EU Institutions

Royal College of Nursing Comments on Health Services Directive

Comment on the European Union’s proposals on patients’ rights to cross border healthcare from Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
Dr Carter said : “The RCN cautiously welcomes today’s announcement on European Union (EU) cross border healthcare because it clarifies the rights and responsibilities of patients seeking care in other EU member states. 
“However, this new directive will only work if the EU puts in (...)

Presentation on the Open Method of Coordination (French)

On 15 April, Jessica Imbert gave a presentation on the Open Method of Coordination.
The Open Method of Coordination (OMC) is an intergovernmental means of governance in the European Union, based on the voluntary cooperation of its member states. Initially used for social protection issues, the European Council has decided to extend the OMC to health and longterm care.
The OMC is an instrument which involves ’soft law’ and the setting of targets and indicators on health. This is (...)

FEANTSA supports a parliamentary initiative to end street homelessness

The European Federation on National Organisations working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) is supporting a cross-party written declaration on ending street homelessness.
FEANTSA supports a parliamentary initiative to end homelessness calling upon :
the Council to obtain an EU-wide commitment to end street homelessness by 2015 ;
the Commission to develop a European framework definition of homelessness, elicit statistical data, and provide annual updates on action taken and progress made in EU (...)

New EU trade rules threaten the health of European babies

In July 2006 EU Member States gave way to the European Commission and voted to adopt a revised Directive on the composition and marketing of infant formulae and follow-on formulae wich relaxes the restrictions of the previous Directive.
According to European health, development and consumer organisations, the revised Directive has paved the way for the establishment of a harmful framework for marketing practices. The Directive will be published in the Official Journal in the autumn to be (...)

EPHA briefing : Cohesion policy and Structural funds

The EU has a number of policies designed to reduce disparities across the Union and to promote greater economic, social and territorial cohesion. Financial support is targeted at the national level through the Cohesion Fund, and the regional level through four Structural funds. In both cases, EU money is directed towards the poorest and most disadvantaged countries or regions.
All structural funds are governed by a specific EU Regulation, only one of which - the ERDF Regulation - explicitly (...)

Seminar : alcohol is no ordinary commodity

During the first part of 2005 the Parliament will handle the European Commission’s proposal regarding an Alcohol strategy.
IOGT-NTO, an EPHA member, co-organised a seminar in this issue on 26 January 2005, hosted by MEP Mrs Cecilia Malmström.
Mr Kari Paaso, the representative of DG Sanco who works on the strategy, presented the EC’s position. There were also various guests who gave their perspective on the issue.
Speakers included Dr Michel Craplet (medical advisor of ANPAA, France) who (...)

Exploring the links between health and socio-economic status

Tamsin Rose, EPHA’s General Secretary, gave a presentation as part of a two days conference titled "Social Policy Agenda 2006-2010 : What Future for European Social Policy ?" organised by the Social Platform on 20-21 October 2004 in Brussels.
Speakers included ministers, members of the European Parliament, government officials, members of the Commission agencies, Commission officials and NGO representatives.
The first day of the conference, the Social Platform presented two main documents : (...)

PGEU response to consultation on EMEA road-map

The Pharmaceutical Group of the EU (PGEU), an EPHA member, has submitted a response to the consultation on the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) road-map to 2010 document.
Please find below PGEU’s response.
Discussion Paper EMA Road Map to 2010 - Executive Summary
EMEA’s press release, 14 April 2004

Introduction to EU and health

EPHA presentation on EU institutions and health to a meeting of the network of community self-help groups, organised in Brussels on 5 June 2004.

EPHA presentation : EU Treaty Refom and health

EPHA General Secretary, Tamsin Rose, made a presentation on the EU treaty reform negotiations to the network on EU law and health in Stockholm on 8 June 2004.

EPHA Presentation - Introduction to EU funding programmes

EPHA General Secretary, Tamsin Rose participated in a conference organised by the Open Society Institute Networks in Bled, Slovenia in April 2004.
The theme of the presentation was an introduction to EU funding mechanisms and a subsequent workshop on how to prepare a project proposal.

EP Elections : EPHA members actions and proposals

BMA
The British Medical Association (BMA) has issued a manifesto and election statement raising four public health issues : ban on smoking in public spaces, alcohol advertising, health claims on snacks/foods for children and the environment, all of these being topical issues in EP.
BMA also has four professional concerns for doctors : working time, recognition of qualifications, new professional services directive and free movement of patients and medical devices.
EDF
The European Disability (...)

April 2004 newsletter

Welcome to the April 2004 edition of the EPHA Newsletter,
The European landscape is experiencing rapid change.
More than a decade of political expectation and administrative preparation comes to a climax on Saturday 1 May 2004 as the EU-15 becomes the EU-25.
Recent national elections in a number of European countries have resulted in changes in government and rekindled hope of an agreement on a new EU Treaty by the close of the Irish Presidency.
About 2/3rds of the 732 MEPs elected on (...)

BMA position on the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC)

The BMA fully supports moves to set up the ECDC and sees it as an essential step towards improving disease surveillance and the ability to take prompt and effective action in Europe. Increased mobility of the population, emergence of new diseases and the threat of bioterrorism means that the risks from disease are not diminishing. However, the strength of the Centre should be its role in the monitoring and control of more common but less topical disease such as Legionnaires disease and (...)

Presentation : What does Europe mean for our health ?

Tamsin Rose made a presentation on behalf of EPHA at the AGM of the European region of the Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA).
The presentation highlighted what a ’Europe of health’ might be like, and how EU policies and ECJ judgements impact on national healthcare systems.

European Health Forum Gastein 2003

The 6th European Health Forum Gastein "Creating a Better Future for Health in Europe : health & wealth, economic and social dimensions of health" took place on 1-4 October 2003.
The EHFG was founded in 1998 as a European health policy conference with the aim of providing a platform for discussion for the various stakeholders in the field of public health and health care.
Tamsin Rose represented EPHA at the Forum and made a number of presentations, particularly on advocacy using a case study (...)

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 (...)

EU Commission Action Plan For Environment and Health ’Missing In Action’

SCALE was the foundation for the European Commission’s Communication for - ’The European Environment & Health Action Plan 2004-2010’ which has just been published.
The Action Plan has not been well received by the NGO community. As all stakeholders of the Budapest conference had high expectations for the EU’s Action Plan as the most powerful tool from the Region’s powerhouse to deliver measurable and permanent improvements in our children’s environment and health. In contrast Industry (...)

Info on grants from DG Environment

The Annual Work Programme for grants in the environment policy area for 2004 has been published.
For more information, please refer to the European Commission’s overview of the current funding opportunities available from DG Environment and other DGs.

How eco friendly is your MEP ?

The first step for a democratic Europe is to have a view on how your MEPs vote.
Just before the European Parliament elections, a new website highlights the vote (for five years) of MEPs and political parties about environmental issues.
Friends of the Earth Europe, in collaboration with Greenpeace, the European Environmental Bureau, the European Federation for Transport and Environment, and Climate Action Network Europe, chose 10 key environmental decisions taken by the current European (...)

The Kyoto protocol becomes EU law

Last 10 March 2004, all provisions of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol were made legally binding in the EU by a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council (Decision 280/2004/EC concerning a mechanism for monitoring Community greenhouse gas emissions and for implementing the Kyoto Protocol).
This means that the Kyoto Protocol has force of EU law. The Decision reaffirms the EU’s global leadership in fighting climate change.
The Kyoto Protocol is part of the U.N. Framework Convention on (...)

MEP accuses EP to block new EU chemical law

MEPs have been accused of delaying the new EU chemical legislation by Italian socialist Guido Sacconi.
In an interview with an EU online newspaper, Mr Sacconi (who is also the rapporteur for the REACH regulation in the Committee for Environment of the EP) said that MEPs have tried to block the EU’s controversial new chemical law by debating on the procedures and form, and not going into the content of the legislation.
EU competition ministers met in Brussels on 11 March 2004 to look at (...)

EEB warns Competitivenes Council

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) the 8th March exhorted members of the Competitiveness Council to work to restore the balance between the different objectives of sustainable development.
The EEB is very worried about the recent political trend to highlight ’competitiveness’ as a super-objective, given precedence over social and environmental objectives. In past statements from EU institutions in particular, environmental commitments and aims have been presented as a burden to growth (...)

Liikanen presents consultation results on EU chemicals policy review to council

On 22 September, the Council took note of a presentation by Commissioner Erkki Liikanen on the result of Commission’s Internet consultation on draft legislation aiming at overhauling and modernising the existing EU regulatory system for chemicals and welcomed the Commission’s intention to present its final proposal within short.
In May 2003, the Commission launched an eight-week Internet consultation on the draft legislation on chemicals, which aimed at replacing the over 40 different (...)

European Investment Bank committed to environmental objectives

During a conference organised by the Centre for European Policies Studies (CEPS) on 19 September, EIB Vice-President Peter Sedgwick highlithted the bank’s increased commitment to environmental objectives.
The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union’s financing institution, is in charge of granting loans to support Community policies. The EIB is the biggest public lender in the world with a current portfolio of investments in about 140 countries and an annual lending in the range (...)

EPHA joins the NGO Liaison Group of the Economic and Social Committee

On 17 June 2009, EPHA officially became a member of the NGO Liaison Group of the European Economic and Social Committee. This new status will enable EPHA to present its members’ key concerns and recommendations to another EU institution.
What is the NGO Liaison Group of the European Economic and Social Committee ?
In 2004, the EESC established a Liaison Group to interact with European civil society organisations and networks. The group was designed to be both a liaison body and a structure (...)

Health Aspects of EU Development Policy

The European Union is the largest provider of development aid in the world. The 2008 figures from OECD show that more than €49 billion has been spent on development aid, an increase of about 8% since 2007. At the 2005 European Council, EU leaders had pledged to increase aid levels collectively and individually from all Member States by 2015. The primary objective of EU development policy is the eradication of poverty, including the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). (...)

