Cancer is one of the biggest health issues of all time. 1.3 million people die of cancer every year in Europe. Not a single European has not had a family member, friend or relation taken away by this disease. Yet, 40% of cancers could be prevented by a greater sharing of patient data and treatment…
Healthcare
Future Role of the EMA
Health MEPs quizzed the EMA’s Executive Director on Tuesday on the current situation around COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, as well as the Agency’s future role. In light of increasing COVID-19 cases across the EU and concerns raised by a new variant members of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee focused the debate vaccines, recent developments…
REACT EU Budgets Approved for Spain and Hungary
The Commission has approved €654 million to Spain and Hungary under REACT EU following the modification of two Operational Programmes (OP). In Spain, the OP in Valencia will receive an additional €404 million to provide financial incentives to employers for job creation and maintaining employment, as well as for financial support for the self-employed, and funds to…
International Treaty Needed to Prevent Pandemics
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed this morning the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO), which gathers between 29 November and 1 December for its second-ever special session. The President welcomed the Assembly’s decision to start negotiations towards an international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Following the emergence of the Omicron…
EPP’s 10 Point Plan to Beat Cancer
Every year, 1.3 million people in the EU die of cancer and 2.7 million are diagnosed with it. The EPP says, “We can and must change this trend.” Its message is: “The work we do in the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) must make a difference to people’s lives.” The EPP Group…
EU Digital Covid Certificate Needed to Enter Parliament
Parliament’s Bureau decided that the request to present an EU Digital COVID Certificate to access Parliament’s buildings will be extended to all people wishing to enter. As of 3 November, all people entering Parliament’s buildings in its three places will be requested to present a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate, including journalists. The EU Digital…
Tackling Shortages of Medicines
The European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement on Thursday to make the European Medicines Agency more effective in tackling shortages of medicines and medical devices. The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) capacity to manage the availability of medicinal products and medical devices will be strengthened with the creation of two “shortages steering groups”,…
New Industrial Strategy for Europe
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in Europe’s economic landscape, notably regional inequalities, skills gaps and risks to the single market and supplies of strategic goods. In the light of these lessons, the European Commission has updated its blueprint for a greener, more digital and competitive industrial landscape, the New Industrial Strategy for Europe. In…
Charles Michel on COVID-19: “We must learn new ways of working together.”
EU council president Charles Michel has said the virus exposed “the gaps in our national preparedness.” In a speech at the world health summit, he said, “just last week we had our latest European Council meeting. I have now chaired over 16 meetings where the 27 EU Leaders have addressed COVID-19. And I can tell you…
Honouring the “forgotten angels” of the health crisis
A leading ferry operator is honouring the “forgotten angels” who have been at the sharp end of the ongoing health crisis. Nurses worldwide have been acclaimed for their sterling efforts to help the needy during the near-two year pandemic that has cost tens of thousands of lives and devastated economies. DFDS has now decided to…