council of the european union

Policy responses to the economic crisis – a shift towards investing in health?

[EPT] Fund for European Aid - European Fund - Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (updated on 18 March)

Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived The European Commission (DG Employment) has proposed to set up a European Aid Fund to help the most deprived persons in the EU. A successor to the Food Aid to the Most Deprived, this new Fund would support member state schemes not only by providing food aid to the most deprived people, but also clothing and other essential goods to homeless people and materially-deprived children (such as shoes, soap and shampoo). The proposal is yet to be (...)

Council of the EU discusses General Data Protection Regulation

The Justice and Home Affairs Council met on Friday 8 March to debate the latest Council discussion paper, which asked member states for their positions and concerns regarding two main elements of the GDPR - the use of a risk-based approach and the need to provide flexibility for the public sector. The meeting was chaired by Mr Alan Shatter, Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence and opened with a presentation by Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, (...)

Council conclusions on the Annual Growth Survey 2013

The council has presented the conclusions on the Annual Growth Survey 2013. The Conclusions’ first part focuses on the 2013 European Semester; the second part analyses fiscal and macroeconomic policy consolidation with special attention on restoring lending to the economy and promoting growth and competitiveness. Finally, the last part shows how to mobilise EU level growth drivers. The Council has stated that the main priorities in the current economic situation should be reviving (...)

[EPT] Car noise pollution - new EU regulation - sound level of motor vehicles

Sound level of motor vehicles In December 2011, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation aimed at tightening noise emissions standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses. To become law, the regulation now needs approval by the Parliament and member states. Vehicle noise standards were last updated in 1996, so were long overdue. More than 200 million European citizens (one in three) are regularly exposed to traffic noise levels that put their health at risk. One in (...)

Next presidential trio - what’s there for agriculture and food?

FOODSTUFFS The three Presidencies will work together to ensure a high level of food safety, taking into account the work conducted by the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius and the essential role of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to carry risk assessments as part of authorisation procedures. They will ensure the adoption of the proposed regulation on food intended for infants and young children and on food for special medical purposes, aimed at replacing the current legal regime on (...)

Agriculture Council debates a new European food model

During the last AGRIFISH Council of 28-29 November, the Austrian delegation supported by Latvia presented a document proposing a New European Food Model. The proposal supports a holistic approach for the food chain centred around the principle of sustainability and takes into account "food security and safety, quality, regionality, diversity, value and appreciation of food". The document presented by the Austrian delegation to the AGRIFISH Council is a result of a joint workshop organised (...)

Council of the EU discusses Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health

The Council of the EU configuration for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers (EPSCO) met on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 December 2012. During its deliberations, it discussed the European Commission’s proposal for a Decision on serious cross-border threats to health, which is currently awaiting adoption by the full plenary of the European Parliament. The Commission proposal seeks to extend the mandate of the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS) to cover all serious (...)

EPHAC Open Letter to the AGRI Council - recognise a public health dimension of agriculture and rural development.

As the Agriculture Council gathers in Brussels on 28-29 November 2012 to debate the Common Agriculture Policy legislative proposals, the European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC) - of which EPHA is a member - sent a message to the Ministers to urge them to recognise a public health dimension of European food, farming and rural development policy. Brussels, 27 November 2012 Dear Ministers, On November 28 and 29 2012 at the AGRI Council meeting in Brussels, you will be (...)

Civil Society Contact Group writes to EU Council for an EU Budget that meets peoples’ needs and EU responsabilities

The extraordinary November Summit will focus solely on the EU Budget. Heads of State will defend the budget lines that their countries receive funds from. In this context, members of the Civil Society Contact Group call for a re-prioritisation of EU funds to where they have the biggest impact on the environment, extreme poverty, and people living in Europe. The 22-23 November European Council is a crucial summit for ensuring that the next MFF delivers adequate financing for sustainable (...)