EP Elections 2009 : EPHA members actions and proposals

Ahead of the European Parliament elections in June 2009, several EPHA members have launched their own European manifestos. Each of them addresses key issues for the public health community.
[Royal College of Nurses’ manifesto
>http://www.rcn.org.uk/nursing/international/european_elections_2009/european_election_manifesto_2009]
Ensure enough nursing staff to meet patients’ needs ;
Stop nurses getting injured at work ;
Meet health and social care needs of patients with long-term or (...)

Future Presidencies of the European Union

This article will be updated with links to information about each presidency as it becomes available.
The Council of the European Union has confirmed the order of the half yearly rotation of the presidency of the EU until June 2020.
 ; Year ; January-June ; July-December ; 2006 ; Austria ; Finland ; 2007 ; Germany ; Portugal ; 2008 ; Slovenia ; France ; 2009 ; Czech Republic ; Sweden ; 2010 ; Spain ; Belgium ; 2011 ; Hungary ; Poland ; 2012 ; (...)

Official Directory of the European Union

The Official Directory of the European Union 2008 is now available both in print and online. Please read on for information on the content and how to access your copy.
The Directory contains information on people within all the main institutions, permanent representations, agencies and delegations. The Directory has over 11 000 names listed, and is a useful tool for knowing who to contact, and where.
This publication contains detailed organisation charts going down to the level of heads of (...)

Commission High Level Groups - whose views do they represent ?

In February 2009, Friends of the Earth Europe published a report on the seven High Level Groups established by the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry under Commissioner Guenter Verheugen. This report states that the democratic nature of these groups is questionable as they were only partly transparent and strongly biased in favour of industry interests.
The Commission led High Level Groups (HLGs), that have the mandate to advise on policy making, often provide the input for (...)

Belgian Presidency discusses financial crisis with NGOs

On 2 March, EPHA attended a meeting organised by the Kingdom of Belgium as part of its preparations for the future EU presidency in 2010. The meeting was on the economical and financial crisis and will be the first of a number on different topics to be held throughout 2009.
Seminar on the Financial Crisis
The Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of Belgium invited civil society organisations to participate in a seminar on the financial crisis (...)

European Parliament changing its approach to health ?

During the first week of March, Brussels was awash with rumours about a possible restructuring within the Parliament on health issues. Commentators were suggesting that health may be removed from its current home in the ’ENVI’ Committee (Environment, Health and Food Safety) to a new Health-only Committee under the 2009-2013 Parliament.
EPHA was asked to comment on these rumoured changes (please click here for the full article in the Brussels press).
If the rumours are correct and health (...)

*Update* The Swedish EU Presidency - July 2009 to December 2009

The many tasks the future Swedish EU Presidency faces are reflected in its slogan for its six months at the helm - “taking on the challenge”, with the primary focus on the economy, climate change and institutional changes.
Policy Priorities
On 2 March, Sweden’s Europe Minister, Cecilia Malmström, presented the logo of the upcoming Swedish EU presidency. Climate change, the financial crisis and, institutional issues are set to dominate Stockholm’s agenda in the second half of (...)

The European Recovery Plan and EPHA contribution

On November 26 2008, the Commission published details of its important Recovery Plan. A sum of 200 billion euros is to be made available in order to address the current financial and economic crisis. EPHA participated to the Social Platform’s call to mitigate the impact of the crisis on vulnerable people.
On 26 November 2008, the Commission published details of its proposed recovery plan to address the impacts of the current financial and economic crisis.
The plan states that EU countries (...)

*Updated* The Czech EU Presidency - January 2009 to June 2009

On 1 January 2009, the Czech Republic has taken over the Presidency of the EU Council.
The EU Presidency troika system is designed to offer continuity in the leadership of the European Union, whilst giving each of the three Member States a large breathing space for activities.
The official motto of the Czech EU Presidency is "Europe without barriers", with the removal of labour market restrictions on newer Member States among its top priorities.
The Czech Presidency faces many (...)

*Updated with the results* Worst EU Lobbying Awards 2008

Every year, four pro-transparency NGOs including Corporate Europe Observatory and Friends of the Earth Europe, organise the "Worst EU Lobbying Awards". Here are the results for 2008.
Results
On 9 December, the winners of the 2008 Worst EU Lobbying Awards have been revealed at a ceremony in Brussels, despite a last minute attempt to gag the organisers with legal action from one of the candidates. More than 8500 people took part in the online public vote.
One of the candidates for the Worst (...)

New website details EU funding beneficiaries

On 2 October 2008, the European Commission launched a website making details of the beneficiaries of EU funding publicly available for the first time.
The ’Financial Transparency System’ search engine - part of the wider transparency initiative launched by Administration and Anti-Fraud Commissioner Siim Kallas in 2005 - gives "free access to details of who receives EU funds managed directly by the Commission" and the executive agencies it sets up to manage EU programmes.
"Very few public (...)

*Update with the outcome* The Commission’s Register of Interest Representatives

The ambitious Transparency Initiative launched in 2005 by Commissioner Sim Kallaas has resulted in a voluntary "Register of Interest Representatives" - which is more of a token gesture for transparency than an actual step forward. Working with the Civil Society Contact Group, EPHA will be registering shortly following the particular guidelines outlined below and would like to call all concerned organisations to do the same.
EPHA has been calling for EU lobby transparency since 2005 and (...)

ENVI Committee meeting on the Health Strategy 2008-2013, 9 September 2008

On 9 September, the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted unanimously a Draft Report on the White Paper "Together for Health : A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013"
On 9 September 2008, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) met to vote the Draft Report on the White Paper entitled ’Together for Health : A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013’ as well as a series of amendments.
The (...)

Have your say on the development of the DG SANCO 2009 annual work plan

DG Sanco is giving civil society and the general public the opportunity to participate in setting priorities for its 2009 work plan of the 2008-2013 Public Health Programme.
The public health programme, which runs for 5 years, is implemented through annual work plans setting out the areas to be funded that year. The work plan sets out an indicative budget and funding mechanism. These funding of these areas are defined by the priorities. DG SANCO has asked civil society and citizens to (...)

Health Priorities of the French Presidency, July 2008

The French Presidency of the EU will run from 1 July 2008 until 31 December 2008.
On Health issues, the French Presidency has made some priorities :
1. Health Security : Anti-microbial resistance and mandate for the ECDC, Health Security Committee
2. Mental Health : Alzheimer
3. Tobacco : preparation of the EU towards the Conference of Parties, FCTC in November 2008.
4. Health Strategy
5. Directive on the application of Patient Rights on Cross border Health care : please find more information on (...)

**Update** EU lobbying transparency a step closer but still some way to go

On 25 March 2008, the transparency group Alter-EU has accused the Commission of relying too heavily on business and industry lobbyists when drawing up EU legislation. In reaction, the Commission has said it will publish a list of individual experts who sit on its advisory groups by the summer. But, a European Parliament committee would like the EU to go further and called for a mandatory register of the estimated 15-20,000 lobbyists.
Background
The European Commission has long consulted (...)

Public health at the fore in European elections June 2009 ?

As part of our preparations for the elections in 2009, the EPHA Secretariat has been contacting the major European political groups to include public health in their priorities and manifestos.
Although most party’s were receptive to EPHA input, the only European party preparing its manifesto at this time is the European Socialists PES with a broad European Manifesto.
EPHA was given the opportunity to present three main public health goals in the PES Manifesto document. The Manifesto is (...)

What can be expected from the French EU Presidency ?

From 1 July to 31 December 2008, France will hold the EU Presidency, therefore the responsibility to organise and chair the European Council meetings. The French government has already announced that its motto will be "a more protective Europe".
From 1 July to 31 December 2008, France will organise and chair the European Council meetings. It will take over Slovenia and will hand over to the Czech Republic in 2009.
The French government has already announced that its motto will be "a more (...)

New Italian EU commissioner nominated

Italy’s empty seat at the European Commission table has now been officially taken by Antonio Tajani - a man familiar with EU political scene, as headed MEPs from the Forza Italia political party led by Silvio Berlusconi.
Mr Tajani, a 55-year old law graduate and former journalist, is to replace Franco Frattini, the commission vice-president in charge of justice and home affairs dossier. Mr Frattini formally stepped down on Thursday (8 May), following his appointment as Italy’ new foreign (...)

Barroso admits legitimacy problem for Commission President post

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said that the European elections, regularly marked by voter apathy and low turnout, create a legitimacy problem for his post.
"I really believe we have a problem there," said Mr Barroso responding to a question about whether European citizens should have the power to directly elect the person to fill his post.
He added that : "From a formal point of view, its a perfect system" but admitted that in practice it is different.
Under rules of (...)

The Slovenian presidency launches a portal for NGOs

The Slovenian EU Council Presidency has launched a portal for NGOs increasing the possibilities for them to play a role during the Presidency.
The Slovenian EU Council Presidency has launched a web portal for NGOs outlining and facilitating NGO interventions to the Slovenian Presidency.
The basis for NGO involvement in the Presidency is outlined in the Agreement between the Government communication office and web portal Predsedovanje.si which details the communications envisaged before (...)

MEPs fear lack of transparency in quick EU law-making

MEPs looking into how to overhaul the workings of the European Parliament have raised concerns about the number of quick deals that are reached on EU laws.
EPHA believes that such behaviours could risk resulting in poor quality legislation and that the process is not sufficiently transparent.
Background
In 2007, the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, set up a special working group on parliamentary reform. It was chaired by Dagmar Roth-Behrendt MEP and was to improve (...)

The European Court of Justice rules in favour of the indirect disability rights

The European Court of Justice gave a boost to disability rights on 31 January after ruling in favour of Sharon Coleman, a legal secretary in London who suffered “discrimination by association”. This first legal victory could give new rights to millions of carers living in Europe.
According to Poiares Maduro, the advocate general at the European Court of Justice, Sara Coleman, a legal secretary in London, suffered “discrimination by association” when she was (...)

