The Parliament

Inaugural meeting of the MEP Heart Group on 2 October 2007

On 2 October 2007, the MEP Heart Group held its inaugural meeting, with the support of the European Heart Network (EHN), in the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels.
The MEP Heart Group is co-chaired by Dr. Georgs Andrejevs MEP and Dr. Adamos Adamou MEP. It is made up of MEPs who have an interest in addressing Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in the EU and who are interested in contributing to initiatives that aim to reduce the burden of this disease. With over 40 members,the intent is to (...)

Health groups unite to condemn BAT event on social reporting in the European Parliament

On the 10 January 2007, the European Parliament hosted a British American Tobacco lobbying event where BAT presented information about its corporate social responsibility activities.
Many NGOs were invited to the stakeholder dialogue session as part of BAT’s 2006 Social Reporting process but most of them did not attend.
Before the holding of the event some Europe’s leading health organizations sent a letter of concern to the MEPs hosting the meeting in order to get it canceled.
Despite (...)

British Fluoridation Society calls for allowing the addition of fluorides to foods

Ahead of the vote by the Environment, Food Safety and Public health Committee of the European Parliament on a regulation on Food Additives scheduled on the 20-21 March 2006, the British Fluoridation Society calls for a strong stance to allow the addition of fluorides to foods.
According to the BFS, various amendments (23 and 24) if accepted, would prohibit the addition of fluorides to food and water.
The BFS argues that exposure to fluoride has been one of the main factors contributing to (...)

The role of nursing care in the European Social Model - Debate with MEPS

The European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN), EPHA member, organised an EU dialog on the role of nursing care within the European Social Model, in the European Parliament on the 28 February 2006.
The debate aimed to debate on nurses mobility between the Member States and accross continents (the US example) and how it can affect the quality of care and patient safety in the European Region. The results of the debate will contribute to the development of policies at European level. (...)

World AIDS Day 2004 : EPHA members in action

World AIDS Day 2004 focuses on women, girls, and HIV and AIDS. Figures show that globally females are becoming infected with HIV at a faster rate than males, a change from the early years of the pandemic.
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, UNAIDS and WHO launched the AIDS epidemic update 2004 on 23 November. With maps and regional summaries, the 2004 edition of the annual report provides the most recent estimates of the epidemic’s scope and human toll, explores new trends in the epidemic’s (...)

Conference : for a European drug policy

A conference "for a European drug policy", hosted by the Greens / European Free Alliance (EFA) group at the European Parliament on 17th September 2003 , was attended by EPHA staff. This conference was organised by Alima Boumedienne-Thiery MEP.
An EPHA member, Arnaud Watson-Simon, from AIDES, was one of the speakers.
The objective of this conference was to support the participation of civil society in the definition and promotion of a European drug policy.
The conference was divided into (...)

Conference on consumer protection and democracy : "the food case"

"The food case", a conference supported by the Greens & the European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) was held in the European Parliament on 18th September 2003.
The aim of the conference was to explore a strategy for consumer protection, and discuss how to improve the quality of food in Europe.
There was great emphasis that quality meant more than hygiene, but rather the culture of food.
The four themes for discussion were :
The precautionary principle or liability - two strategies for (...)

**Updated** MEPs emphasize health and environment with pesticide regulation

New EU legislation on pesticides was approved with amendments by the European Parliament on 23 October 2007. Parliament supported the ban on aerial pesticides and the prohibition of use of pesticides in buffer zones around water.
MEPs voted to revise the criteria and procedures for approving pesticides. The purpose of the legislation is to :
improve protection of health and the environment
support farming
reduce animal testing
boost competition among pesticide manufacturers.
No (...)

Halving road accidents by 2010 on top of the European Parliament’s agenda

The European Parliament has adopted on the 29 September 2005 a report and a resolution drafted by Ari Vatanen (EPP - FR) advocating for a comprehensive three-strand-approach to halving road accidents by 2010, targeting safer cars, safer drivers and safer roads.
The former rally champion’s report responds to the European Commission’s third “European Safety Action Programme : Halving the number of road accident victims in the European Union by 2010”, published in June 2003, in (...)

