children and adolescents

EPHA Response to the Commission Consultation on Drugs

EPHA responded to the Consultation on the European Commission Communication "Towards a Stronger European Response to Drugs”. Drug use constitutes a serious threat. It represents an obstacle to human development and achievement, a public health threat but also a threat to economies and political stability. In its response to the Consultation, EPHA highlights the following issues of importance when tackling drug use: acting on the drug supply is crucial, so is acting on the drug (...)

EPHA express its disappointment in an Open Letter to the Polish Government on abandoned proposal to raise VAT on unhealthy food products.

In response to the news announcing that the Polish Parliament proposal to increase the current value added tax (VAT) from 8 to 23% on a series of unhealthy products, had been abandoned, EPHA has sent an Open Letter to the Polish Government. Having consistently advocated for actions to reduce the level of obesity around Europe, EPHA expressed its sincere disappointment to such a missed opportunity. EPHA Open Letter to the Polish Prime Minister and Polish Ministers of Health, Agriculture and (...)

EPHA priorities for the 7th Environment Action Programme

EPHA sent comments to the European Parliament draft own initiative report on the 7th Environment Action Programme to ensure that the European Parliament position will take into account fostering a health-promotion physical environment as part of the future Environment Action Programme of the EU. Fostering a health-promotion physical environment as one of the core determinants of health and well-being at population level, remains one of the key policy and advocacy aims of EPHA. At the (...)

Can Europe’s new Quality Framework for SGI protect the social dimension of the Single Market?

On 20 December 2011, the European Commission has adopted a Quality Framework for Services of General Interest (SGI) in the EU, which is to guarantee that high quality services can be provided in an efficient and cost-effective manner in relevant areas such as health care, child care, care for the elderly and social housing. The Quality Framework is meant to reinforce the social dimension of the Single Market. It is hoped that it will help to take better account of the specific nature of (...)

Priorities of the Danish Presidency in the area of Agriculture and Food

With the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union taking over as of January 2012, the Danish Minister of Agriculture spoke to both the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the EC DG Agriculture at their meetings on 23-25 January 2012. This article presents the most important issues to be dealt in the field of agriculture and food in the next 6 months. Work Programme of the Danish Presidency - Agriculture and Fisheries Unveiling the Danish (...)

Commission adopts proposal for public procurement overhaul

Pursuant to the public consultation that took place in the spring of 2011, the European Commission adopted its proposals on the revision of the public procurement Directives on 20 December 2011. The revision is part of an overall programme to thoroughly modernise public tendering in the European Union in support of the Europe 2020 strategy. The modernisation programme includes the revision of Directive 2004/17/EC (procurement in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors) and (...)

OECD report on Mental Health and Well-being in the workplace.

The new report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) "Sick on the Job? Myths and Realities about Mental Health ar Work" takes a view on mental health and well-being from a socio-economic perspective and presents recommendations on greater equity and integration of mental health concerns into employment and social policies. The report states that mental illness is widespread, with one in five people of working age suffering from a mental disorder of mostly (...)

EPHA Briefing on Children’s Health

This EPHA Briefing on Children’s Health aims to provide Members with an overview of important policy fields where such actions could be taken to adequately, timely, in line with "health in all policies" and with a lifecourse approach deal with social determinants of health inequalities in European societies. Children represent the present and the future of our societies, and to guarantee their healthy and optimal development ought to be a priority. Early childhood is a critical time. (...)

Digital Agenda: New coalition strives to keep children safe online

Keeping children safe online is a key commitment of the Digital Agenda. Hence the European Commission put together a coalition of 28 leading companies on 1 December to help protect children on the Internet. The founding members include big names from technology and media including operating systems providers, mobile phone and gaming manufacturers, telecom providers and social networks. The new coalition, which was formed following a call by European Commission Vice-President Nellie Kroes (...)

European Charter for Health Equity - open for signatures through 2012

After being officially launched on 9 December 2010, the European Charter for Health Equity will be open for signatures for a year (end 2011). We invite all relevant stakeholders, organisations and institutions to sign the Charter. We count on your active involvement! We have just over 160 signatories on our list of supporters! The European Charter for Health Equity has been opened for signatures until the end of 2012. To sign the European Charter for Health Equity please follow the (...)