This is the last full calendar year of activity for the Barroso Commission and the annual workplan outlines the key initiatives.

While health policy is not a high priority for the Commission, many of their actions this year have an impact on health.

Worst EU Lobbying and Greenwash Awards 2007

German car manufacturers BMW, Daimler and Porsche were disgraced when they were named winners of the ‘Worst EU Lobbying’ Award 2007. The German Atomic Forum was also named and shamed with a special prize for ‘Worst EU Greenwash’.
Winner of the Worst EU Lobbying Award 2007
BMW, Daimler and Porsche – nominated together in the worst EU lobbying category – gained more than 30 percent of the votes. Their joint lobbying offensive designed to water-down and (...)

The European Court of Justice pursues greater EU transparency

On the 8 November 2007, the Court of First Instance (see the attached document) annulled the Commission’s denial to reveal the identities of all participants at a meeting involving representatives from the Commission (namely DG Internal Market and Services ), the UK Department of Trade and Industry, and the Confederation des Brasseurs du Marche Commun. The sentence will be recalled by a number of EU advocates as a benchmark towards greater transparency.
Background
In May 1992, the Bavarian (...)

The Reform Treaty : strengths and shortcomings

On 19 October 2007 EU leaders agreed the precise text of the Reform Treaty, which is due to be formally signed on 13 December 2007 in order to take effect in January 2009. The purpose of this article is to explore the main innovations included in the new treaty.
The rejection of the Constitutional Treaty by popular vote in France and the Netherlands was followed by a reflection period. This provided an opportunity to review new options for institutional governance of the European Union. (...)

"Communicating Europe in Partnership" : EU information priorities

The European Commission has presented proposals for "Communicating Europe in Partnership", a document proposes joint communication priorities with other EU institutions and voluntary management partnerships with Member States.
Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy said that citizens want clear information from the EU institutions and that it’s time to end the blame game and work together.
Built on (...)

The European Transparency Initiative : where are we now and what lies ahead ?

Two years after European Transparency Initiative, the European Commission is about to launch the first-ever EU lobbying disclosure system. Unfortunately, no major improvements have been announced on the side of the European Parliament.
Following the European Transparency Initiative launched in 2005, the European Commission proposed in March 2007 to set up a voluntary register of lobbyists active in Brussels. Lobbyists and lobbying associations signing up to the register are required to (...)

MEPs acknowledge need for comprehensive strategy to control cancer

The European Parliament adopted a written declaration that addresses the need for a comprehensive strategy to fight cancer so that it will no longer be the leading cause of death in Europe.
The written declaration has been signed by more than half of the MEPs, which is the required number for a declaration to be adopted. In addition to cancer being the leading cause of death in Europe, one-third of all cancers are preventable and can be detected early and successfully treated.
The (...)

**UPDATED** IGC talks on Reform Treaty : Health provisions at stake !

EPHA’s comments on the on-going Treaty revision are based on the experience of campaigning during the debate on the drafting of the Treaty. Individual EPHA members working at national or regional levels may have a different viewpoint. This is not a legal, scientific nor academic interpretation.
Updated with the changes announced at the June 2007 Council Summit and the agreement reached by Member States on 19 October 2007.
This article compares the legal provisions on public health of the (...)

New dialogue for stakeholders and scientific comittees

Procedure for dialogue with Stakeholders unveiled for DG SANCOs advisory scientific committees.

EU Ombudsman launches information campaign for organisations

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, launched an information campaign to organisations with a registered office in the EU, about their right to complain to the Ombudsman on 7 June 2007.
The campaign is directed to NGO’s, associations, companies, regional offices, schools and universities. The Ombudsman information sheet explains to these organisations how the Ombudsman can help settle problems with the EU administration, giving the following information :
What can you complain (...)

**Updated** European Commission public health portal launches online newsletter

The Health-EU Portal of the European Commission is now available in 20 of the official EU languages, and has just sent out the "Zero edition" of its online newsletter.
The Health-EU Portal
The Health-EU Portal aims to provide European Citizens with an easy access to reliable, multilingual and comprehensive information on Public Health initiatives and programmes at EU level.
The Portal was launched in English in May 2006 at the health conference in Málaga, Spain. From May 2006 to March (...)

Revision of EU Constitutional Treaty : NGOs raise their voice

With the risk of a political "quick fix" of the Constitutional Treaty at the June 2007 European Council, NGOs call on a Social Europe and improved Civil Society Consultation.
On 21 and 22 June the European Council met for the last time under the German Presidency. The agenda included a point on the review of the EU Treaty.
The German Presidency had announced that they wanted to outline a precise "roadmap" for the review of the Treaty.
The risk of a political ‘quick-fix’at any price and (...)

European Commission and WHO to work together on health

The European Commission (DG SANCO) and the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe have launched seven new jointly funded projects in the area of health. The projects will implemented by WHO/Europe over a three-year period.
The overall budget for the projects is 4,232,963, with the European Union’s Public Health Programme covering 60% of the cost. The two organisations will work together at political, technical and operational levels, with the aim of providing better support (...)

*UPDATED* The EU is 50 years-old : Celebrating the common values of the EU

*This article has been updated with responses to the Berlin Declaration *
The 25th of March 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome which established the European Union. The event offered an opportunity to look ahead to the next 50 years and imagine the EU of 2057.
The ’Berlin Declaration’ was adopted on the 25 March 2007. The Declaration reflected upon the main achievements of the EU so far, and reaffirmed its values :
Solidarity : an enlarged and open Europe requires greater (...)

EPHA press release : Will Europe be healthy in 2057 ? Give us reasons to celebrate ! Don’t forget health !

Brussels, 23 May 2007 - On the 25th March the European Union celebrates its 50th birthday and defines its vision for the next 50 years. European leaders must recognise that the health of European Citizens is key to achieving the mission and values of the EU.
The credibility of the EU’s positions on trade, environment, development and international health issues, rests upon a clear focus and priority on public health in the Berlin Declaration.
Speaking on behalf of the European Public (...)

**UPDATED** Ratification of EU Constitutional Treaty

*This article has been updated with the latest attempts of the German Presidency to revive the Constitution.*
The EU’s first-ever Constitutional Treaty agreed at the European Council in June 2004, was officially signed by EU Heads of State or Government on 29 October 2004 in Rome.
Endorsement of the European Parliament
On 12 January 2004 the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the EU Constitution in a non-binding but politically symbolic vote. The report endorsing the (...)

Improving access to European-funded research results

The European Commission has issued a communication on how to make the results from European Community-funded research available to all.
Although the document is not legally binding, it aims to end the current situation where European-funded research results (ie paid with public funds) are not necessarily made publicly available and may be accessible by subscribing to scientific publications.
In addition, open access to scientific evidence can accelerate innovation and avoid duplication of (...)

Transparency Drive Extends to EU Structural Funds

The EU’s current transparency drive challenges national governments with the new requirement to fully disclose information on recipients of EU structural funds.
Member States are now required to publish detailed data on the recipients, projects and amounts of structural aid cash they receive from the EU.
As of October 2006, a website listing the beneficiaries of the EU Structural Funds is publicly available.
Unless applicants of EU aid agree to provide full openness, they risk losing their (...)

*UPDATED* EU worst lobby Award 2006

*UPDATED with the results* Corporate Europe Observatory, LobbyControl, Spinwatch and Friends of the Earth Europe launch the Worst EU Lobbying Award 2006 which aims to identify the most dubious influence lobbying.
The 2006 edition of the Worst Lobby Award plans to grant a double Prize :
the worst EU lobbying, awarded for the lobbyist or lobby group using the most deceptive, misleading, hypocritical and irresponsible tactics. The winner is ExxonMobil for continuing to manipulate the EU (...)

Participating in Debate on the Future of Europe - A Call for Action

The biggest ever pan-European debate of all 25 EU Member States has been launched to find out what Europe’s citizens want from Europe and which issues matter to them most.
From January to April 2007, 25 national consultations take place at Member State level to discuss the overarching question “What is needed to achieve the Europe we want ?”
The Final Consultation in May 2007 is held in Brussels as an intense debate with a small number of citizen volunteers from the national (...)

Can the Constitution be saved ? If so, how and by whom ?

"Can the Constitution be saved ? If so, how and by whom ?" was the title of the policy dialogue, hosted by the European Policy Centre.
The discussion revolved around the chances of the Constitutional Treaty ever entering into force, as well as the possible alternatives.
About 100 people attended from
EU institutions ;
Assorted embassies, permanent representations and missions ;
NGOs, including EPHA ;
Business associations and industries.
The panel was made up of the following :
Dr Ulrike (...)

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. (...)

**Updated** European Commission Plan D : regaining the trust of European citizens

**The article has been updated with recent debates, plus the launch of the internet forum.** The European Commissioner Margot Wallström launched its Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate, on the 13 October 2005. It aims to lay the ground for a strong debate about European Union’s future.
Background to Plan D Against the backdrop of the French and Dutch No to the constitutional treaty and the impossible agreement on the budget in June 2005, Plan D aims to open up a debate built on a (...)

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 (...)

Fixing Cigarette Prices - France and Belgium Tackled

France and Belgium are being tackled by the European Commission (EC) for fixing of minimum retail prices for cigarettes. The EC decided in June 2006 to send these countries a reasoned opinion.
The Commission believes that such prices do not respect Community law, distort competition and benefit manufacturers only by safeguarding their profit margins.
In order to reduce tobacco consumption - a positive base step in boosting public health - the EC advocates increasing the excise duty on (...)