Better protection for workers against electromagnetic waves

On 30 March 2004 the European Parliament adopted a new Directive to protect the health and safety of workers against the dangers of exposure to electromagnetic fields.
The Parliament, at second reading adopted only 5 amendments to the Council’s common position - and these amendments are apparently acceptable to the Council. Member States will have four years to enact the Directive into national law.
The Directive lays down maximum values for exposure to electromagnetic fields to protect the (...)

Reducing heavy metals for better air quality

The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Consumer Policy considered a draft legislative proposal to regulate heavy metals in ambient air, called the 4th Daughter Directive on January 21, 2004, and adopted stricter binding limits than those proposed by the European Commission. These pollutants can have serious consequences on human health.
The rapporteur is Mr Hans Kronberger (Kronberger report, (COD030164 - COM(03)0423 - C5-0331/03). His report (...)

MEPs to decide which Committee should manage chemicals

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy of the European Parliament was due to hear an initial report drafted by the Committee’s vice-chairman, Guido Sacconi (PES, Italy) on 20 January 2004 on the proposed review of the EU chemicals legislation entitled ’REACH ’, but the hearing has been taken off the agenda by the chairperson of the Committee, Caroline Jackson (EPP-ED, UK)..
Some members of the EPP-ED group have called for the proposed legislation to be dealt (...)

Irish Environment Minister talks to EP

Mr Martin Cullen, Minister for Environment and Local Government of Ireland, exchanged views with the MEPs of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy on 20 January 2004.
The three environmental areas where the Irish presidency will be working are policy and legislation, input of Environmental Council and the effective participation of the EU in international environmental fora.
The legislative agenda of the Irish presidency will focus on combating the climate change, (...)

Greenhouse Gas Emission Allowance Trading

Jorge MOREIRA DA SILVA MEP (EPP-ED, P), for the Environment Committee, will be tabling a draft legislative resolution on greenhouse gas emission trading next 1st July.
EP’s press release

EP Plenary Vote on Pesticides

On 27 March 2003, the European Parliament voted on the Van Brempt report on the Commission’s Communication ’Towards a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides’.
But at the Plenary, MEPs failed to adopt requests of the Environment Committee, which were also NGO/EPHA demands, for an overall and indicative target for Member States of a 50% reduction of the treatment frequency in 10 years and an EU regulatory framework for taxes and/or levies on pesticides are concerned. MEPs (...)

Call to phase out phosphates in detergents

The European Parliament amended and tightened up the Commission’s text of a Regulation on detergents by including stricter conditions on derogations from biodegradability rules and clearer labelling for consumers. MEPs also took a stand on phosphates by urging the Commission to table a new legislative proposal specifically to phase out phosphates or restrict them to specific applications, three years after the Regulation takes effect.
The Parliament supported the rapporteur’s view (...)

EP prolongs ecopoint dispute

The Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament did not accept a deal agreed in the Council on 31 December 2002 on transit of heavy goods vehicles through Austria, the so-called "ecopoints" system.
A large majority of members across the political landscape of the EP approved four compromise amendments, which are in conflict with the Council decision in December.
The committee wants environmentally-friendly lorries to be promoted and older lorries (...)

EP Committee Votes for a Powerful Polluter Pays Principle

In January 2002, the Commission issued a proposal for a directive on environmental liability. The proposal aims to ensure that future environmental damage is paid by the polluter, and preferably prevented. The proposed directive covers three types of environmental damage : biodiversity, water and damage which causes serious potential or actual harm to public health via soil or sub-soil contamination. On 22 January 2003, the EP Environment Committee adopted its opinion on the draft directive (...)

European Parliament adopts an amended report on the EU alcohol strategy

On 5 September 2007 the European Parliament adopted an amended report on the EU alcohol strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm.
The report raises several issues including : labelling and warnings, binge-drinking, alcopops and reducing accidents caused by drinking and driving. The report was adopted by a large majority. To read the full dossier look at EPHA’s website.
EPHA welcomes that the rapporteur, Alessandro Foglietta, highlighted some of the important (...)

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 discussing current legislative issues. (...)

