February 2010 Newsletter

Welcome to the February 2010 Newsletter

After months of delay and a vast reshuffle of competence, the European Commission was approved by the Parliament and its work under this term finally started. The current period is crucial, with discussions on the next 10 years of Europe - our vision and strategy to achieve the vision - well underway, and Brussels is vying to ensure the plans reflect Europe’s needs and objectives. Commissioner Dalli started his term with a decisive and divisive decision and a key public commitment - to approve the genetically modified BASF potato and the promise to reassess the ’Information to Patients’ proposal. He also demonstrated his awareness and commitment to stakeholder dialogue, with an appearance at the Consumer and Patient Working Party at his newest agency - the European Medicines Agency in London and moves towards further meetings with health NGOs in other settings.

There are small demonstrations of change throughout the Commission, and small signs that all is not ’business as usual’. Although many NGOs are unhappy with the EU2020 strategy, the new wind of green development and a social Europe are being felt through the corridors of power. Although competitiveness and innovation are looking to be the masters of the next 10 years, big business is finding that the ’good for big business, good for Europe’ mantra has appeared to have weakened. Some member states appear to be showing alarm at this development, and the battle has not yet been won. There is a need for all those in Brussels who favour the more responsible and carefully thought through approach - even if they are unhappy with some of the details - to put their differences aside and vocally stand behind the move towards a Europe that delivers better outcomes for all its citizens, including its most vulnerable.

Monika Kosinska

Secretary General

Brussels

Read all the online articles from our February 2010 Newsletter

EPHA members can find the following new information in the Members Only section :
 EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health - 11 February 2010
 EPHA Summary from the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health
 Call for expression of interest in EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Working Party
 2010 Executive Committee & Finance Subcommittee Meeting Dates, Minutes
 New Governance Working Group begins review work
 Event on Food Information to Consumers

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 19 March 2010. Please send your items to the EPHA Secretariat