EESC Hearing on the European Transparency Initiative

On 11 July 2006, EPHA attended a hearing of stakeholders concerned by certain questions addressed in the European Transparency Initiative. The hearing was organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), at the request of and in close cooperation with the European Commission (EC).
Participants included representatives of civil society organisations, consultancies, business sector lobby groups, law firms and think tanks, as well as the EC, the EESC and the office of the (...)

EU High Level Meetings to be Televised

As of June 2006, Council of Minister meetings are to be televised, in a bid to increase the overall transparency, accountability and credibilty of the EU institutions.
The UK has withdrawn its opposition to the new transparency procedures at Council level, ending the European Union tradition of secretive, closed-door ministerial meetings.
EPHA welcomes the new move of the EU Council of Ministers to change their own practices, which is key both for the credibility of the EU Council, as well (...)

The Austrian Presidency’s Health Priorities and Progress in 2006

Austria held the rotating Presidency of the EU from 1 January to 30 June, 2006. What were the health-related priorities of the Austrian government during this period - and were they achieved ?
Future Presidencies of the European Union
Food and food safety
The Austrian Presidency re-opened the current safety assessments done by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which, according to some member states, has approved GM products without proper research. However, Austria’s attempt at (...)

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** EU budget in the spotlight

This article has been updated with the latest call for action and an analysis of the consequences of the financial agreement on the Health programme (attached documents). For more information on the agreement reached on the 04 April, read EU leaders agree a budget for 2007-2013
The debate about the EU budget is heating up as the June 2005 deadline for agreement gets closer. It takes about 18 months to prepare the legal paperwork to allow the EU to spend money on programmes so if a deal is (...)

**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 (...)

*UPDATED* EU leaders agree a budget for 2007-2013

This article has been updated with the results of the negotiations and adoption by the Council and the European Parliament in April 2006. For information on the consequences for the Health budget, read EU budget in the spotlight
EU summit - December 2005
After 17 hours of negotiations at the EU Summit on 15-16 December 2005, the UK managed to get a political agreement from all Member States on the EU budget for the period 2007-2013.
The European Commission had put forward an ambitious (...)

Withdrawal of 68 legislative proposals by the European Commission

Following the commitment to improve citizens’ confidence, the European Commission Vice-President Günther Verheugen has decided to withdraw more than a third of the pending legislative proposals dated before the 1 January 2004.
The move is aimed to fight against the feeling that the European Union is a bureaucratic giant dealing with uncessary regulations. According to the European Commission, most of the proposals were either inconsistent with the Lisbon Strategy, or did not meet better (...)

**UPDATED** New EU Public Health Programme 2008-2013, February 2008

*UPDATED* Call for proposals under the EU Public Health Programme 2008-2013 has been published.
EU Public Health Programme 2008-2013
The EU Public Health Programme has published its ’Call for proposals’ which allows organisations to participate under a variety of financing mechanisms. The budgetary authority has approved a total budget of 46.600.000 euros for 2008.
The Programme makes a clear distinction between ’grants for an action’ and ’operating grants’
Specified at SANCO’s website, the (...)

UK Presidency’s Health Priorities

The United Kingdom (UK) Presidency of the EU will begin 1 July and last till 31 December 2005.
Future Presidencies of the European Union
Presidency priorities and events
The general priorities of the UK Presidency will be : Economic reform, security, climate change, Africa.
Other issues that will be progressed are : Sustainable development, chemicals regulation for health, environment and competitiveness, reform of EU sugar regime, EU/US - strenghtening economic partnership.
The health (...)

UPDATED EC consultation : health as a driver of cohesion policy

This article has been updated with EPHA’s response to the Consultation (attached).
The Commission adopted on 5 July a proposal for Community Strategic Guidelines entitled “Cohesion Policy in Support of Growth and Jobs : Community Strategic Guidelines, 2007-2013”, setting priorities on the use of the Structural and Cohesion Funds for the period 2007-2013, which includes investment in health.
The draft guidelines present a "healthy workforce" as one of the objectives of (...)

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 (...)

Move for greater transparency in EU lobbying

Background
Lobbying is a booming growth industry in Brussels. Estimates of how many lobbyists haunt the corridors of the EU institutions in Brussels vary from 15 000 to 20 000. Of these, according to the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), 70% represent corporate interests, 20% regions, cities and international organisations, and only 10% citizens’ interests.
The large lobby industry in Brussels has gained considerable power and influence over policy making, and especially corporate (...)

Consultation on better implementation of EU legislation

The Single Market Observatory (SMO) of the European Economic and Social Committee is preparing an own-intiative opinion on ’How to Improve the implementation and enforcement of EU legislation’ in the context of the British EU Presidency in the second half of 2005. It is also preparing an exploratory opinion on ’Better Lawmaking’.
As part of the consultation process a questionnaire which aimed at better targeting the opinion and including stakeholders viewpoints and recommendations was (...)

EU prepares response to biological or chemical terrorist attack

Policymakers around the world are increasing their planning activities to deal with a potential biological or chemical attack.
What to do in a chemical attack
The European Commission has issued practical guidance for the public about the what do to in the event of a chemical attack. The information is meant to help people understand how to prepare themselves and to make it easier for emergency services to act. The EU has said that this is part of their general approach to civil protection (...)

Commission presents its five year strategy and 2005 work programme

On 26 January 2004, the European Commission announced its strategic objectives for 2005-2009 period and its work programme for 2005.
Strategic Objectives 2005-2009
Strategic objectives are listed under four main headings :
Prosperity (economic growth, competitiveness, higher productivity, more jobs),
Solidarity (social justice, environmental protection, cohesion),
Security (Hague programme, fighting crime and terrorism, managing immigration, environmental and health risks),
Europe as (...)

Public consultation on weight indications on packed products

The Directorate General which deals with Entreprise and Industry of the European Commission has launched on Monday 24 January a public consultation on the metrological requirements in pre-packaging .
This consultation aims at simplifying the rules for producers while at the same time, understanding consumer concerns about weight indications on all packed products.
The Commission wants to bring existing European laws (both at national and European levels) into two main directives that would (...)

New Call for Proposals for EU funding on Emerging Science and Technology

The European Commission’ s DG Research has launched a call for proposals under the budgetline New and Emerging Science and Technology (NEST). The deadline for application is April 13 2005.
INSIGHT projects
INSIGHT projects must demonstrate an anticipatory function.
They are scientific investigations designed to provide identification and clarification of discoveries and phenomena that could lead to potential risks for the society.
They should aim at developing scientific understanding (...)

MEPs call for Commission action on autism

On 18 January 2005, the Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety in the European Parliament discussed the issue of monitoring autism in the EU raised by the open question to the Commission posed by Kathy Sinnott (ID, IRL).
The Commission representative said that the Commission was not monitoring or planning to monitor the incidence of autism throughout the EU. However, one of the priorities of the 2005 Work Plan for the implementation of the Public Health Programme concerns (...)

ECDC Director committed to improve public health in Europe

Mrs Zsuzsanna Jakab begun working as the first Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in March 2005.
Objectives of the ECDC
Speaking at the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee hearing on Monday 10 January 2005, she asserted very clearly 4 broad functions for the future ECDC :
Organising and coordinating the collaboration between EU institutions, Member States and other partners such as the World Health (...)

Nikiforos Diamandouros re-elected as European Ombudsman

During its plenary session of 11 January 2005, the European Parliament voted to re-elect Nikiforos Diamandouros as European Ombudsman with 564 out of a total of 643 votes cast.
Mr Diamandouros has served as European Ombudsman since January 2003, following the retirement of the Union’s first Ombudsman, Jacob Söderman and his new mandate will run until 2009.
The European Ombudsman is empowered to receive complaints from any citizen of the Union or any natural or legal person residing in a (...)

Public Health Programme information day, 2005

An Information Day on the European Public Health Programme (2003-2008) will take place on Thursday, 3 February 2005 in Luxembourg.
During the meeting, the Commission will present its annual Work Plan 2005 for the implementation of the Programme.
The 2005 Call for Proposals was published on the 17 January on DG Sanco’s website.
The deadline to present proposals is the 15 April 2005.
As part of the programme of the Information Day, the Commission will held several workshops to guide (...)

Executive Agency for the EU Public Health Programme

On 15 December, the European Commission set up an executive agency to carry out tasks relating to the management of the Community programme in the field of public health (2003-2008).
A cost-benefit study carried out by the Commission showed that the executive agency would be a more economical mean of improving the effectiveness of the way in which the public health programme is implemented. This study has not been published so far.
The Commission wants to capitalise on the technical work (...)

EU Presidencies until 2020

EU member states met on 13 December 2004 and reached political agreement on provisions concerning the exercise of the Council Presidency including the order of Presidencies from 2007 to 2020.
The current provision runs out at the end of 2006 with Luxembourg, the UK, Finland and Austria still to come.
The Council set out the order of Presidencies of the Council as from 1 January 2007 and laid down certain modalities concerning arrangements among Member States for the exercise of the (...)

Hungarian public health official first director of ECDC

NGO involvement on the ratification of new Treaty

As part of the Act4europe campaign, the Civil Society Contact Group is preparing a handbook for NGOs on the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty.
The handbook will include sectoral assessments of the final text by the Contact Group members and information on what the state of play is in the different Member States.
There will be a section on national NGO views on the ratification process in their Member States, and the involvement of NGOs in the process : whether/how you are organising (...)

Control over imports of chemicals used in illicit drugs

The Council of Ministers agreed on a proposal for a Regulation to strengthen controls on the import of the chemicals that are used to manufacture illicit narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, in particular ecstasy, so-called drug precursors.
The existing legislation in this area, Regulation 3677/90, which the proposed Regulation would replace, must be modernised because in recent years the Community has become one of the world’s leading ecstasy manufacturers and exporters, using (...)

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 (...)