Law making in the Council to be more transparent

*Latest update : adoption by the European Parliament of David Hammerstein Mintz report calling to increase Council transparency*
The decision-making process in the European Council is often seen as not being transparent. The European Parliament, the European Ombudsman and the Civil Society Contact Group are acting to end secrecy and lack of transparency in the European Council decision-making processes.
The European Parliament campaign MEPs Chris Davies, Nigel Farage, Timothy Kirkhope, Jean (...)

MEP initiative for a Statute for a European Association

Five MEPs (Robert Navarro FR PES, Jean-Luc Bennahmias FR Greens/EFA, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou FR EPP-ED, Luigi Cocilovo IT ALDE and Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann FR GUE ) have presented a written declaration on the statute for a European association and the promotion of an active European citizenship.
If this declaration collects the signatures of half of European Parliament’s representatives, it will become a Parliament official position. This initiative comes timely with the debates on the Plan (...)

Debating the future of the EU with the European Parliament

On the 24-25 April 2006, the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament organises a forum with civil society organisations.
The objective is to debate on the future of the European Constitution in line with the ’reflection period’. It intends to discuss and define as well European values and priorities of the European Union.
Given that a high attendance is expected, the forum will take place in the hemicycle of the European Parliament.
Contact person : Margit Von Der Heyden (...)

**UPDATED** European Commission High Level Groups questioned by the European Parliament

**Updated with concerns of the European Parliament and the G10** On the 08 February 2006, the Greens/EFA, one of the political groups of the European Parliament, warned about the growing influence of corporate interests on the European policy-making processes.
The Greens/EFA and European Parliament position
The Greens/EFA political group has been aware of a list of invited participants to the "High level group on competitiveness, energy ane environment". This High level group will be (...)

Which health agenda for 2006 ?

The adoption of the European Commission (EC) overall work programme for 2006 gave the direction in which the EU would move in 2006. Prosperity, security, better regulation, transparency and the EU budget are the leading themes for 2006. Austria and Finland holds the rotating presidency.
Overall objectives and commitments of the EU
Although the achievement of the Lisbon Agenda will lead EU policies in the next 12 months, it should be noted that the Austrian and Finnish presidencies have set (...)

UPDATED - Health and Consumer Intergroup 2005

The Health and Consumer Intergroup of the European Parliament has been officially launched in June 2005.
The Intergroup dedicated website is available at www.hecointergroup.org ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION WILL BE DULY POSTED ON THE INTERGROUP WEBSITE
June meeting - New Health and Consumer Programme 2007-2013
The launch meeting took place on the 22 June 2005 from 14:00 to 15:00 in the European Parliament - Brussels - room ASP 1E3.
The Intergroup aims to provide the first opportunity for (...)

Environment Committee considers draft report on patient mobility

During its meeting of 15 March 2005, the European Parliament’s Committee for the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety discussed the draft report on patient mobility submitted by John Bowis (EPP, UK).
In his introductory statement, John Bowis stated that access to high-quality and timely health services is a fundamental right of every patient. In case when such services are not available in the home country, a patient should be allowed to receive treatment abroad and be reimbursed for (...)

European Parliament hearing on Constitutional Treaty

The Constitutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament organised last 25 November 2004 a hearing with civil society on the Constitutional Treaty.
The Civil Society Contact Group sent a letter to the Committee ahead of the hearing.
The letter calls for an amendment to the EP report which will strengthen the call for sufficient support to be made available for civil society organisations across the EU to engage their constituencies in ratification debates.
In addition to the joint (...)

Parliament hearing of Mr Markos Kyprianou (Health and Consumer Protection)

EPHA Members can consult the detailed document of the hearing here : "Oral questions and answers to Kyprianou in the Parliament"
Mr Markos Kyprianou, the Commissioner designate responsible for health and consumer protection, was the last member of Jose Manuel Barroso’s team interviewed by the European Parliament.
On 8 October 2004 he faced a joint hearing in front of the Committee of Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Committee of Internal Market and Consumer (...)

The European Parliament holds its constitutive meeting

The newly elected European Parliament begun its five-year term with a plenary session of 20-23 July in Strasbourg.
MEPs have approved the European Council’s nominee, former Portuguese Prime Minister José Durão Barroso, as the new president of the European Commission. In a secret ballot, Mr Barosso was endorsed by the majority of 413 out of 711 votes cast. The vote revealed a clear left-right cleavage within the Assembly. Whereas liberals, the centre-right EPP-ED and the far-right UEN (...)

