Newsletter November 2009

18 New MEPs in the European Parliament

In December 2011, 18 new MEPS joined the European Parliament, when changes to a protocol in the Lisbon treaty came into force. Twelve countries are to gain one or more representatives – Spain: 4; Austria, France, and Sweden: 2; Bulgaria, Italy, Malta, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, and the UK: 1 The political affiliation of the new MEPs is 8 new members to the European People Party, 5 new members to the Socialist & Democrats Group, 2 new Members to the Green/EFA (...)

The new Health Article - Art 168 TFEU: What is at stake?

Public Health in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - the new name of the treaty on EU policies - will be addressed by Article 168, replacing the current one (article 152). Even though the general idea stays the same, some interesting changes both in terms of content and processes can be pointed out. Background The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December 2009. Article 168 TFEU- the new Health article Objectives and actions A as general comment, any reference (...)

November 2009 Newsletter

Welcome to the November 2009 Newsletter With the announcement of ’Barroso II’, all that remains between a new political leadership in Brussels is the Parliamentary hearings. The designated Commissioners are busy preparing for the scrutiny before the European Parliament, a gruelling three hour process where questions are mooted on potentially any topic within their portfolio. This is not the simple ’rubber stamp’ procedure that it may appear: Commissioners are (...)

EPHA Position on Counterfeit Medicines

On 8 December 2009, EPHA released its position on counterfeit medicines. This position is developed with the support of EPHA’s members, bringing together the views of the broad range of public health actors amongst our members. The paper is a contribution to the debate in the European Parliament and Council on the Falsified Medicines Directive from the so-called "Pharmaceutical package". The Need for New Legislation Patients safety and the access to high- quality medicinal products (...)

EMEA communication: New visual identity, web/e-mail address and organisation chart

This is a communication from the European Medicines Agency. The organisation will be introducing some visual identity, web/e-mail adresses and organisational chart changes shortly. New visual identity, web/e-mail addresses and organisation chart of the European Medicines Agency Communication to all Agency partners, stakeholders and the public. This communication is intended to inform all interested parties about several important changes the European Medicines Agency will be introducing (...)

First European Conference on Child Home Safety

On 2-3 November, EPHA participated in the European Child Home Safety Conference, hosted by RoSPA and the European Child Safety Alliance in Stratford-Upon-Avon, United Kingdom. The Conference welcomed experts of child home safety, within the European Union and beyond. The Conference started with a video from the Baroness Delyth Morgan, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Children, Schools and Families. She highlighted the key steps of the UK actions regarding child (...)

Policy Coordination Meetings 2010 (PCMs)

The dates for EPHA’s Policy Coordination Meetings in 2010 are available online now. To view them please read on. The minutes, agendas and supporting documents of the 2010 meetings will be displayed below as they are made available. Meetings usually take place from 12.30 to 15.00 at the EPHA office, Rue de Trèves 49-51, 1040 Brussels. Please find the dates for the PCM in 2010 below. 3 February 2010, the agenda is here, the draft minutes are available here. 4 March 2010, the final (...)

Preventing Obesity in Europe- EUROPREVOB Project

A representative from the EPHA Secretariat participated in the final meeting of the EURO-PREVOB project as a policy adviser. The meeting brought together project partners and advisers to discuss the work conducted to date and consider strategies for taking this work forward. The project aims to link scientific knowledge to policy making to reduce the burden of obesity in Europe. Partners involved in this project include the WHO Europe Office and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical (...)

EFSA Stakeholder Consultative Platform 11th Meeting

On 1-2 December 2009, EPHA participated in the first meeting of the newly-reformed European Food Safety Authority Stakeholder Consultative Platform in Parma. Points discussed over the course of the two-day meeting included the health claims assessments, EFSA’s risk assessments on GMOs, nanotechnology and the future of the Stakeholder Platform. The EFSA Management Board took a decision in July 2009 to renew the Stakeholder Consultative Platform, and EPHA was re-selected to represent (...)

2nd European Public Health Conference - EPHA holds three workshops

The EPHA Secretariat organised three workshops at the 2nd European Public Health Conference in Lodz, Poland. The workshops focused on the future of public health advocacy in Poland, tackling the wider determinants of health and translating research into policy. On 25 – 28 November 2009, the 2nd European Public Health Conference took place in Lodz, Poland. Over 800 participants attended the conference. Participants included health professionals, academics and representatives from the (...)