New European Commission finally takes office

The new Barroso team of 25 began its five-year term of office on 22 November, three weeks later than originally planned. This ends the 5 week stand-off with the European Parliament.
On 27 October, President Barroso chose not to submit his team to a vote in the Plenary after two Commissioners were rejected by their respective Parliamentary Committees. Italian nominee Rocco Buttiglione was rejected by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and Laszlo Kovacs, from (...)

Guide to EU civil society launched

The EU Civil Society Contact Group has published a handbook entitled ’The European Parliament 2004-2009 and European Civil Society : a guide for partnership’.
The guide contains contributions from the six member sectors of the Contact Group (social, development, human rights, environment, women, culture) and introduces the policy areas they work on as well as their views on the key role the European Parliament has to play in these areas.
It also includes overviews of the vast expertise (...)

Consultation on the 7th Research Framework

The European Commission is undertaking a consultation to identify ’thematic domains’ for future European support under the 7th Framework Programme.
The European Commission is using the following three criteria in order to identify which thematic domains will be included in the proposal for the 7th Framework Programme.
Contribution to EU policy objectives
The research topic must generate new knowledge to meet societal needs and catalyse the delivery of a European policy objective(s), (...)

Civil society to present Constitution to citizens

In a debate hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 9 November 2004, representatives of all sectors of civil society met with MEPs Íñigo Mendez de Vigo (EPP-ED, ES) and Richard Corbett (PES, UK).
This was an opportunity for civil society to comment on the Draft Report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (2004/2129(INI)).
The Draft Report will now be finalised and the final version will be debated (...)

Milestones of the first EU Commissioner for Health

The first EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection David Byrne, has reviewed the achievements of his term in office, 1999-2004.
" Health and consumer protection policy is an area where citizens expect to see tangible benefits from the European Union. The safety of food and other products, protection of their health and their rights as consumers are topics that touch the every-day lives of citizens. I was acutely aware of this five years ago when I took up the post as the very (...)

Call for proposals : DG Culture supports NGOs of European interest

The Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission issued on October 2004 the call for proposals EAC/68/04 : "Support to non-governmental organisations and associations and federations of European interest 2005".
The deadline for submission of proposals is the 30th November 2004.
Thematic areas :
To promote and disseminate the values and objectives of the European Union ;
To bring citizens closer to the European Union and its institutions and to encourage (...)

Commission reveals results of Consultation on Health Strategy

"Public health continues to be a priority for EU citizens and stakeholders", announces DG SANCO as the results of a public consultation are compiled.
In July 2004, then Health Commissioner Byrne launched a reflection process and public debate on the vision for a health strategy for the EU. A Communication on Health Strategy is expected from the Commission by the end of 2005.
The reflection process generated a major debate across the EU and beyond involving countries as varied as the USA, (...)

Results of the Commissioners’ hearings

On Wednesday, 13 October, the European Parliament sent to Jose Manuel Barroso, the incoming president of the European Commission, 26 evaluation letters drafted by the EP committee chairmen following a series of hearings with all the members of Mr Barroso’s team.
Out of 24 commissioners-designate, two have received negative opinions from the MEPs. The Italian Conservative Rocco Buttiglione, whose opinions on the homosexuality and marriage have shocked a large number of deputies, was (...)

Poverty and health in developing countries : EU and WHO to cooperate closely

A new report by the WHO and UNICEF warns that vicious cycle of ill-health and poverty could defeat human development efforts, with children the first to suffer.
More than 2.6 billion people - over 40 per cent of the world’s population - do not have access to basic sanitation, and more than one billion people still use unsafe sources of drinking water
Entitled Meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) drinking water and sanitation target - A mid-term assessment of progress, the report (...)

New Commission portfolios announced

President-designate of the European Commission, Mr Jose Manuel Barroso has announced the policy portfolios allocated to his team of Commissioners.
Innovations
All Commissioners under one roof at the Berlaymont building
New post Vice-President for institutional relations and communication strategy - Mrs Margot Wallstrom
A Vice President for Competitiveness - Mr Gunter Verheugen
5 Vice-Presidents but all Commissioners equal in decision-making
More informal brainstorming sessions and (...)

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 (...)

Commissioner Byrne debates public health in Europe

On Thursday 15 July 2004 European Commissioner David Byrne launched an informal consultation process on how the EU can best contribute to raising health perspectives across the Union.
What value added can be brought by cooperating at EU level ? This can range from combating common threats to health (communicable diseases...), patient mobility, facilitating cooperation between health systems, benchmarking, best practices etc. The economic impact and cost of health is now higher on political (...)

European health card launched on 1 June 2004

On 1 June 2004, the European Health Insurance Card came into circulation in 13 European countries. The aim of the card is to facilitate the access to healthcare within the EU, by replacing all the paper forms needed for health treatment during a temporary stay in another Member State.
According to Romano Prodi : "The European health insurance card will be another piece of Europe in your pocket. The millions of European citizens who travel within the Union every year - on holiday, school (...)

Health in the Dutch presidency, 2004

The Dutch Presidency begins on 1 July 2004 and the website has been launched.
The main theme for the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport’s contribution to the Presidency will be the relationship between health and other policies, with the emphasis on the interests of the citizens in an EU of 25.
For this purpose the ministry is to organize an ’Informal Council’, to discuss the relationship between the internal market and health.
July
October
 ; 4 ; Employment, Soc. Policy, Health (...)

DG Sanco’s working parties news, June 2004

Lifestyle working party
On 2nd June 2004, DG Sanco made public the mandate of the Lifestyle Working Party (LWP).
Mandate of the Working Party in Lifestyle
Working Party on European Community Health Indicators
The WP on European Community Health Indicators published in June 2004 the draft list of recommended ‘First Phase Core Indicators’ (shortlist).
For more information on DG Sanco’s working parties, please read EPHA’s related article "Working Parties for the EU Public Health (...)

Conclusions of the Health Council, June 2004

The Health Council met on 1-2 June 2004 in Luxemburg to revise negotiating directives for the Commission in respect of the revision of International Health Regulations (IHR) within the framework of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The Council also adopted a Decision concerning the conclusion on behalf of the Community of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The Council held a debate on the need to promote heart health and adopted several conclusions (see minutes of (...)

Speeches from health Commissioners, June 2004

Mr David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, gave a speech in the European Health Managers Association (EHMA) Annual Conference in Berlin on the 23rd June 2004.
The speech, titled "Enabling health - Empowering citizens", mentions some of the Commission achivements on health of the past years and emphasizes the necessity of empowering people to assume responsibility for their health.
Byrne also gave a speech in June on "The role of diet : How to inform (...)

IGC adopts a new Constitution for Europe

EU leaders concluded the Brussels Summit on 18 June 2004 by reaching agreement on the text of the new Treaty which provides a Constitution for Europe.
Currently the EU is governed by the Nice Treaty, signed in December 2000 and which came into force in February 2003. The New Constitutional Treaty will, if ratified, enter into force in 2009.
The Irish Prime Minister stated :
"The Constitutional Treaty brings the Union’s basic law into one document for the first time. It reflects the needs of (...)

Two more candidates for Commission President

Thursday 17 June
On Thursday 17 June, EU leaders met to decide who will be the next Commission President.
Bertie Ahern, Irish prime minister and current head of the EU, proposed Guy Verhofstadt (the current Prime Minister of Belgium and politically from the PPE group) also supported by the French and German governments. However his strong position against the war in Iraq and his clear refusal to mention God in the new Treaty resulted in opposition by UK, Italy and Poland.
Silvio Berlusconi (...)

EU Presidency urges action on services of general interest

The Irish Presidency has submitted to the European Council a review of progress since the Spring summit and outlined areas for future priority EU action.
The document highlighted progress achieved on mobility of European citizens, businesses and services ; through legislation on recognition of professional qualifications, social security co-ordination, the Europass and the introduction of the European Health Insurance Card.
The Presidency invited the Council to address drug abuse and drug (...)

IGC final preparatory meeting before Brussels Summit

The IGC met at Foreign Minister level in Luxembourg on Monday, 14 June 2004. The meeting was to prepare final negotiations ahead of the Summit of Heads of State or Government level in Brussels on 17/18 June.
The Foreign Ministers had met on 17-18 May and again on 24 May to identify areas of consensus. Read the related EPHA article. The Irish Presidency commented :
"This morning we had a very productive meeting. Most of our discussion was focused on document CIG 80/04, which was circulated (...)

IGC - results of the Foreign Ministers Meeting on 24 May 2004

The Irish Presidency has prepared a new document CIG 79/04, dated 10 June 2004 on the progress of the IGC negotiations based on the comments and discussions from the EU Foreign Minister’s meetings on 17-18 and 24 May 2004.
The Presidency states that the new draft document includes some additional points on which there now appears to be broad consensus and a series of purely technical/legal adjustments. The new draft text is designed to prepare the Foreign Ministers meeting on 14 June 2004 (...)

Results of the European Parliament Elections

The first European Parliament elections in the enlarged EU were marked by voter apathy and punishment of national ruling parties.
The turnout fell even lower than the 1999 elections. Just 45.5% of voters filled out ballots, with low participation rates in many of the 10 new Member States where an average of 26.4 % of people bothered to exercise their electoral options. The lowest turnout was in Slovakia, where fewer than 17% cast their votes.
The overall balance of the 732-member (...)

BMA Launches Manifesto for European Elections

The British Medical Association has launched it’s manifesto for the European Elections. Titled, "Health Is Our Business", the policy document can be found on the BMA website.

EU Treaty Article on public health discussed, 17 May

EU Foreign Ministers meet in Brussels on 17-18 May 2004 for the next step in the IGC negotiations. In preparation, the Irish Presidency issued two new documents on 13 May that resulted from a Focus points meeting.
Document CIG 76/04 contains the provisions of the Constitution on which the Presidency states that a broad consensus emerged among experts the focal points meeting on 4 May. Article III-179 (ex 152) stays as it was in document CIG 73/04 (for a through analysis of this document, (...)

