This week in the European Parliament
13 Dec Health

This week in the European Parliament

The last European Parliament plenary session of the year has traditionally often focused on Human Rights, as Parliament’s spokesperson Jaume Duch reminded the press at Friday’s pre-session briefing
by Andreas Rogal
40 years of HIV pandemic: key learnings for the future of global health
17 Dec Health
40 years of HIV pandemic: key learnings for the future of global health
MEPs renew demand for Covid-19 vaccine patents to be lifted
14 Jan Health
MEPs renew demand for Covid-19 vaccine patents to be lifted
The revolution in HIV demands an EU response, explains Frédérique Ries
20 Dec Health
The revolution in HIV demands an EU response, explains Frédérique Ries
Why Europe must play a bigger role in healthcare
04 May Health
Why Europe must play a bigger role in healthcare
COVID-19 has highlighted the need for the EU to play a bigger role in Europe’s healthcare, argues Nicolás González Casares.
The European Parliament must protect the animal testing ban on cosmetics PM+
03 May Health
The European Parliament must protect the animal testing ban on cosmetics
The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) must stop requesting animal testing on cosmetics ingredients and uphold the ban adopted by the European Union, writes Jeanne Laperrouze.
MEPs raise concern over EU committee’s findings on electronic cigarettes
30 Apr Health
MEPs raise concern over EU committee’s findings on electronic cigarettes
So-called SCHEER Committee was asked to focus on health impacts of e-cigarettes.
The EU needs an open-minded approach to common policy on health
30 Apr Health
The EU needs an open-minded approach to common policy on health
COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the many challenges Europe’s health professionals face, explains Romanian EPP MEP Marian-Jean Marinescu.
Digital Green Certificates proposals must be limited to the COVID-19 pandemic and include 12-month sunset clause
29 Apr Health
Digital Green Certificates proposals must be limited to the COVID-19 pandemic and include 12-month sunset clause
Italian MEP Nicola Procaccini welcomes plans to introduce vaccination Certificates, but argues that the European Commission’s proposals need to be improved.
Senior MEP lambasts ‘prohibitive’ charges for COVID-19 testing
28 Apr Health
Senior MEP lambasts ‘prohibitive’ charges for COVID-19 testing
Dutch member Sophie in ‘t Veld voiced “real concern” at pricing for the tests in most of the EU.
Digital Green Certificate: Time to get it up and running
28 Apr Health
Digital Green Certificate: Time to get it up and running
After more than a year of COVID-19, there is a need for perspective, hope and a certain degree of normality. An EU-wide recognised document could help achieve all this, writes Jeroen Lenaers.
Why Human Connection is Key to Achieving Optimal Wellness PM+
27 Apr Health
Why Human Connection is Key to Achieving Optimal Wellness
Herbalife Nutrition’s independent distributors are helping people achieve their health goals thanks to their uniquely personal, relationship-based approach, explains Dr Kent Bradley.
Putting brain health at the top of Europe's health agenda Thought Leader
27 Apr Health
Putting brain health at the top of Europe's health agenda
Brain health must take centre stage in the EU’s renewed focus on health policy, writes Monica Di Luca.
Brain disorders: Preventable, treatable, and manageable
26 Apr Health
Brain disorders: Preventable, treatable, and manageable
Widely misunderstood and low on the political agenda, the EU could be leading the world in tackling brain disorders, argue Maria da Graça Carvalho and Tomislav Sokol.
Issue 534 | 26 April 2021
26 Apr Health
Issue 534 | 26 April 2021
Gracing this issue’s cover is Hungarian Renew Europe deputy Katalin Cseh, who was drawn to politics having witnessed the deterioration of rule of law in her native Hungary. She talks to deputy editor Lorna Hutchinson about what it means to be European, the power of sanctions on China, and that SofaGate incident.
Treaty change may be needed to give EU powers it needs to tackle future health pandemics
23 Apr Health
Treaty change may be needed to give EU powers it needs to tackle future health pandemics
Upcoming Conference on Future of Europe touted as forum to consider implications of treaty change.
Time to give animal vaccination a booster PM+
19 Apr Health
Time to give animal vaccination a booster
The Coronavirus pandemic has raised awareness of the relationship between animal and human health and the crucial role that preventative measures can play in ensuring that “normal” life returns, writes AnimalhealthEurope’s Roxane Feller.
Gunnar Beck: von der Leyen should step down over “disastrous” vaccine rollout
16 Apr Health
Gunnar Beck: von der Leyen should step down over “disastrous” vaccine rollout
The European Commission President has faced fresh calls to quit following debacles over vaccines and repeated lockdowns.
Commission announces accelerated delivery of 50m BioNTech-Pfizer vaccines
14 Apr Health
Commission announces accelerated delivery of 50m BioNTech-Pfizer vaccines
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the additional doses will be available in the second quarter, starting in April, rather than in the last quarter of this year as originally planned.
Mental health is everybody’s business
13 Apr Health
Mental health is everybody’s business
Increased mental ill health is an inevitable consequence of lockdown; however, dealing with this will require realistic resources. A European year for mental health will help bring the required focus, write the co-chairs of the MEP Alliance for Mental Health.
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
07 Apr Health
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
This is the first time that the European Medicines Agency has linked the vaccine to blood clots but says the benefits of the jab outweigh the risks.
Time to overhaul the patent protection law
07 Apr Health
Time to overhaul the patent protection law
While the current health crisis has wreaked havoc in many sectors, in pharmaceuticals it is the EU’s patent law that is hampering innovation and access to medicines, explains Katerina Konecná.
European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
02 Apr Health
European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
NGO attacks Parliament for promoting use of ‘untraceable, disposable, toxic and unrecyclable’ single-use masks.
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
01 Apr Health
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
The EU, meanwhile, insists its vaccine policy is the best approach to avoid what it calls “vaccine nationalism.”
Restoring our pharmaceutical autonomy
01 Apr Health
Restoring our pharmaceutical autonomy
When the dust of the Coronavirus crisis settles, we must consider new ways of responding to future threats that ensure Europe’s citizens do not suffer, writes Véronique Trillet-Lenoir.
Issue 533 | 29 March 2021
29 Mar Health
Issue 533 | 29 March 2021
Gracing this issue’s cover is Romanian Renew Europe deputy Vlad Gheorghe, who was a just toddler when Romania’s 50-year experiment with Communism came crashing down in December 1989. He explains to editor Brian Johnson how the country’s integration back into the EU fold has been a major factor in shaping his politics and worldview.
Commission goes on offensive in bid to deflect alarm at vaccine programme
24 Mar Health
Commission goes on offensive in bid to deflect alarm at vaccine programme
Speaking to MEPs on Tuesday, Sandra Gallina, the executive’s Director General of health, launched a blistering attack on AstraZeneca, the pharma company at the centre of a huge spat with the EU over vaccine supplies.
EMA chief set to be grilled by MEPs on latest EU bid to boost sluggish vaccination rates
22 Mar Health
EMA chief set to be grilled by MEPs on latest EU bid to boost sluggish vaccination rates
Emer Cooke, the European Medicines Agency executive director, has been invited to an “exchange of views” to update deputies on the state of play of the evaluation and authorisation of COVID-19 vaccines.