environment

EPHA position on the European Commission’s 7th Environment Action Programme

In June 2012 EPHA took part in the European Commission public consultation on the 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP), to operate from July 2012. In its position EPHA emphasized the vital need to consider and promote health and equality issues, in particular the need to tackle overconsumption and inequalities in access and distribution of resources considered as public goods. 2012 EPHA Policy Position on the EU environment policy priorities for 2020: Towards the 7th Environment Action (...)

Report shows huge differences in municipal waste management across EU Member States

In its new report the European Commission highlights the continuing differences in municipal waste management across the EU Member States (MSs). Many MSs still landfill their municipal waste to great environmental and public health concerns. The Commission is to use the results of this study to develop a Roadmap helping the worst MS improve their management performance. According to the study, the worst performing Member States with the greatest waste management failings are Bulgaria, (...)

CAP reform towards 2020 – has it delivered what stakeholders expected?

The European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium, of which EPHA is a member, has strongly reacted to Commissioner Ciolos question on whether the CAP reform has delivered what civil society demanded of it: They have told him that "We are about to miss a huge opportunity to align European agriculture and food policy to meet the challenges of food for good health!" “We are about to miss a huge opportunity to align European agriculture and food policy to meet the challenges of food (...)

Latest Commission’s figures on tobacco now available

The European Commission published its latest Eurobarometer study on attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco. The document provides up-to-date figures on tobacco-related issues particularly relevant in view of the forthcoming Commission proposal for a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive. EPHA has compiled some of the key findings of the study: Tobacco consumption in the EU 28% of the European population smokes, 695 000 deaths per year in the EU, smoking costs: a minimum of (...)

The European Parliament adopts report on the health for growth programme

Feedback from the EFSA Stakeholder Consultative Group - 19 and 20 June 2012

After having attended the EFSA Consultative Stakeholder Group on 19 and 20 June 2012, EPHA wanted to inform its members about few noteworthy developments. In order to make its activities more visible and understandable to the general public, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently published a series of videos on the main themes the organisation is working on: "What is antimicrobial resistance?", "What is salmonella?", "Independent science". In June 2012, the European Public (...)

EU ministers call for better ways to measure progress and a green economy to promote health

World leaders, activists, and opinion-makers gathered in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 (20-22 June 2012). Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment was part of the delegation. Below you will find what the EU Council of Ministers called the EU delegation to develop and how health fit into the Rio+20 negotiation process and actions to include NCDs in the post-2105 development framework. Commissioner Potnick called for new (...)

European Commission new Innovation Partnership on Water still treats water as a commodity

Despite its initial ambition to seek solutions in market-driven innovation and research in accessing to safe, clean and affordable water and sanitation, the European Commission proposal (released last 14 May 2012) on the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Water only strengthens a vision of water as a commodity and not as a public good. EPHA evaluates the proposal Against the background of its support to the European Citizens’ Initiative Right to Water. Read the Commission (...)

Tarabella report calls for stronger incorporation of social considerations in public procurement

At their meeting on 30 May, the European Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) will consider the draft report of Marc Tarabella (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats, Belgium) on public procurement and procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors. The IMCO Committee is currently considering the European Commission’s proposals to modernise the Union’s public (...)

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 (...)