Presidency publishes new text for IGC discussions, 3 May

In preparation for IGC Focal points meeting on 4 May 2004, the Irish Presidency has published a new draft (CIG 73/04) of the Constitutional Treaty based on Document CIG 60/03 ADD1, incorporating changes to the Naples text of December 2003.
However, the Presidency emphasized that this new document is not an official proposal and that issues related to Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) still need to be worked out. But no new concerns could be tabled by Member States.
The next IGC meetings (on (...)

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

Czech nominee for Commissioner appears before the Parliament

The European Parliament held hearings on 13-15 April 2004 for the new Commissioners nominated by the 10 acceeding countries. Mr Pavel Telicka, the Czech Commissioner designate will shadow Commissioner Byrne on the Health and Consumer Protection portfolio.
Mr Telicka confirmed his interest in remaining for the next Commission (2004 - 2009) but said it would be premature to identify a portfolio. He told MEPs that he preferred for DG SANCO to remain intact in the new Commission (2004 - 2009) (...)

IGC Developments - April 2004

At the European Council on 25/26 March 2004, the Irish Presidency provided a Report CIG 70/04 with the result of bilateral meetings with the EU 25 countries, the Commission and the Parliament.
The latest IGC discussions were based on the Italian Presidency proposals for the Brussels summit on 12-13 December 2003 which ended without agreement.
The UK, France and Germany held a trilateral summit on 16 February 2004 and set out their vision of Europe’s role in health.
The Irish (...)

Working Parties for the EU Public Health Programme

The EU Public Health Programme has three key strands of action : Health Information Systems (Strand 1), Rapid response to health threats (Strand 2) and Health determinants (Strand 3). As part of Strand 1, DG SANCO will create a number of working parties which are designed to advise on further development work in the specific field.
Working Parties that will be established
The working parties will run for the length of the EU Public Health Programme (2003-2008) and may involve sub-groups or (...)

2004 Call for proposals launched

The European Commission has launched the 2004 Call for proposals for projects to be funded through the EU public Health Programme. This follows the adoption on 25 February of the 2004 Work plan which sets out the priorities for this year.
The deadline for submission of proposals is 26 April 2004.
An Information Day for potential project submitters covering the implementation of the Public Health Programme was held on Monday 22 March 2004, 9h30-16h00 at the European Commission in (...)

EU citizens want governments to adopt an EU constitution

A Eurobarometer survey shows that a large majority of people want their government to make concessions to secure agreement on a European constitution. The Commission funded poll was organised on 23/24 January 2004 following the collapse of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). The survey shows that 77% of people in the 25 countries are in favour of the EU adopting a Constitution, with 15% opposed to the idea. More than 60% of people expect that without a constitution the European (...)

Civil society dialogues with EESC on future strategy for IGC

In a dialogue with civil society organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 22 January 2004, Mr Jean-Luc Dehaene (former vice-president of the Convention)and Mr Andrew Duff MEP (Liberals, UK) exchanged their opinions about the results of the IGC with civil society representatives.
The general feeling was that the IGC should continue the debate on the basis of the final text presented by the Convention.
There are two more texts that amend the Convention’s one, the (...)

Irish presidency continues constitutional talks

Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen addressed the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on 20 January 2004, on the current state of play regarding the IGC.
He announced that EU Foreign Ministers will continue the negotiations on the Constitutional text on 29 January, in the form of an initial informal discussion over lunch at next Monday’s meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.
The European Council gave the Irish (...)

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 (...)

EU Agencies under discussion

The European Council meeting of heads of government on 13 December 2003 agreed on how to distribute EU agencies among the Member States.
It was decided that a Community Fisheries Control Agency should be established as a matter of urgency, and the Agency would be based in Spain. In November 2003, EU countries had agreed in principle to establish a European Borders Management Agency by 01/2005 but no location has been decided yet. But the December Summit agreed that after enlargement in May (...)

Public health in the priorities of the Irish EU Presidency

The Irish Presidency of the European Union has recently relased his official Work Programme "Europeans - Working Together". The document also includes some key references to public health.
The paper states : "The Irish Presidency intends to focus on improved public health protection and added value at European level. It will aim to secure adoption of key health measures while ensuring that health considerations are fully reflected in measures covering other areas of EU activity".
"Key (...)

New Director-General of DG SANCO appointed

The new Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs (SANCO) is Mr Robert Madelin, a UK national.
Mr Madelin’s previous position was a Director in DG Trade where he was responsible for managing the civil society dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders on EU positions in multilateral trade issues. He will take up his new role at SANCO in early 2004.
EPHA interviewed Mr Madelin in January 2003 on the inter-linkage between health and (...)

IGC ends in failure

The InterGovernmental Conference ended without agreement during the day on Saturday 13 December 2003. The voting weights for Spain and Poland were the issue that brought the IGC to a standstill.
What does this mean for the draft Constitutional Text ? Several commentators have noted that there is likely to be a period of reflection and stock-taking rather than a rush to re-start negotiations. It is expected that the Irish government will produce a status report in Spring 2004 but any (...)

IGC - New Presidency compromise text, 9 December

On 9 December 2003 the Italian Presidency produced new compromise proposals to be used as a basis for the discussions in the European Council meeting of 12-13 December 2003. Following the Naples meeting of foreign ministers, the Presidency has produced an Explanatory memorandum (IGC Doc 60/03) and two new documents.
The first, CIG 60/03 ADD 1 covers issues that the Presidency feels that they have managed to integrate the comments of the various delegations and that this is now a balanced (...)

IGC - Next steps from Naples

EU Foreign Ministers met in Brussels on the 8 December, the last opportunity to find solutions for the Constitutional Treaty before the European Council of 12-13 December. The meeting was dedicated to an in-depth examination of two important themes discussed at the Naples Conclave : defence and budget. The Presidency had proposed two documents for the discussion on defence, based on progress made in Naples on the definition of the ESDP in the future Constitutional Treaty. The Italian (...)

Results of Employment, Social and Health Council, 1-2 December 2003

The Employment, Social policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council gathered together 54 Ministers and government representatives and 3 Commissioners in Brussels on 1-2 December 2003. The Agenda included a number of key legislative and policy items :
The meeting adopted Recommendations on Healthy Lifestyles and on Cancer Screening and held a debate on the new proposed European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) which is currently in First reading in the Parliament. The Member States stressed (...)

UPDATED : Conference on the EU competence in health

EPHA and the European Respiratory Society organised a conference in Brussels on 27 November 2003 to discuss the EU competence in public health. The agenda featured speakers from the European Commission, WHO, Member States and a senior lawyer with experience of the Court of Justice
The conference examined whether the draft Constitutional Treaty provides the legal basis to achieve a ’high level of human health’ in the EU. The morning featured presentations about the health status of (...)

IGC - Initial positions of Member States on health

EU Foreign Ministers met in Brussels on 27 October 2003 to discuss a number of issues from the IGC. To prepare the meeting, on 24 October 2003, the IGC Secretariat published on their website a summary document of the responses from Member States on non-institutional issues from the Constitutional Treaty.
Article I-3 : EU objectives The Greek government requested that ’public health’ be included
Article III-6 : Services of General Economic Interest Spain requested a return to the original (...)

ERCEG recommends the creation of a European Research Council

An interim report of the European Research Council Expert Group concludes that there are compelling reasons for the establishment of a European Research Council.
The European Research Council Expert Group (ERCEG) was created in December 2002 by the Danish government to explore options for establishing a European Research Council (ERC).
The Group now released an interim report, arguing that there were compelling reasons for setting up an ERC, whose main purpose should be to manage a (...)

11 European health ministers sign the "Prague Declaration"

Last 21 September, Health ministers of eight new Member States (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia), as well as Austria, Greece and Italy, set up a Steering Group of health ministers to cooperate more closely in the field of health and social care.
The so-called "Prague Declaration" was signed in the presence of representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Please find it attached at the end of this article.
In this (...)

August 2003, IGC Preparations and Member State Positions on the Convention

THE IGC
Italian Presidency says "European Constitution, Agreement Not Easy, Not Impossible", 28th July
Presidency website. Finding a compromise solution to allow for the adoption of a future European Constitution "will not be easy but it won’t be impossible either," according to Premier and European Union duty president Silvio Berlusconi.
Italy intends to play a neutral role in the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) which it hopes will complete its work by December 10, he said during a (...)

July 2003, EU Member States set out their positions for the IGC

There is increasing evidence that the Convention’s draft of the Constitutional Treaty will be re-written during the Inter-Governmental Conference (IGC). The UK, with the support of Ireland, Scandinavian countries, Spain, Italy and some Eastern European countries, have signalled their intention to re-open the text.
Reports in UK newspapers state that the government will issue in early September a policy statement detailing the areas where it is not prepared to compromise, such as tax (...)

July 2003, What do Europeans think of the Convention ?

A flash Eurobarometer survery released by the European Commission indicates that across the 25 EU/CEE countries only 45 % of those questioned had heard of the EU Convention. Highest recognition came from Greece, which had held the most recent EU Presidency. Lowest scores were found in the UK where 75 % of those questioned did not know what the Convention was.
But about 50 % of those interviewed would be interested in reading a summary of the constitutional treaty. Citizens were confused (...)

July 2003, EPHA guide to the Convention on the Future of Europe

WHY A ’CONVENTION’ ?
As the historic enlargement of the EU to Central and Eastern Europe approached it became clear the need to reform the European Union and its Treaties in order to prepare for a Europe of 25 rather than 15 countries. In addition there was strong pressure to make the EU more democratic, transparent, and efficient. The time had come for a profound debate on the objectives and goals of the EU, its Treaties and its institutions.
In the Laeken Summit, 14-15 November 2001, (...)