Overview of European Parliament groups

The newly elected European Parliament numbers 732 representatives from all 25 EU Member States. In the 1999-2004 Parliament there were 7 political groups which are now being revised as a result of the electoral success or failure of certain parties. Most of the MEPs have already aligned themselves with one of the political groups.
More information about the composition and political approach of the groups can be found in the attached briefing (...)

EP Committees to change in the 2004-2009 Parliament

The Plenary of the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 29 January 2004 increasing the number of Committees from 17 to 20 for the next Parliamentary session of 2004 - 2009.
Some of the existing committees have been renamed, merged or separated.
The existing "Committee on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy" will become the "Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety."
A new Committee will deal with Internal Market and Consumer Protection.
A list of the (...)

Website launched on European Parliament Elections

The European Parliament has launched a new website about the elections which will be held across Europe on 10-13 June 2004.
The website includes lists of candidates, statistics about each country and an overview of the outgoing Parliament (1999 - 2004).
EP Elections website

Conference : Financing the Millenium Development Goals

The Socialist Group of MEPs is organising a conference on ’Financing the Millennium Development Goals’ to be held on Thursday 15th April 2004 in the European Parliament, Brussels.
The conference will explore progress towards the MDGs, where we are going wrong in our financing of the Goals, and what signals we need to send to governments in order to improve both the levels and delivery of financing and to achieve our aims.
The Conference will focus on three main themes :
Goal 6 : Combating (...)

EP Employment Committee votes on Working Time

The European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committe has adopted a report on the Working Time Directive and narrrowly voted to abolish the right to opt-outs.
The 1993 directive laying down a maximum 48 hour working week is coming up for review. The European Commission has embarked in recent weeks on a wide-ranging consultation exercise with the parties concerned.
The Committee adopted the own-initiative report by MEP Alejandro CERCAS ALONSO (PES, E) published in French which (...)

MEPs to vote on Bowis report on the European Centre for Disease Control

The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy adopted a draft report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation establishing a European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (COM(2003) 441 - C5-0400/2003 - 2003/0174(COD)).
The rapporteur was Mr. John Bowis MEP.
List of amendments to the draft reportto be voted on 21 January 2004.
For more information, please visit the Cordis (...)

September 2003, debate on the IGC in the EP

Last Wednesday 3rd September, the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasburg, dedicated one of its debates to the Convention for the Future of Europe.
Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (Chairman of the Convention), Romano Prodi (European Commission President) and the Italian Presidency, represented by Gianfranco Fini (Deputy Prime Minister) and Franco Frattini (Foreign Minister) dialogued with the MEPs about the Convention and the IGC.
Warning against changes to the 16-month work of the (...)

EP Changes Greenhouse Gas Trading Scheme

Last Wednesday, 2 July, the European Parliament paved the way for industry to trade greenhouse gas emission rights as of 2005.
The new rules will create an EU market in greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to protect the environment.
The proposal by the Commission to include all greenhouse gases and not just carbon dioxide, and to widen the range of industries covered by the new legislation was supported by the EP in the second reading of the new rules.
Please find attached the Report (...)

EP Gives Green Light to GMO Foods

Two crucial reports on Genetically Modified Organisms, debated last Tuesday 1 July by the European Parliament, will lead to lift Europe’s GM ban.
The two pieces of legislation, voted on 2 July, focus on tightening labelling laws for food containing genetically modified elements and providing rules for "co-existence" between GM and non-GM crops.
If given the go ahead in the Council the legislation could come into force this autumn.
Report on the Council common position for adopting a (...)

Berlusconi to Launch the Italian Presidency in Strasbourg

The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio BERLUSCONI, is due launch the Italian Presidency next 2nd July at the EP in Strasbourg.
Italy takes over from Greece for the second six months of the year.
The Presidency officially starts on 1 July 2003 and will run until the end of the year.
Italian EU Presidency Web Site online starting on 1 July 2003
More on the Italian Presidency’s Priorities in the Health Sector
Link to the European Parliament Press (...)

