO in Copenhagen as Technical Officer working on nutrition. We would like to congratulate Caroline on her appointment and wish her all the best for the next twelve months.

EPHA working meetings

On 27 February, EPHA attended the Working Group of the Civil Society Contact Group on the organisation of an Exhibition at the European Parliament in October 2009 in order for MEPs to meet Civil Society Organisations. To read more about the Elections and EPHA’s actions, click here.

On 9 to 13 March, EPHA held its Introductory Week to the Training Programme for Young Health Professionals. In 5 days, participants got a better understanding of the EU and the role of advocacy organisations; had the chance to meet with key stakeholders in Brussels and participated in two interactive sessions. To read more, please click here.

On 11 March, EPHA participated in the follow up of meeting of the Parliamentary Intergroups’ Presidents. The future of Intergroups after the elections this summer is still very uncertain and participants of that meeting decided to take action to get clarification from the Parliament. For further information, click here.

EPHA working groups

On 11 February and 11 March 2009, EPHA organised whole day meetings starting with a Special Interest Group on Health Determinants, followed by a Policy Coordination Meeting and ended with a Special Interest Group on Health Systems for its members. The minutes of the Special Interest Groups and Policy Coordination Meeting are available at the EPHA website/members only section. More information on the SIGs can be found at:

EPHA Health Systems SIG: Agendas and Minutes EPHA Health Determinants SIG: Agendas and Minutes

On 19 March 2009, EPHA held a Working Group on the EPHA response to the European Commission’s Consultation on the Green Paper on the European Workforce for Health and the Patients’ Rights Directive. The aim of the meeting was to build consensus on the key issues raised by the Green Paper and discussing advocacy actions around the Patients Rights Directive in the second European Parliament Plenary session in April 2009. The minutes from this meeting can be found here.

EPHA, your ’eyes and ears’ in Brussels

On 29-30 January 2009, EPHA staff participated at the kick-off conference organised by the Social Platform, the EEB and ETUC in order to collect ideas and generate agreement among civil society organisations for a green and social agenda as an input to the priority objectives of the new Commission in 2009. Find the conference report here.

On Friday 6 February 2009, EPHA attended the third meeting of the EU Health Portal editorial board. EPHA presented the NGO mapping project to the board and took part in discussions on the possibilities of uses such as social networking and video conferencing through the database. The day was an interesting look at the running and the progress of the EU Health Portal website. The full report can be found here.

On 9 February, EPHA attended a press briefing organised by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) to mark the release of the updated road safety performance index. Please read the full article here.

On 10 February 2009, EPHA had the possibility to participate in the Advisory group on Fruit and Vegetable from DG Agriculture. Topic on the agenda for EPHA was the implementation of the School Fruit Scheme with presentations from experts highlighting good practices in Member States and the scope of the School Fruit Scheme. EPHA raised issues with the evaluation of the Scheme and the links with Public Health, cooperation with DG Sanco.

On Tuesday 10 February 2009 EPHA listened to the consideration of amendments on the Patients Rights Directive in the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament. The debate was very similar to previous debates on the Directive and no new positions where revealed. The Greens and GUE/NL are very against the PRD and everyone else apart from the a few PES MEPs where in favour of the directive with a few amendments.

On 11-12 February, EPHA attended the workshop on "Electromagnetic fields and Health: Science and Policy to address public concerns" organised by DG SANCO. The workshop aimed at generating conclusions that help orient the EU policy process regarding electromagnetic fields. In addition, this meeting was a good opportunity for EPHA to identify possible partners interested in policies impacting on health.

On 16 February 2009, EPHA attended the ENVI Committee debate on Food Information to Consumers. Please find a meeting report here.

On Tuesday 17 February 2009, EPHA attended the European Voice Health-Check Debate: "Access to treatments: which rights for patients?" The debate was lively and interesting but the subject matter was chiefly focussed on Health Technology assessments and little interest was paid to patient’s rights.

On Tuesday 17 February 2009, EPHA attended the ENVI Committee in the European Parliament to listen to an exchange of view between MEPs and Gunther Verheugan, European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry. The exchange of view was interesting with many different views being shared and the Commissioner saying that health is the number one priority of DG Enterprise and Industry. To read the full report please click here.

On 24 February, EPHA attended the Commission’s conference on ’Social Fairness in Sustainable Development - A Green and Social Europe’. This conference made clear that still needs to be done in order to define social fairness as part of sustainable policies. To read EPHA Report, click here.

On 5-6 March 2009, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) organised their 9th meeting of the EFSA Stakeholder Consultative Platform in Brussels. EFSA’s Executive Director, Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle gave an update to the Platform on progress since the last meeting in October 2008. Scientific issues for discussion included the annual zoonoses report, the evaluation of flavouring substances and the latest opinions on animal health and welfare. Other items on the agenda were EFSA’s approach to public consultations on its scientific outputs, its International Strategy and Risk Communication activities. The next EFSA Stakeholder Consultative meeting will take place in June 2009.

On 16 March 2009, EPHA attended the ’Café Crossfire’ evening debate organised by Friends of Europe on: "What can the EU do to sharpen its innovative edge in pharmaceuticals?". The debate revealed the views of different stakeholders on their vision towards the new Commission of 2010-2014 in pharmaceuticals. Discussions took place on investments in Europe, how EU policies could favour innovations and generic competition.

On 17 March, EPHA attended the launch of the new ETUI Report on "Assessing the Lisbon Strategy - A benchmarking". The 2000-2010 Lisbon Strategy coming to an end, it is time to assess what has been done and not so far. For further information, please click here.

EPHA health advocacy

On 28 January, EPHA attended and gave a presentation to a meeting in Paris organised by Medecins du Monde. The meeting marked the launch of the Averroes Project, addressing the healthcare rights of undocumented migrants living and working in Europe. Please find a meeting report here

On 3 March 2009, EPHA participated in the final policy conference of the STACS (Science, Technology and Civil Society) project on mainstreaming societal engagement in research issues.The primary purpose of this meeting was to present the principal findings and recommendations of the European STACS project. More information can be found at the EPHA website

On Friday 6 March 2009, EPHA attended the Health Professionals Crossing Borders (HPCB) Meeting in Dublin. The HPCB is a voluntary initiative of health professional regulators across Europe, to read the full meeting report please click here.

On 25 March 2009, EPHA attended the European Commission conference on the Pharmaceutical Forum’s outcomes and future. The conference was full of patient organisations, industry representatives and other key stakeholders in Europe. It was of key importance for EPHA to attend the conference to understand the key stakeholders’ positions on Pharmaceuticals. The full report is available here

On 26 March 2009, EPHA was a speaker at a hearing organised by the University of Ghent on the new proposed EU Regulation: Food information to Consumers and Nutrition and Health Claims. The goal of the hearing was to inform public health nutritionists, dietitians and students about the changes in the EU regulatory field on Nutrition information.