Briefing Note : Convention Plenary, 9-10 July

On Wednesday 9 July, the Convention met in plenary session.
The previous draft of Part III (policies) dated 8 July, had not improved article 174 (ex 152) on public health. However, three interventions demanded changes on this article :
Antonio Vitorino pointed out the need to clarify the legal basis of public health, and he referred to the Commission’s amendment in this sense.
Pierre Lequiller supported Mr Vitorino’s intervention on public health.
Marietta Giannaku pointed out the (...)

Briefing Note : Convention Plenary, 4 July

Introduction by Giscard d’Estaing
Convention President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing started with a briefing on the reactions of the heads of Member states gathered in Thessaloniki to the Constitutional text.
He said that there had been ’possitive reactions’ and a recognition of the ’broad consensus’.
Giscard also said that the conclusions of the Council only reflected partially the athmosphere of the debate and the support of the Member States which was more than he had hoped for.
Then he (...)

July 2003, Written Amendments for Convention’s Public Debate on Policies

Plenary to Debate Policies
The European Convention will hold two additional plenary sessions on 4 and 9-10 July to discuss Parts III and IV of the draft Constitution, dealing with the EU’s policies, the issue of ratification by Member States and the procedures for the revision of the Constitution.
Some 1.700 amendments were tabled. Proposals concern the division of powers between the Member States and the Union’s institutions and their competences over a complete range of policies, (...)

Scoreboard Shows Greek Presidency Results

The Greek Presidency issued last Wednesday 25 July the results of the 2003 Greek Presidency by Policy Area.
The ’scoreboard’ can be found in the website of the Greek Presidency.
This document will serve as background material for the debate of the Greek Presidency outcome in the plenary session of the European Parliament on the 1 July in Strasburg.
Speech by Romano Prodi to the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasburg : ’Greek Presidency closes on (...)

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 (...)

Commissioner Byrne’s Speeches, June 2003

David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, delivered a speech in the ’Controlling the Food and Feed Chain : 12th Annual Food Law Conference’ in Brussels, last 26 June 2003.
Speech for the 12th Annual Food Law Conference
Commissioner Byrne also delivered a speech at the ’Risk and Governance World Congress’ on Risk Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) in Brussels, last 23 June 2003.
Speech on Risk Society for Risk (...)

May 2003, Praesidium Issues Comments on Social Europe WG Conclusions

INCORPORATION OF THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE SOCIAL EUROPE WG INTO THE TREATY
The Convention Praesidium has prepared a note on how the conclusions of the Social Europe Working Group should be incorporated in the future treaty.
The original text was in French (at the end of this article).
We have translated to English the paragraphs that we think are most important for our activities.
Values to be inserted into article 2 of Part I : the Working Group and discussions in the plenary session have (...)

February 2003, Health stakeholders call for health priority in the EU

The EU Health Policy Forum is a grouping of 45 health stakeholders including NGOs, health professionals, academic researchers, patient groups, hospital managers, trades unions, social insurance partners and industry. The EU Health Policy Forum has agreed this joint statement expressing concern that public health has not been adequately considered and addressed in the Convention thus (...)

Further delays expected in the adoption of rules on health and nutrition claims

It is anticipated that the presentation of the highly controversial draft rules on health and nutrition claims on food packaging will be postponed until late 2009. Aside from the intense Industry lobbying, at a political level, Commission officials from DG Enterprise and DG Agriculture have also objected to certain elements in the DG SANCO proposal.
There are concerns among health campaigners that if this level of political conflict continues, the public health objectives of the Regulation (...)

Agriculture Commissioner speaks to the AGRI Committee on CAP

24 June 2008, the European Parliament Agriculture and Rural Development committee met to discuss the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) health check. Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, spoke to the committee and received questions.
Commissioner Boel opened by saying that in light of the current food crisis, CAP reform was very urgent. On the issue of food security, she said it must be viewed from a broader perspective. She stressed that the package on (...)

*Updated*Promotion of healthy food in Latvia’s schools

The Latvian government has introduced thougher limits to the availability of unhealthy foods at schools and kindergardens by establishing nutrient profiles.
Existing health and safety legislation regarding schools and kindergardens, introduced by the Ministry of Health, has been amended to include reference to the availability of junk food in these settings.
According to recent data, the food for sale in educational institutions has become more and more unhealthy. As a direct consequence, (...)

Transparency over CAP expenditures

EU governments have agreed to publish the names of all recipients of the Union’s farm subsidies and how much they receive from 2009 at the latest, subject to final agreement with the European Parliament.
Such disclosure should lead to better transparency over the end beneficiaries of all EU funds, including the Union’s annual €60 billion spending on farm subsidies. This is in line with the recent debates over the European Transparency Initiative and transparency of the European Council. (...)

The EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health - An Insider’s Perspective

Obesity is one of the most serious health challenges facing Europe today. European Union (EU) citizens are exercising too little and eating too much - too much energy, too many calories, too much fat and sugar, and salt. The main consequence is a sustained, acute EU-wide increase in overweight and obesity. The increase is particularly severe for children and adolescents.
The EU has an important role to play in containing or reversing the current trend. EU policy affects food safety, (...)

EU institutions react on Organic Food and Farming

The Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament has adopted in February an own initiative report by MEP Marie-Helene Aubert (Greens/EFA, FR) calling for more financial and institutional support for organic farming in Europe.
This follows the European Commission Communication : "European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming" (COM (2004) 415) issued in June 2004.
In December 2002 a working document entitled "Analysis of the possibility of a European Action Plan for organic food and (...)

Preparatory meeting for the Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

A preparatory meeting to lauch the "Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health" was organised on the 15 February by DG Sanco.
This meeting included the members of the Obesity Round Table plus around 20 suggested additional participants and responsibles for health issues of the Permanent Representations of the EU Member States to the EU (involved in the preparation of Health Council meetings).
Amongst these suggested additional participants was EPHA.
DG Sanco’s report to the (...)

Agriculture Council discusses sugar and fruit and vegetables

The 22-23 November 2004 meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, discussed key reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Sugar Reform
The Council completed its thorough examination of the Commission’s Communication on the sugar sector reform.
Summary of the Council discussions :
the need for a reform : all delegations agreed that the status quo in the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for sugar is not sustainable ;
the international aspects of sugar : a large majority (...)

Lamy Discusses CAP Reform with NGOs

EPHA participated last 8-9 May in a meeting organised by Solidar, Oxfam International and CIDSE.
In this meeting NGOs told European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy that the EU, and others, have so far failed to deliver on their promises to make development the primary focus of the current WTO, Doha Development round negotiations.
Lamy recognized that developing countries are sometimes put under unacceptable pressure in WTO negotiations.
He stated that the EU categorically rejected these (...)

OPEN DAYS 2008 European Week of Regions and Cities - ’Health Village’

Important annual conference of European regional stakeholders take place 6-9 October 2008 in Brussels.
The participation at the OPEN DAYS 2008 is free, and there will be 143 specialist seminars to choose from and a total of 15,000 seats available.
The OPEN DAYS seminars and debates will focus on four themes :
Innovating regions : Promoting research, technological development and innovation ;
Sustainable development : Regional responses to climate change ;
Cooperation and networking : Exchange (...)

Quick Guide to EU Funds for the period 2007-2013

The ’Quick Guide to EU Funds’ presents the new Community priorities, programmes and other funding opportunities available since 1 January 2007.
The Quick Guide to EU Funds presents selected programmes as a response to the demand for practical and comprehensive information in an easily accessible format. The guide presents the new Community priorities, programmes and other funding opportunities available since 1 January 2007.
The guide provides information regarding the different types of (...)

**Updated** Public Health and the EU : an overview (2007)

In 2007 EPHA commissioned an update of our 1995 publication "Public Health and the EU : an overview", now available in 20 languages, as part of the activities of our European project "EPHA’s project : Building the public health community across Europe".
The Executive Summaries can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.
"Public Health and the EU : an overview" is an introduction to the wide range of European Union (EU) activities that affect public health.
It aims to inform local, (...)

EU Eurobarometer opinion survey highlights health checks

A Eurobarometer opinion survey across the EU has found wide differences in health status as well as the use of health checkups across the EU.

Conference on the Operation of the Clinical Trials Directive, October 2007

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) will hold a conference in London at the EMEA premises on Wednesday 3 October 2007 regarding the operation of the Clinical Trials Directive (Directive 2001/20/EC).
The scope of the EMEA conference is on EU clinical trials legislation and its implementation in the context of clinical trials of medicinal products.
The objectives of the EMEA conference :
provide an overview of the experience to date with the operation of the Directives 2001/20/EC and (...)

Launch of the European Regional and local Health Authorities platform

On the 30 January 2006, the newly formed EUREGHA Network (EUropean REGional and local Health Authorities platform) was launched. The objective of the network is to improve coordinated policy communication between EU institutions and regional and local authorities working on health issues.
As regional and local authorities are increasingly affected by health initiatives and have more and more responsabilities in the field, EUREGHA intends to build an administrative regional and local (...)

Lisbon Strategy achieves ’limited progress’ for European workers

The 2000-2010 Lisbon Strategy is coming to an end. it is time to assess what has been its successes and weaknesses so far. The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) has published a Report with this objective and the results are not glory.
Background on the Lisbon Strategy and Benchmarking Working Europe Reports
In March 2000, the European Union launched a "Lisbon Strategy" aimed at making the EU the most competitive economy in the world and achieving full employment by 2010. A list of (...)

Commission proposes harmonisation measures on tobacco taxation.

Mr László Kovács, Commissioner for Taxation and Customs, set forward a Commission proposal aimed at increasing EU excise duties on tobacco on 16 July 2008.
The proposal aims to cut down smuggling and eventually to reduce smoking incidence through harmonisation of minimum taxation across the EU, especially in new Member States.
Commission studies show that cigarette taxation across the EU is very different : in 2006 the purchased in the UK were 6-7 times more expensive than in Latvia for (...)