Final Review of the Greek Presidency at the EP

The Prime Minister of Greece, Costas SIMITIS, will make a statement reviewing the Greek Presidency next 1st July at the European Parliament.
The last six months have been highly eventful, with the Greek Presidency having to deal with a war in Iraq, the final negotiations and signing of the accession treaties, and overseeing the draft Constitutional Treaty.
More information at the EP’s (...)

EP Recommendation on Stock-farming and Damaging Substances

Karl Erik OLSSON (ELDR, S) will be putting forward a draft legislative resolution on prohibition of substances with hormonal or thyrostatic action and beta-agonists in stock-farming.
MEPs in the committee argue that the precautionary principle should be applied to safeguard consumers’ health in view of the perceived danger posed by this substance, which may be carcinogenic.
However, they say that exceptions could be made for the treatment of non-farm animals, i.e. animals not used for (...)

EP’s Proposal to Amend the Directives on Public Supply, Service and Works Contracts

As part of a joint debate on the public sector markets, Stefano ZAPPALA (EPP-ED, I), for the Legal Affairs Committee, is calling for further changes to the Council’s common position on new public procurement rules.
One amendments calls for 12% and 20% increases respectively in the thresholds for contracts and connected service contracts directly subsidised by the contracting authorities by more than 50%, in the areas of civil engineering and building work for hospitals, sport, recreation (...)

European Parliament Takes on 162 New Members

On 1 May 2003, the European Parliament grew to 788 members, when 162 members from the 10 new member states joined the house as observers.
Parliamentary observers from accession countries arrive at EP
Enlargement and observers

April 2003, EP Sets Up Working Groups to Influence Final Phase of EU Convention

The European Parliament has set up working groups to examine the draft Constitution, drawn up by the Convention’s Praesidium, in order to exert its influence on the final compromise. The aim of this exercise is to arrive at compromise proposals in the European Parliament on the various parts of the draft treaty which can serve as a basis for a broad compromise within the Convention.
"We will thereby send a strong political signal which will affirm Parliament’s position", said the chair (...)

Producers Obliged to Neutralise Dangerous Substance in Cement

The European Parliament adopted on 27th of March a new Directive, which considerably improves health conditions for construction workers by obliging cement producers to neutralise dangerous chromium VI compounds in cement. Chromium VI in cement induces sensitisation and causes a serious allergic dermatitis, wide-spread professional diseases among construction workers. Paul Lannoye, Green Member of the Environment Committee authored the (...)

EP votes on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Programme

The European Parliament plenary session voted on a report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision on Community participation in a research and development programme aimed at developing new clinical interventions to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis through a long-term partnership between Europe and the developing countries, undertaken by a number of Member States and Norway.
The Greens/EFA Group Website
The Greens/EFA Group Press (...)

Parliament Votes against Cosmetic Tests on Animals

The European Parliament in Strasbourg approved a new law on 15 January to ban the sale of virtually all animal-tested cosmetic products in the European Union from 2009. Following ten years of delicate negotiations and strong lobbying from the cosmetics industry, animal testing, currently only forbidden in the UK, Belgium, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, will be outlawed in all fifteen member states. The new legislation will also close a loophole which allows the sale of beauty and (...)

Parliament Committee Opposes Advertising for Breast Implants

The European Parliament’s Public Health Committee, in its vote on 22 January, urged EU Member States to ban direct advertising to the public for breast implants and opt for balanced information instead, including potential risks. On 22 January the Parliament’s Public Health Committee unanimously adopted a report by rapporteur Catherine Stihler (PSE, UK) on the Commission Communication on Community and national measures in relation to breast implants.
European Parliament, News Report (...)

Election of the European Ombudsman

Mr. Nikiforos Diamandouros was duly elected European Ombudsman by the Members of the European Parliament in plenary session in Strasbourg on 15 January 2003, he will take office on 1 April 2003 after Mr Söderman retires and will serve until the end of the current parliamentary term in 2004. Mr Jacob Söderman was elected the first European Ombudsman in June 1995 and re-elected in 1999. Amongst Mr Söderman ’s work, his participation in the European Convention on the Future of Europe has been (...)

