This week in the European Parliament
18 Oct Health

This week in the European Parliament

The European Parliament’s second October Strasbourg session is not only packed with key issues coming to fruition, but also comes with quite a few potential moments of reckoning and could turn out to be action packed
by Andreas Rogal
Why the EU and US shouldn’t follow the green groups advice on PFAS
13 Oct Health
Why the EU and US shouldn’t follow the green groups advice on PFAS
Better care for carers is badly needed, argues Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan
06 Oct Health
Better care for carers is badly needed, argues Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan
PCR tests vs Covid-19 sniffer dogs
06 Oct Health
PCR tests vs Covid-19 sniffer dogs
Senior ECDC official tells EU it must move ‘faster, faster, faster’ on vaccine rollout
16 Mar Health
Senior ECDC official tells EU it must move ‘faster, faster, faster’ on vaccine rollout
Bruno Ciancio, chief of the surveillance section at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, was speaking to MEPs on Monday on the new Coronavirus variants.
Autism Awareness Day: Why we need a European approach to autism
16 Mar Health
Autism Awareness Day: Why we need a European approach to autism
A strategic and integrated European approach to autism spectrum disorder would provide much-needed support to persons on the autism spectrum as well as their families in these challenging times, writes Victor Negrescu.
Autism Awareness Day: A yawning gap between rhetoric and action
16 Mar Health
Autism Awareness Day: A yawning gap between rhetoric and action
The pandemic has exposed the stigma that people on the autism spectrum still face; it’s time for the EU to ditch the empty words and up its game, writes Jordi Cañas.
Commission’s ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to help boost travel during the ongoing crisis
15 Mar Health
Commission’s ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to help boost travel during the ongoing crisis
The proposed certificate is designed to provide proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has recovered from it, or has received a negative test result.
MEPs to learn more about new EU attempt to contain variants of Coronavirus
15 Mar Health
MEPs to learn more about new EU attempt to contain variants of Coronavirus
With Member States still firmly in the grip of the pandemic, the Commission is proposing what it calls “immediate action” to prepare Europe for the “increased” threat of Coronavirus variants.
Issue 532 | 15 March 2021
15 Mar Health
Issue 532 | 15 March 2021
Gracing this issue’s cover is Spanish Renew Europe deputy Jordi Cañas. With the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement negotiations approaching the finish line, Parliament’s rapporteur tells reporter Ana Gallego why this may be the last chance to seal a deal with the South American trade bloc.
COVID-19 crisis having ‘huge toll on children, warn MEPs
12 Mar Health
COVID-19 crisis having ‘huge toll on children, warn MEPs
European parliament’s warning comes as EU authorises use of fourth COVID-19 vaccine.
Charles Michel at centre of war of words with UK over COVID vaccines
12 Mar Health
Charles Michel at centre of war of words with UK over COVID vaccines
Row follows Council President’s swipe at the UK over its vaccine roll out.
World Obesity Day: Why prevention is better than cure
05 Mar Health
World Obesity Day: Why prevention is better than cure
With an estimated 70 percent of the EU population overweight, obesity is an issue that urgently requires measures promoting public education and consumer information, argues João Ferreira.
World Obesity Day: An apple a day keeps the doctor away
05 Mar Health
World Obesity Day: An apple a day keeps the doctor away
With one in three European children suffering from overweight or obesity, it was time to implement a programme that introduced a healthy dose of nutrition into their diets, explains Marc Tarabella.
World Obesity Day: The fightback on childhood obesity
05 Mar Health
World Obesity Day: The fightback on childhood obesity
COVID-19 has created unforeseen problems – including undermining our efforts to defeat the scourge of childhood obesity. When we emerge from the grip of the virus, this must be a priority, writes Alex Agius Saliba.
MEP slams Member States that broke ranks from EU vaccine strategy
04 Mar Health
MEP slams Member States that broke ranks from EU vaccine strategy
The EU has sought to maintain a unified approach to the vaccination procurement process but the painfully slow rollout in recent weeks has led to several Member States deciding to “go it alone.”
Senior MEP voices concern over role EU regions will play in Coronavirus recovery plan
01 Mar Health
Senior MEP voices concern over role EU regions will play in Coronavirus recovery plan
Markus Ferber, a member of Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, takes aim at Member States over their implementation of the EU’s €750bn economic recovery plan.
The MEP Lung Health Group: Raising awareness of respiratory diseases across Europe
01 Mar Health
The MEP Lung Health Group: Raising awareness of respiratory diseases across Europe
The group, launched last October, aims to stimulate debate and raise awareness of the risk factors and the complications of respiratory diseases, explains co-chair Željana Zovko.
Europe's air pollution problem
01 Mar Health
Europe's air pollution problem
Air pollution remains one of Europe’s greatest environmental hazards, and its links to lung diseases and other health conditions can no longer be ignored, writes Jutta Paulus.
Driving change in COPD Partner Content
01 Mar Health
Driving change in COPD
We need to unite to drive change in COPD globally, writes Professor John Hurst.
Making Team Europe the new normal
27 Feb Health
Making Team Europe the new normal
As the EU grapples with the Coronavirus crisis, it cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the challenges facing the developing world, writes Hildegard Bentele.
MEPs call on pharma companies to increase COVID-19 vaccine production
26 Feb Health
MEPs call on pharma companies to increase COVID-19 vaccine production
European Parliament’s Socialist MEPs also want pharmaceutical giants to research against potential future Coronavirus variants and strains.
Rare Diseases: Celebrating patient-centred innovation Partner Content
26 Feb Health
Rare Diseases: Celebrating patient-centred innovation
After a challenging year, Rare Disease Day 2021 is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the incredible efforts and achievements of patients, their associations and the scientific community, explains Alexander Natz.
Rare Diseases: How European reference networks have improved the lives of rare disease sufferers immeasurably Partner Content
26 Feb Health
Rare Diseases: How European reference networks have improved the lives of rare disease sufferers immeasurably
But more can, and must, be done to work together and take ERNs to the next stage, says EURORDIS HealthCare Director Inés Hernando.
Rare Diseases: How the new EU rare disease policy framework provides an opportunity to move from building infrastructures to measuring impact Partner Content
26 Feb Health
Rare Diseases: How the new EU rare disease policy framework provides an opportunity to move from building infrastructures to measuring impact
‘Rare 2030’ Foresight Study highlights unmet needs and continued obligation to improve outcomes, explains EURORDIS Health Policy Director Anna Kole.
Preparing for the next virus Partner Content
26 Feb Health
Preparing for the next virus
The Consumer Choice Center’s Fred Roeder and Maria Chaplia report on a recent event that looked at why the EU must safeguard intellectual property rights to prepare for future pandemics.
Issue 531 | 1 March 2021
26 Feb Health
Issue 531 | 1 March 2021
Gracing the cover this issue is Irish EPP deputy Frances Fitzgerald. A staunch defender of women’s rights, Fitzgerald says she believes we are entering a new era of equality, telling deputy editor Lorna Hutchinson that despite recent setbacks, fresh momentum for change is building.
Europe’s vaccine rollout to take centre stage at online summit of EU leaders
24 Feb Health
Europe’s vaccine rollout to take centre stage at online summit of EU leaders
Thursday and Friday's European Council meeting will see leaders discuss the EU’s response to the ongoing pandemic and the vaccination rollout strategy.