World AIDS Day : how institutions and advocates approached the event

World AIDS Day was celebrated on 1 December 2007 to remember the victims of the most terrific virus epidemics ever recorded. To date, 25 million people are died throughout the world and 33.2 million are living with HIV/AIDS. After exploring the activities undertaken by Health Commissioner Marcos Kyprianou at the European level, this article will highlight the campaigns undertaken by the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), an EPHA member, in relation to the event.
Health Commissioner (...)

Commission continues infringement procedure against Finland over oral tobacco

The European Commission has decided to continue the infringement procedure against Finland due to its non-compliance with the Court judgement that confirmed Finland’s failure to comply with a Directive prohibiting oral tobacco from being placed on the market.
In July 2007, The European Commission sent a Reasoned Opinion to Finland for non-compliance with Article 8 of Directive 2001/37/EC on the manufacture, presentation, and sale of tobacco products.
In addition, the Commission believes (...)

A New NGO Action Group on the EU Child Rights Strategy

A new NGO action group has been set up to monitor the EU’s strategy on the rights of the child.
On 17 April, a hearing on the European Commission’s Communication "towards an EU strategy on the rights of the child" was held in the European Parliament. The NGO Action Group prepared a set of key messages to be distriibuted at the hearing.
The International Federation Terre Des Hommes, World Vision, the European Foundation for Street Children Worldwide, Save the Children, EURONET, Eurochild, (...)

What is European Citizenship and who is responsible ?

The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) is concerned that "European citizenship" is an issue that belongs to everyone and yet no one is claiming responsibility for it. ECAS has issued a petition to encourage the European Parliament to create a forum in which this increasingly important issues can be discussed.
Many questions need to be answered regarding what it means to be a European Citizen. The European institutions need to ensure that their policies and processes represent the views (...)

*UPDATED* The Revised "Television Without Frontiers" Directive - the public health concerns

A proposal to update the EU’s 1989 "TV without Frontiers" Directive, to keep pace with rapid market developments in Europe’s audiovisual sector, was tabled by the European Commission in December 2005. Among other things, it will regulate advertising on television.
On 13 December 2005, after several public consultations, the European Commission adopted the legislative proposal for the revision of the “Television Without Frontiers” Directive (Directive 97/36/EC). The Commission (...)

**UPDATED** Making your voice heard in the EU - A guide for NGOs - Now also in Italian and Spanish

The Civil Society Contact Group, of which EPHA is a member, has published a new training handbook “Making your voice heard in the EU - A guide for NGOs”. The handbook can be downloaded for free, in 8 European languages.
It is specifically designed for relatively new NGOs and activists that are in the process of establishing a European strategy.
The handbook provides information on EU institutions, the way European NGOs work, as well as lobbying “tips”, illustrated by (...)

*UPDATED* Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative

**UPDATED with EPHA response** The long awaited Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative has been adopted in May 2006.
The Green Paper aims to strengthen etchics rules for EU policy-makers and the estimated 15,000 lobbyists, NGOs and other pressure groups who seek to influence them in Brussels.
In a Nutshell... The European Commission adopted the Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative on 3 May 2006. The European Transparency Initiative aims to strengthen etchics rules (...)

NGO transparency and regulation questioned

Silvana Koch-Mehrin MEP (ALDE DE) has recently questioned NGOs on the ground of lack of transparency. The Civil Society Contact Group responds.
This follows the growing debate on lobbying in Brussels, launched by Siim Kallas, Commissioner for administration and the fight, in 2005 through the European Transparency Initiative. It also coincides with an initiative from Commissioner Frattini to establish a Code of Conduct for NGOs.
The Civil Society Contact Group responds to Silvana (...)

Eurostat’s latest regional data on health

Eurostat has just released the Statistical Yearbook 2005 addressing regional data covering the European Union (EU) 25, as well as Bulgaria and Romania. The Yearbook is meant to be a practical statistical guide to the major issues relating to the evolution of the European Union.
Amongst other issues such as agriculture, transport and science, the Yearbook analyses population statistics and health information. The population chapter particularly focuses on fertility trends and tries to (...)

Driving licences in the EU

The proposal for a European-wide driving license was rejected by a minority of national governments in the Transport Council’s meeting in June 2005.
Transport ministers could not agree on a pan-European license to replace the existing 110 types of licenses that can be found around Europe. Germany, France, Denmark, Austria and Poland created a blocking minority.
They all objcted to the parts of the proposal which would require drivers handing in their current licenses. This objection was (...)

EU must do more to meet targets on women’s health

The Luxembourg Presidency of the EU organised in early February a meeting to review the European implementation of goals stated at the Beijing Conference on Women in 1995. The Beijing confrence identified 12 areas as goals for improvement. Women’s health was one of the priorities.
Although the 25 Ministers responsible for Gender Equality in Luxembourg declared their commitment to improve the situation of women in Europe, “there are still many factors hindering gender equality” (...)

EU showcases research on nutrition and ageing

A workshop entitled "research on nutrition and ageing" organised by the European Commission, took place in Brussels on 29 and 30 November.
The event comprised presentations of three European research projects funded by the EU.
LIPIDIET examines how specific dietary lipids could prevent Alzheimer’s disease
OPTIFORD investigates whether a better supply of dietary vitamin D would reduce osteoporosis
CROWNALIFE assesses the possibilities for functional foods to fulfil the specific needs of (...)

Tobacco or Health in the European Union - Past, Present and Future

EU Health Commissioner David Byrne is bowing out on a high note, unveiling a new report on tobacco control and launching a set of 42 images which are to appear on cigarette packages as tough warnings against the dangers of smoking.
At a press conference in Brussels on 22 October, Commissioner Byrne launched the ASPECT report on EU tobacco control, the first comprehensive overview of the tobacco epidemic in the enlarged EU.
This report was produced by a consortium of experts which featured (...)

EPHA briefing note on the Final report on EU patient mobility

The High Reflection Process examining the issue of patient mobility releases its final report and recommendations
The High Reflection Process, much criticised for its lack of transparency, released its report about the consequences of patients seeking treatment in other Member States (MS).
For the benefit of our members EPHA produced a briefing paper in October 2003, which provided a simplified overview of the process thus far.
In response to this final report, EPHA has produced a (...)

Patient mobility report published - December 2003

The high level reflection proces on patient mobility has ended with the publication on 8 December 2003 of the final report which includes a series of recommendations.
In June 2002 the Commission was asked by Member States (MS) to facilitate a reflection process on patient mobility ; EPHA has been tracking this process on behalf of our members.
What is patient mobility ? The European Union was and remains primarily an economic union, to facilitate the free movement of goods and services. (...)

Commission Communication on Social policy

The Commission has adopted a proposal which aims to improve, simplify and make more visible the EU’s work in co-ordinating Member States’ social protection policies - pensions, social inclusion and combating poverty, healthcare and care for the elderly, social security systems and how they encourage people to work (’making work pay’).
The document highlights the increasing inter-relationship of healthcare systems of EU Member States and the need to address the European dimension of social (...)

Council Recommendation on Drug Dependence

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council has adopted a Recommendation, on the prevention and reduction of health-related harm associated with drug dependence.
The Recomendation calls on Member States to make available a range of different services and facilities, particularly aiming at risk reduction.
Particular emphasis is placed on the prevention of drug-related infections (such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases).
For further details, please consult (...)

*Update* Financial crisis : who, what, and why ?

The world has been by a financial which has now turned into an economic and social crisis. What are the causes of the crisis ? Who is affected ? What is the EU doing to tackle it ?
Background
The financial crisis of 2007–2009, often referred to as "the credit crunch" or "credit crisis", began in July 2007 when a loss of confidence by investors in the value of guaranteed mortgages resulted in a liquidity crisis that prompted a substantial injection of capital into financial markets by (...)

**Updated 09 February 2009** DG Competition Sector Inquiry on the Pharmaceutical industry

The preliminary report from DG Competition’s Sector Inquiry into the pharmaceutical industry was presented on 28 November 2008. EPHA responded to DG Competition’s call for comments on the report.
The Pharmaceutical Sector Inquiry was launched by Commissioner Neelie Kroes on 15 January 2008 in order to determine the reasons why so few novel medicines were being brought onto the market, [generic medicine] entry is sometimes delayed and the sector is generally not working well.
The (...)

*Updated* Social reality stock-taking : European Parliament response to Commission consultation

This article has been updated with the recent communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, which was adopted on 20 November 2007. As a result of this additional document, the new deadline for responses has been postponed until 15 February 2008.
In an own-initiative report on Europe’s social reality, the European Parliament asks the Commission and Member States to aggressively attempt (...)

EMEA/CHMO working group with patients’ organisations, 2004

The European Medicine Evaluation Agency (EMEA) is a decentralised body of the European Union with headquarters in London.
EMEA’s main responsibility is the protection and promotion of public and animal health, through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and veterinary use.
The EMEA is divided in different Committees. The most relevant for human health is the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). Giving the importance of this committee, EMEA decided to set (...)

Study on the implications of the Services Directive

The rapporteur of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, Mrs Anne van Lancker (PSE, BE) has commissioned a study to analyse the legal repercussions of the Draft Services Directive and its impact on National Services Regulations.
The study was undertaken by Professor Wouter Gekiere from the Institute for European Law at the Catholic University Leuven in Belgium.
The study notes that the current draft is likely to create legal uncertainty for both the providers and recipients of (...)

Council supports Commission’s communication on the G10

On 22 September 2003, the Competitiveness Council adopted its own set of conclusions on reinforcing the competitiveness of the EU-based pharmaceutical industry.
These were based on the Commission’s communication of 1st July 2003 on the G10 Medicines Groups recommendations.
The Health Council is expected to adopt its own conclusions on the Commission’s G10 Communication at an upcoming meeting.
The G10 Group will continue its work until EU enlargement in May 2004.
Provisional (...)