European Parliament resolution on banning trans-fatty acids in foods

4 MEPs have decided to take a leading role in combating trans-fatty acids in food and are urging for a ban on the use of trans-fatty acids in food.
John Bowis (EPP-ED UK), Linda McAvan (PES UK), Dan Jorgensen (PES DK) and Jim Higgins (EPP-ED IRL) have tabled a written declaration (attached) to the European Parliament to reduce and ultimately ban the use of Trans Fatty Acids in food. A written declaration has to be signed by half of the Members of the European Parliament before being (...)

Labelling of ingredients of foodstuffs tightened up

MEP Christa KLASS (EPP-ED, D) member of EP’s Environment and Health Committee, tabled on 1st July 2003 a draft legislative resolution broadly approving the Council’s common position (see timeline of the process below) for amending the Labelling Directive (2000/13/EC) as regards indication of the ingredients present in foodstuffs.
The Council’s commom position had incorporated many of the changes demanded by the EP at first reading. However, Ms Klass included an amendment on the list of (...)

Genetically Modified Food and Feed

Karin SCHEELE (PES, A), for the Environment Committee, in a draft legislative resolution on genetically modified food and feed, aims to amend Council’s common position next 1st July.
EP’s press release
Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a European Parliament and Council regulation on genetically modified food and feed (5204/3/2003 - C5 ?0133/2003 - (...)

EP’s Report : CAP and Women in Rural Areas

In the light of the mid-term review of the Common Agriculture Policy, the Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities is putting forward an own-initiative report by Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU (EPP-ED, GR) underlining the importance to improve equal opportunities for women in agriculture and the rural environment.
It is crucial to improve the general living conditions for women in rural areas, for example by providing better public transport facilities, childcare, and health (...)

Traceability and Labelling of GMOs

Antonios TRAKATELLIS (EPP-ED, GR), for the Environment Committee, will be tabling a draft legislative resolution on the traceability and labelling of GMOs next 1st July.
MEPs in the committee are opposed to the Council’s wish to allow precise descriptions of mixtures of GMOs in a single product to be replaced by a "declaration of use" by the operator.
Pre-packaged products produced from GMOs should, say MEPs in the committee, be described as such, using the words "This product is produced (...)

Sweeteners in the Spotlight

On 10 April 2003 the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Commission to tighten proposed restrictions on cyclamates in soft drinks.
The resolution, adopted by 440 votes to 20, with 13 abstentions, extends the new limit to milk-based drinks in addition to water-based drinks. Furthermore the EP accepted the Commission’s proposal to authorise two new sweeteners, sucralose and aspartame-acesulfame salt but with a review of their use within three years and a re-examination of (...)

MEPs Seek Ban on Additive E 425 Konjac

The EP adopted a report from Marit Paulsen (ELDR, Sweden) proposing a ban on the use of the food additive E425 konjac in jelly products, consumed primarily by children. This first-reading Opinion (adopted under the co-decision procedure) is in line with the European Commission’s draft amendment to Directive 95/2 , aiming to introduce a permanent ban on this food additive.
This initiative follows reports that consumption of minicups containing the additive pose a risk of death by (...)

New European Food Safety Authority Executive Director

Mr Geoffrey Podger has been appointed as Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority. He will take up the position on 1 February 2003. The Executive Director was appointed by the Management Board, on the basis of a list of candidates proposed by the Commission after an open competition. The Executive Director is responsible for the day to day management of the Authority and is answerable to the Management Board. (...)

Cristian Busoi MEP hosts "Pandemic Flu : Public Health Approaches" organised by Fundamed with the support of EPHA

Fundamed (General Patients Alliance), with the support of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) organised the seminar "Pandemic Flu : Public Health Approaches" in the European Parliament, on 8 October 2009. The event was hosted by Dr. Cristian Busoi MEP.
Fundamed (General Patients Alliance), with the support of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) organised the seminar "Pandemic Flu : Public Health Approaches" in the European Parliament, on 8 October 2009. The event was hosted by (...)

