Our Newsletter

Welcome to the June 2010 Newsletter
The first year of the new Parliament and the new Commission is finally winding down, with activities continuing longer than normal well into June and July. Activities are however continuing with a renewed spirit of cooperation, with the Council conclusions this summer bringing some progress on a number of important files and priorities for Europeans. The flagship European health conference for this Commission was held at the end of June - the Open Forum (...)

Welcome to the May 2010 Newsletter
After a slow start to the year, and months of political reshuffling, the institutions were in full swing during the month of May. Suddenly progress seemed possible and achievable on dossiers which have been dragging - a renewed stimulus on the Patient Rights’ Directive as well as fierce negotiations on food labelling gave a momentum to the final weeks of the legislative term. Health inequalities remained high on the political agenda, with the continuation (...)

Welcome to the April 2010 Newsletter
April was a challenging month for the mobile Brussels-based community - a insignificant volcano far away with an unpronounceable name succeeded in bringing normal business to a halt in a city where a vast number of the European professionals think nothing of travelling to meetings across Europe to meet other Brussels-based collegues. With the skies empty, the Spanish Presidency was forced to cancel a number of meetings - including the long-awaited (...)

Welcome to the March 2010 Newsletter
March was another busy month in Brussels, with the Commission kicking into gear following the hiatus during the process to approve the College. Not only was the month full with the reconvened policy process, the Spanish Presidency events, the Equity Week in the Parliament and the deadline for the Public Health Programme, but this month the Commission released its 2010 Work Programme and announced some important changes in the health field.
DG Sanco’s (...)

Welcome to the February 2010 Newsletter
After months of delay and a vast reshuffle of competence, the European Commission was approved by the Parliament and its work under this term finally started. The current period is crucial, with discussions on the next 10 years of Europe - our vision and strategy to achieve the vision - well underway, and Brussels is vying to ensure the plans reflect Europe’s needs and objectives. Commissioner Dalli started his term with a decisive and divisive (...)

Welcome to the Winter 2010 Newsletter
Brussels has launched into 2010 with a renewed vigour and sense of expectation. The Parliamentary hearings went by without too much contention, with the exception of the Bulgarian designate who was quickly replaced, and the overall impression was that the incoming Commissioners were given a relatively easy time by their colleagues across Rue Belliard. Barroso II is an interesting mix of experienced and enthusiastic politicians, with reshuffled (...)

Welcome to the November 2009 Newsletter
With the announcement of ’Barroso II’, all that remains between a new political leadership in Brussels is the Parliamentary hearings. The designated Commissioners are busy preparing for the scrutiny before the European Parliament, a gruelling three hour process where questions are mooted on potentially any topic within their portfolio. This is not the simple ’rubber stamp’ procedure that it may appear : Commissioners are expected to understand the (...)

Welcome to the October 2009 Newsletter
This month has been busier than normal for the time of year, with Brussels rallying to organise itself following the election of a new Parliament in June, and the imminent departure and new appointment of the College of Commissioners. With the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, Brussels are now looking to a period of further change with no clear way forward for how health will be organised and led in Europe. It is still uncertain whether DG Health and (...)

Welcome to the September 2009 Newsletter
In September Brussels has seen a flurry of activity to mark the beginning of the new legislative year, and the new European Parliament has commenced work on some dossiers of great importance for public health. For civil society actors this has been a crucial period in which to position ourselves for the next five years, and EPHA has made every effort to identify our new public health heroes. With the election of the new College of Commissioners on (...)

Welcome to the Summer 2009 Newsletter
As autumn fast approaches and Brussels rediscovers its political drive after a quiet summer, there is a renewed sense of urgency amongst policy makers and lobbyists alike. This September the European Parliament will see the newly-elected MEPs begin work, and both old and new faces will be tackling issues relevant to health. The public health community has been preparing itself for a challenging few months, and is ready to engage with MEPs and policy (...)