EU Institutions

[Water is a Human Right campaign] First ever European Citizens Initiative to make it !

Brussels, 7 May - The first ever European Citizens Initiative (ECI) – Water is a Human Right! – has collected over 1.5 million signatures across Europe. Eight countries have just passed the minimum number of signatures required. The European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Water is a Human Right!’ is a pan-European initiative calling for the European Union (EU) to guarantee clean drinking water and quality sanitation for everyone living in Europe. EPHA, one of the (...)

[EPT] Tobacco - Directive (Revision) - European Commission Proposal Revision of The Tobacco Products Directive (3 May 2013)

European Commission Proposal Revision of The Tobacco Products Directive. The Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC) regulates the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products in the EU 27 Member States. This notably covers the use of health warnings on packs, the prohibition of descriptions such as ’mild’ or ’light’, the maximum tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields, and the prohibition of the sale of tobacco for oral use. In February 2012, the (...)

European Year for Citizens - moving to a Union for Citizens

On 23 April 2013 the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, organised a high level event to help focus on European citizens and how they can contribute to shaping the European Union. The Ombudsman was joined by, among others, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Maroš Šefčovič Vice-President of the European Commission. EPHA congratulates the European Ombudsman for addressing the (...)

[EPHA Call to Action] Health in the reform of economic governance

EPHA has launched a call for action for health, civil society and the reform of EU economic governance. Since the financial crisis began in 2007, the EU has introduced numerous new mechanisms, such as tighter coordination of economic and fiscal policies, to alleviate the current symptoms and prevent their recurrence. Several of those measures have impacts on health systems and consequently on health. The EU nowadays has stronger influence and control over national health systems than it (...)

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

EPHA report expert workshop on future of public health research

On January, EPHA attended a workshop on the future of European public health research. This workshop was part of the on-going work of an Expert Group, whose purpose is to take stock of the benefits, challenges and limitations of EU-funded public health research. Among other goals, this event was aimed to assess the impact of Community funded research activities in the field of public health. Another objective of the workshop was to identify priorities for future research together with (...)

[EPT] Child poverty and well being - Council Conclusions (proposal) Toward the European Commission’s Recommendations on Child Poverty and Well-Being (29 March 2013)

European Commission’s Recommendations on Child Poverty and Well-Being In 2010, the European Commission announced its intention to adopt a Recommendation on Child Poverty by 2012. This June 2012, the Social Protection Committee (SPC, part of the DG Employment) produced an advisory report “Tackling and Preventing Child Poverty, Promoting Child Well-being”. The paper will serve as a benchmark to develop the upcoming Child Poverty Recommendations by the EC later in February (...)

Preparation for the 6th Fundamental Rights Platform Meeting (24-26 April 2013, Vienna)

FRA Director, Morten Kjaerum, met civil society representatives to discuss how FRA and civil society can cooperate to protect fundamental rights in the EU. This meeting was in preparation for the upcoming 6th Fundamental Rights Platform Meeting, which will take place in Vienna (24-26 April) where EPHA will be represented. About the Fundamental Rights Agency The new Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) was launched in March 2007 by Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007. The European Fundamental (...)

[Save the date - Tues. 19 March] Water is a Human Right - European citizens initiative’s event

On the occasion of World Water Day, Water is a Human Right campaign organises a workshop on the Right to Water in Europe, on 19 March from 6PM till 8PM. The evenT will take place at the European Parliament (Brussels) - room A3H1. Water is a public good, not a commodity. Water is a Human Right campaign invites the European Commission to propose legislation implementing the human right to water and sanitation as recognised by the United Nations, and promoting the provision of water and (...)

[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 (...)