**Avian Influenza - Update January 2008**

**Latest Update 21/01/2008.** It aims to focus on developments at international level.
Animal Avian Influenza is now in Europe - Increase of HUMAN cases in Indonesia
Poultry in Turkey and Romania have been hit by cases of Avian Influenza. Croatia also confirms a case of H5N1 in wild birds. Hence the decision from the European Commission to suspend imports of birds, feathers, poultry meat and avian species from Romania and Turkey. Both countries have quarantined the affected zones and (...)

MEPs backtrack on smoking ban in EP premises !

After only 43 days, the European Parliament has reversed a decision to prohibit smoking in their buildings. Health organisations condemn European Parliament for failing to protect staff and visitors and wasting millions of Euros. It is also worth noting that the vote comes two weeks after the Green Paper on smoke free places is released.
PRESS RELEASE (full version attached) -
On Monday 12th February, the European Parliament Bureau voted 14 to 1 to scrap recently introduced provisions (...)

The rights of disabled people gain recognition at EU and international levels

The rights of people with disabilities have gained the attention of both the European Parliament and the United Nations. The EP has issued a report on the situation of disabled people in the EU. and welcomes the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including their right to a high standard of health.
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
This new human rights treaty is due to be signed by the EU Member countries. The UN Convention on the Rights of (...)

**UPDATED** European Parliament votes on ’Sunlight Directive’

**This article has been updated with the position of the European Parliament and the European Council** On 7 September 2005 the European Parliament (EP) voted on the the proposed directive on ’Health and safety at work : exposure of workers to optical radiations’, also referred to as the ’sunlight directive’.
The background for the proposed directive is the goal of improving health and safety at work. The directive in question is one of four directives on protecting workers (...)

European Parliament adopts a report on workplace health and safety

On 24 February 2005, the European Parliament adopted an own-initiative report on "Promoting Health and Safety at the Workplace" by Jiri Mastalka (CZ, GUE/NGL).
The report is a reply to the Commission’s Communication on how the Framework Directive of 1989 and five individual Directives on occupational health and safety have been transposed into national law and applied (see related EPHA’s article).
Parliament’s resolution notes that Community legislation has made an important (...)

Conference for an European Drug Policy

Ms Alima Boumediene-Thiery, member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA), is organising a conference for an European drug policy, specifically oriented on the partnership between institutions and civil society.
The conference will be held in Brussels at the European Parliament on 17 September 2003.
Please find here the draft programme, the internet guide and an on-line registration (...)

MEPs Vote to Ban Stem Cell Research

MEPs voted on 10 April 2003 against the practice of creating human embryos for medical research purposes, the first major step towards an EU-wide ban.
The practice of so-called ’therapeutic cloning’, banned in some EU countries but legal in the UK, sees embryos created in order for their stem-cells (or master cells) to be used for medical research. Following the plenary vote, the Industry Committee organised a hearing of experts on the wider aspects of research involving embryonic stem (...)

Debate on Free Movement of Citizens in the EU

On 28/29 April 2003 the EP Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament discussed the draft report by Jean Lambert MEP (Greens/EFA, UK) on freedom of movement of European citizens.
MEP Herman Schmid, (European United Left/Nordic Green Left, SE) raised the concern that more flexible rules could lead to health tourism which could not be controlled or stopped. Professor Yves Jorens from the University of Ghent, on the other hand, stated that there is no need to be (...)

Reform of the UN Conventions on Drugs Rejected by the European Parliament

Plans to mandate the European Council to reform the UN Conventions on drugs were rejected at the 8 April 2003 plenary of the European Parliament.
Rapporteur MEP Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg (Greens/EFA, Netherlands), was so dissatisfied by the amendments made by the EPP-ED and EDD political groups to her draft report of 24 March 2003 that she voted against her own report.
MEPs decided to maintain support for the current UN Conventions and to call for full implementation by the Member (...)

Report on the Future of EU Consumer Protection

The European Parliament welcomed the Commission Green Paper on the future of EU consumer protection but MEPs emphasised the need for simpler, more understandable and better focused legislation that would be easier to enforce. The Parliament in particular noted that, despite progress, internal market legislation as a whole is inconsistent and not transparent enough to enjoy consumer confidence.
More information (...)

