Europe 2020

[Save the date] EPHA 4th Annual Conference 4-5 September 2013, Brussels

On 4 and 5 September 2013 the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) will celebrate 20 years of helping shape Europe’s public health. EPHA is using this milestone as an opportunity to look at how we can foster an EU that is coherent in its decisions, in terms of fostering the health and well-being of people living in Europe. Brave New World: Inclusive Growth and Well-Being or Vested Interests and Lost Generations? (Venue: The International Association Centre (IAC) 40, Rue (...)

EPHA briefing: Health in the Europe 2020 Strategy

The Europe 2020 Strategy was launched in 2010 to promote ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’. It sets targets for employment, innovation, climate and energy policy, education and social inclusion, most of which are in some way related to health policies and priorities. For example, public health has clear implications for work hours, labour force participation, early retirement, and health and safety at work, and these factors impact on health. In the Annual Growth Survey (...)

Join proposal to support Recommendations on Child Poverty & Well-being

An Ad hoc group including ATD fourth World, Caritas Europa, Coface, Eurochild, EAPN, Eurodaconia and PICUM have sent a letter to the László Andor, European Commissioner responsible for employment, social affairs and inclusion, calling to better fight child poverty and promote child well-being. The letter has proposed set of guidelines on how to achieve more effective implementation of the Recommendation on Child Poverty and Well-being, by engaging stakeholders and government on local, (...)

[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 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 (...)

Involvement of civil society organisations crucial to effectively run EU funds, says EU-Commission

The European Commission responds to a civil society open letter by assuring its determination to defend the objectives of the European Code of Conduct on Partnership. In November 2012 the Platform of European Social NGOs sent an open letter to the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission supporting the proposal on the Partnership principle in the regulation on structural funds. The letter voiced concerns on a existing trend towards weakening participation of socio-economic and (...)

[Event] Child Health Research - the Key to a Healthier European Society Date

The RICHE and CHICOS projects, together with TACTICS and EURO-PERISTAT are hosting a joint meeting to celebrate European child health research, and launch their reports in Dublin this May. Needless to say, you all are invited! Join leading researchers and practitioners in child health, policy makers, advocates, and children, to help shape the future of child health research in Europe. Event’s flyer - pass it on to your colleagues! The Meeeting This international conference is (...)

[EPHA Open Letter] to EPSCO Council - Boosting investment in health and sustainable development

EPHA has published an open letter to the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO). Based on the recently released Annual Growth Survey (AGS) for 2013, the letter makes recommendations aimed at boosting investment in health and sustainable development. On February 28, EPSCO Council met to discuss the AGS and formulate recommendations towards the EU Spring Council of March. The meeting outcome has great impact, not only on EU guidance, but also on national (...)

[Assessment] Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative: European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion

Within the context of a comprehensive assessment of the state of play of the Europe 2020 strategy and its flagship initiatives, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) has started preparing a survey on the ’European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion’, as seen from a regional perspective. The result of this survey will feed into a Conference on the same topic that the CoR will hold on 29 May 2013 in Brussels. The Conference ’European platform against poverty’ (...)

Ageing populations- Council conclusions on the sustainability of public finances

After the economic and financial affairs Council meeting, the Council has stated that in order to fight the economic and financial crisis and enhance sustainable growth, EU Member States have to ensure progress towards long-term fiscal sustainability of public finances. Further implementations of structural reforms should be done in accordance with the Europe 2020 strategy. According to positive developments related to life expectancy, more attention has to be paid to ageing population (...)