EPHA Press releases

[Joint Press Statement] Access to medicines in Europe: The EU cannot save banks while sacrificing people’s health

Brussels, 17 May – In a seminar hosted yesterday by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament and the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Alejandro Cercas (S&D, Spain), six MEPs from various political groups (1) along with representatives of governments, leading academics, researches and public health organisations (2) met to raise awareness about one of the most alarming issues that European healthcare systems (...)

[Joint media reaction] Minimum Alcohol Price: Scottish High Court on the side of public health

Brussels, 3 May – Today, the Scottish Government has won a case on Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol (1) in the Scottish High Court - the first legally-binding minimum price on alcohol within the EU. Now the alcohol industry will have 21 days to decide whether it has grounds for appeal. MUP sets a floor price below which alcohol cannot be legally sold and unlike taxation, MUP prices alcoholic beverages based on their strength. Alcohol misuse hits the poor badly, most of whom (...)

[Joint Press Release] In the fight against alcohol misuse, pricing policies are the way to go

Brussels, 24 April – Today Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from various political groups, along with representatives of governments, leading academics and public health organisations (1), have renewed their support for strong measures to bring down the current high rate of alcohol misuse in Europe. The seminar also served to launch in Europe the ’Alcohol and Cancer’ report (2). “If policy-makers are serious about tackling the danger that heavy (...)

[Public Statement] International Romani Day - the curse of being Roma in Europe and getting proper healthcare

It is high time for the EU and national leaders to fix all what is wrong with the social factors that trap the Roma population in a vicious cycle of ill-health. Policy-makers can do a better job to make sure that Roma people across Europe do not have to endure an additional series of obstacles to become healthy and productive members of the societies in which they live. Six million Roma live in the EU (1), in what represents Europe’s largest ethnic group. The Roma are one of the most (...)

[Press Release] Out of touch - European Parliament backs tobacco subsidies & votes an agriculture policy unfriendly to public health

Brussels, 13 March – The European Public Health & Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC) is disappointed by the European Parliament’s approval of coupling subsidies to tobacco production. Tobacco should not have a place in the 2014-2020 EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). With this move, the European Parliament (EP) wants to inject taxpayer’s money into a toxic crop that causes nearly 700,000 annual deaths (1) in the EU. Today’s vote did very little to fix all that is (...)

[Press Release] EU agriculture budget must favour healthy foodstuff, not chronic disease in the form of tobacco subsidies

Brussels, 4 March – In the run up to next week’s European Parliament (EP) vote on the 2014-2020 EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), national delegations from the three largest political groups in the EP (1) are set to decide their negotiating mandate for the agriculture funds: a budge heading that will consume 38 percent of the next seven-year EU budget. The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) calls on Europe’s political ‘families’ not to support the (...)

[EPHA Press Release] Getting it right – a sustainable road to recovery

Brussels, 20 February – The package provides policy guidance to EU Member States on better invest in human capital, people’s future and social infrastructure. The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) (2) applauds this initiative as it aims to equip people living in Europe with the right tools and skills to face today’s challenges whilst addressing the social impact of the crisis. This is a breakthrough in tackling the current waste of human potential, as it dispels the (...)

[Press Statement] In the fight against Tobacco, Cancer & Heart Disease, the new Tobacco Directive is a battle that cannot be lost

Brussels, 19 February - Today the chairs of two prominent health groups in the European Parliament (EP) have renewed their support for a strong Directive on Tobacco Products. Representing the largest political groups in the EP, the European Parliament’s MEP Heart Group and the MEPs against Cancer (MAC) have joined forces in the battle against tobacco, cancer and heart disease (1). "Tobacco products should look and taste like tobacco products – and not be masked by designs or (...)

[Joint Press Release] Beyond disappointment – European lawmakers on the side of automobile industry on traffic noise vote

Brussels, February 6 - The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) (1) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) (2) regret the outcome of today’s plenary vote at the European Parliament (EP) on the regulation on the sound level of motor vehicles. The majority of European Parliamentarians – the elected representatives of the citizens - have turned a blind eye to people’s concerns, and prioritised the automobile industry over everyone’s health and well-being. (...)

[Joint Press Release] Tackling poor housing is the first step towards reducing health inequalities

Brussels, January 25 – On January 22, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing (CECODHAS Housing Europe) held a joint conference with the European Parliament’s Urban Intergroup. The event focused on the connection between health inequalities and affordable housing and emphasised that investment in good quality housing can bring returns in health and environmental outcomes. The European Commission (DG (...)