EP’s Intergroup on Ageing : "For a Better Coherence on Ageing Issues"

On 11th of March, the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Ageing successfully re-launched its activities with a meeting dedicated to the preparation of the Spring Summit 2003.
Around 20 MEPs were present to hear presentations and to discuss on the Commission’s proposals on pensions and employment of older workers. At the end of the meeting, MEPs adopted a statement to the Spring Summit, which stresses the need for a coherent approach on ageing issues at EU level and a better mainstreaming (...)

Prevention and Reduction of Risks Associated with Drug Dependence

Effective health and drug policy measures aimed at hard drug users would improve the health and well-being not only of drug addicts but also the general public, says the European Parliament Environment Committee in welcoming Commission proposals for preventing drug-related infections .
In proposing a range of non-binding amendments by reporter Minerva MALLIORI (PES, GR) and other MEPs, the committee stressed the key role of local communities, arguing that local authority healthcare staff, (...)

Community and National Measures in Relation to Breast Implants

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee is urging the EU Member States to ban direct advertising to the public for breast implants or breast implant operations, as France has done.
Since breast implants always entail risks, MEPs demand that objective, non-commercial information be provided through national public health services instead. These demands are made in a non-legislative draft resolution by Catherine STIHLER (PES, UK) on a Commission paper on breast implants .
While (...)

Parliament Discussed Health Care and Care for the Elderly

On 15 January, the Parliament adopted a position on the Commission Communication discussing future trends and costs for health care in light of an ageing EU population.
http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2 ?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+PRESS+DN-20030115-1+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&LEVEL=2&NAV=S#SECTION8
http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2 ?L=EN&OBJID=10259&LEVEL=2&MODE=SIP&NAV=X&LSTDOC=N

European Parliament tells Commission not to prevent access to medicines in developing countries

The European Parliament is insisting that the Council and the Commission do more to ensure access to essential medicines in developing countries. The Parliament has refused to ratify the WTO protocol on intellectual property rights until it has guarantees from the Council and the Commission that they will fully support access to essential medicines.
On 17 July 2007 MEPs stepped up a campaign to make cheap medicines available to the world’s poorest countries by delaying an international (...)

MEPs raise concerns about sale of human eggs for fertility treatment

A group of MEPs, including Mrs Hiltrud Breyer MEP (Greens/EFA - DE), Mr Peter Liese MEP (EPP/ED - DE), Mr Adamos Adamou MEP (GUE/NGL - CY) and Ms Maria Martens MEP (EPP/ED - NL), have raised concerns about media reports of a trade of human egg cells from Romania to clinics in the UK.
In many European countries there are shortages of donated eggs and long waiting lists for fertility treatment. The news report that young Romanian women are being paid to donate their eggs led the (...)

Fair trade on the agenda at the European Parliament

A conference on Fair Trade - A Contribution to Sustainable Development ? will be held in European Parliament on 23 March 2004. Speakers include Commissioners Nielsen (Development) and Lamy (Trade).
Fair Trade aims to achieve greater equity in international trade and to reduce poverty by offering better trading conditions to marginalised producers and workers - especially in the South. At the same time, it gives the consumer the opportunity to contribute towards sustainable economic and (...)

MEPs take position on human tissues directive

MEPs adopted a recommendation on the human tissue dossier, which is now in its second reading.
On 4 November 2003, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy of the European Parliament adopted a recommendation on the human tissue dossier with amendments on voluntary and unpaid donation, but rejecting amendments on ethical aspects and research. Following an initial discussion on 6 October, the Committee adopted a recommendation on 4 November (drafted by Peter Liese (...)

Report adopted on proposed Directive on Human tissues and cells

On 25 March 2003, the European Parliament’s Environment, Consumers and Public Health Committee adopted the report by MEP Peter Liese (EPP-ED, DE) on the Commission proposal setting quality and safety standards in relation to human tissues and cells.
Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty specifically states that the EU will adopt legalisation on blood and blood products (finalised in late 2002) and human tissues and cells.
159 amendments were tabled to the report, which was voted in first (...)

Public hearing on the quality and safety of human tissues and cells

Eucomed, the medical technology industry association co-sponsored a public hearing on the quality and safety of human tissues and cells hsted by Dr Peter Liese MEP and that took place at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday 29 January.
The European Commission - DG Sanco published on 19 June 2002 its proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, storage, and (...)