Transcript Public health and the EU Francesco Longu Communications

Public health and the EU
Francesco Longu
Communications Officer
European Public Health Alliance
Brussels, 15 September 2005
Presentation outline
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What is EPHA? How does it work?
How is responsibility for health issues
covered at EU level?
What do the EU current treaties say
about public health?
Does health need to be addressed at
EU level?
Q&A
About EPHA
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A network of 116 non governmental and
not-for-profit organisations across
Europe working on health and health-related
issues
Our mission is to improve the health of
European citizens and to increase their
participation in EU policy-making
EPHA members (1/3)
EPHA has two categories of membership:
 Full members are Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) active in the public health
sector. Full members have two votes at the
Annual General Assembly
 Associate members are other not-for-profit
organisations, professional bodies, academic
institutions and local or regional authorities.
Associate members have one vote at the Annual
General Assembly
 EPHA membership fees are based on the
income of the member organisation
EPHA members (2/3)
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Health advocates
Disease specific patient groups
Academic researchers
Health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses
and pharmacists)
Consumer groups
Environment organisations
Development organisations
EPHA members (3/3)
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International networks
European networks
National organisations
Complete list of EPHA members:
http://www.epha.org/r/14
EPHA organisational structure (1/3)
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The Annual General Assembly
> Convened once a year (extraordinary meetings
are possible)
> Discusses the broad policy of EPHA
> Elects the Executive Committee
> Members vote according to their membership
category
> May include consultation meetings and/or
training seminars for members
EPHA organisational structure (2/3)
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The Executive Committee
> Seven people elected for a two-year period gender equality and balance between NGOs and
professionals are required
> Sets out the annual work programme
> Sets priorities and targets for EPHA
> Reviews EPHA financial management and
annual accounts
> Supervises the EPHA Secretariat and appoints
the appropriate staff
EPHA organisational structure (3/3)
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The EPHA Secretariat
> Manages the “day to day” work of EPHA
> Ensures that the full work programme of the
organisation is carried out efficiently and
effectively
> Actively contributes to the development of good
organisational practice
> Currently five staff members, located in Brussels
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Working Groups
Policy Coordination Meetings
EPHA membership benefits
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Electronic Newsletter
Health Alerts
Members Only section of our website
Newslists
Daily information help desk
Visibility in EU policy making circles
Support for advocacy work
Representation and participation at European and
international fora
How does EPHA work? (1/2)
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Advocacy:
> Working groups. At present there are five
ongoing working groups on the following subjects:
Alcohol, Food and Nutrition, Health and
Environment, Health and Enlargement, and
Pharmaceuticals
> Policy Co-ordination Meetings. Meeting every
two months in Brussels, this group is open to all
EPHA members. Contributions to the meeting are
also received via e-mail
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Information exchange
Membership services
How does EPHA work? (2/2)
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Lobbying:
> EU institutions
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Networking:
> Other health NGOs
> Other thematic NGOs
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Tracking policy issues:
> Day to day analysis
> Mailings - Briefings
What does EPHA stand for?
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Health protection as a goal in all EU policy-making
- e.g. health impact assessments for all proposed
legislation
Involvement of citizens in decision-making related
to their own health
Equal access to good quality healthcare for all EU
citizens
Addressing health inequalities
Ensuring that EU internal and external policies
actually contribute towards better health
What are the goals of EPHA?
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Develop key consultative role for civil
society as partners in health
Promoting healthy public policies
throughout EU activities
EU Policy to be based on the highest
common denominator rather than lowest.
Health in the European Commission (1/2)
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DG Health and Consumer Protection
DG Environment
DG Employment and Social Affairs
DG Internal Market and Services
DG Competition
DG Agriculture
DG Development
DG Education and Culture
Health in the European Commission (2/2)
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DG Trade
DG Research
DG Information Society
DG Transport
DG Enterprise
DG Tax and Customs
EMEA, ECDC, EFSA, European Agency for
Safety and Health at Work
Health in the European Parliament
Committees
 Environment, Public Health and Food
Safety* (ENVI)
 Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
 Internal Market and Consumer Protection*
(IMCO)
 Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Inter-group on health
What does the EU treaty state?
Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty states:
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“A high level of health protection shall be
ensured in the definition and
implementation of all Community policies
and activities”
But the EU must respect Member State
responsibilities for organisation and
delivery of health care
What does the new Constitutional Treaty state?
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Article 179 – Public Health as coordinating, complimentary or supporting action
“Action by the Union, which shall complement national policies, shall be directed
towards improving public health, preventing human illness and diseases, and obviating
sources of danger to physical and mental health”.
“The Union shall complement the Member States' action in reducing drugs-related
health damage, including information and prevention”.
“Union action shall respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the definition
of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and
medical care. The responsibilities of the Member States shall include the management
of health services and medical care and the allocation of the resources assigned to
them”.
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Article goes on to mention “the protection of public health regarding tobacco and the
abuse of alcohol”.
What EU rights to health exist?
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“Everyone has the right of access to preventive
healthcare and the right to benefit from medical
treatment under the conditions established by
national law and practices”
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, Adopted in Nice,
12/2000
Why health needs to be addressed
at EU level
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Many EU policies have an impact – direct
or indirect – on the health of EU citizens
Implementation of internal market
legislation is de-facto creating policy on
health related issues
The European Commissioner has greater
powers to promote animal welfare than to
protect human health
European Public Health Alliance
39-41 Rue d’Arlon
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 230 30 56
Fax: +32 2 233 38 80
[email protected]
www.epha.org