Newsletter August 2006

*UPDATED* The Revised "Television Without Frontiers" Directive - the public health concerns

A proposal to update the EU’s 1989 "TV without Frontiers" Directive, to keep pace with rapid market developments in Europe’s audiovisual sector, was tabled by the European Commission in December 2005. Among other things, it will regulate advertising on television. On 13 December 2005, after several public consultations, the European Commission adopted the legislative proposal for the revision of the “Television Without Frontiers” Directive (Directive 97/36/EC). The (...)

*UPDATED* Towards banning junk food advertising? The UK debates

*UPDATED with the results of the consultations:* The British media regulator OFCOM ruling bans junk food advertising during programmes targeted at under-16s. However, health advocates feel these restrictions are not enough. The debate is closely linked with European revision of the Television Without Frontiers Directive. After extensive research and public consultation, Ofcom, have put forward restrictions which are intended to limit children’s exposure to television advertising of (...)

*Updated*Promotion of healthy food in Latvia’s schools

The Latvian government has introduced thougher limits to the availability of unhealthy foods at schools and kindergardens by establishing nutrient profiles. Existing health and safety legislation regarding schools and kindergardens, introduced by the Ministry of Health, has been amended to include reference to the availability of junk food in these settings. According to recent data, the food for sale in educational institutions has become more and more unhealthy. As a direct consequence, (...)

*UPDATED* Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative

**UPDATED with EPHA response** The long awaited Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative has been adopted in May 2006. The Green Paper aims to strengthen etchics rules for EU policy-makers and the estimated 15,000 lobbyists, NGOs and other pressure groups who seek to influence them in Brussels. In a Nutshell... The European Commission adopted the Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative on 3 May 2006. The European Transparency Initiative aims to strengthen etchics rules (...)

European Commission Reclaims Millions from Member States...Again

Just a couple of months ago, in August 2006, the European Commission found that a total of €161.9 million of EU farm money was misspent by Member States and must be reimbursed. Now in October 2006 it appears that the Commission has decided to recover a much larger figure of money. The revised total of €317.3 million is almost twice the original sum. Similar to the August fiasco, the money will be recovered because of inadequate control procedures or non-compliance with EU (...)

*UPDATED* The WHO seeks views on alcohol consumption

**Updated with the EPHA response and a model response for other NGOs.* The World Health Organisation is seeking views and opinions of stakeholders on health problems related to alcohol consumption. The deadline for answers is the 15 September 2006. The WHO invites academic institutions, research departments, professional associations, NGOs and representatives of the industry, trade and agricultural sectors to express their opinion on the type of interventions that are needed at nationale, (...)

EPHA’s project: Building the public health community across Europe

In response to DG SANCO’s call for proposals under the EU Public Health Programme, EPHA submittted a major project proposal in May 2003 entitled ’Building the public health community across Europe’. EPHA carried out this project in partnership with the following organisations: EPHA Environment Network (EEN) Open Society Institutes Network: Public Health Programme Civic Alliance Latvia (CAL) The Netherlands Institute for Long Term Care - Vilans The Royal Society (...)

The EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health - An Insider’s Perspective

Obesity is one of the most serious health challenges facing Europe today. European Union (EU) citizens are exercising too little and eating too much - too much energy, too many calories, too much fat and sugar, and salt. The main consequence is a sustained, acute EU-wide increase in overweight and obesity. The increase is particularly severe for children and adolescents. The EU has an important role to play in containing or reversing the current trend. EU policy affects food safety, (...)

EMIP Project partners meeting, Tallinn, Estonia, 22-23 September

The country partners and Consortium members of the project EMIP (Implementation of mental health promotion and prevention policies and strategies in EU member states and applicant countries) will gather on 22 and 23 September in Tallinn, Estonia, for a final project meeting. The project brings together eight European networks and twelve national partners committed to sharing models of good practice on mental health promotion and prevention of mental ill-health. The final meeting in (...)

Agoras to increase dialogue between citizens and the European Parliament

European Parliamentarians are considering creating regular ’agoras’, or fora for citizens to debate draft laws, in an effort to bring citizens closer to the EU. The move follows rejection of Europe’s proposed Constitutional Treaty in 2005. The push for ’agoras’ was initiated by the parliament’s vice president, French Green MEP Gerard Onesta. Under his proposal, the parliament would organise five or six fora per year, with a total of 1,800 participants (...)