environment

Health ministers ’could have been stronger’ on health equity

On 1-2 December 2011, the Council adopted Conclusions entitled "Closing health gaps within the EU through concerted action to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours". EPHA considers that the Conclusions fall short on concrete objectives and targets that the current economic challenges would require, and the Council could have been stronger in its approach to tackling the problem. The Council of the European Union adopted, during its 1-2 December 2011 session, conclusions entitled "Closing (...)

Air pollution in the EU - European Environment Agency assesses the costs

Air pollution caused more than 100 billion euros in health and environmental damage: the European Environment Agency (EEA) found. This analysis shows the huge impact of fossil-fueled power stations and the very high costs they impose on people’s health and the environment, making the case for introducing cleaner, renewable and sustainable types of energy even more urgent and cost-effective. According to the EEA report "Revealing the costs of air pollution from industrial facilities (...)

Stopping fires caused by unattended cigarettes in the EU

Every year, 30 000 fires happen in the European Union because of cigarettes that are left unattended. The European Commission decided to act.

Health threats: EU proposal for better protection and more coordination

The European Commission has adopted a legislative proposal to address serious cross-border health threats. It builds on the careful analysis of ’’lessons learnt’’ from recent health crises.

No x-ray scanners in European airports due to human health risks

The European Commisison has adopted a new legal framework on the use of security scanners at European airports, banning the use of x-ray scanners because of the radiation risks on the health and safety of passengers. This EU legislation allows airports and Member States that wish to use security scanners for the screening of passengers to do so under strict operational and technical conditions. It should be noted that there is no olbigation to use them. The European Commission further (...)

How will the European Investment Bank work with civil society in the future? Meeting report

For the first time, the European Investment Bank held a seminar with its Board of Directors to meet with representatives from civil society on 17 October 2011. The EPHA Secretariat attended to find out more information on how the EIB will involve civil society in the future. The main focus of the meeting was on EIB operations in climate action, lending to SMEs and the development dimension of lending. EPHA tabled a question on how the EIB intends to help develop social capital, invest (...)

10 facts about physical activity - World Health Organization

The World Health Organization releases a list of 10 facts about physical activity which are aimed to inform the general public. 1. Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality, 2. Regular physical activity helps to maintain a healthy body, 3. Physical activity should not be mistaken for sport, 4. Both moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity bring health benefits, 5. People aged 5-17 years old should exercice 60min per day at least, 6. People (...)

EPHA launches a consultation on Policy Recommendations for Health Equity

Further to launch of the European Charter for Health Equity in December 2010, and having collected more than 130 signatures from various multi-level and multi-sectoral stakeholders, EPHA is launching a consultation process on Policy Recommendations for Health Equity. In the framework of participatory process, we aim at delivering comprehensive and cross-sectoral messages for reducing health inequalities through focusing on social determinants of health. Further to signature of the European (...)

European Parliament health committee opinion on public procurement

The European Parliament’s ENVI Committee has adopted its opinion on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy, prepared by rapporteur Åsa Westlund (S&D, Sweden). The opinion contains a number of the suggestions brought forward by EPHA in its consultation response earlier this year. The ENVI opinion follows the Green Paper on the ’’Modernisation of EU public procurement policy: Towards a more efficient European Procurement Market’’ of January 2011, (...)

European Commission consultation on "Promoting the tastes of Europe"

The European Commission launched a debate on the future of promotion and information schemes for EU agricultural products. The deadline is the 30 September 2011. This is particularly relevant for the health community as it will touch upon the promotion of - inter alia - nutritious (and non nutritious) food, alcohol products. The objective of the consultation on the future of promotion and information schemes for EU agricultural products is to look at how agricultural products could be (...)