Photo by Alexandr Podvalny on Unsplash Christmas is a time when families come together to care for each other: this year, with waves of strikes in the public sector paralysing the UK, millions of people are struggling even to care for themselves, writes Philip Bushill-Matthews. Public support for the various strikes is variable: but support for healthcare strikers…
A senior MEP has voiced concern about the current spate of public disorder in China. Several cities have witnessed serious disorder in recent days as tensions rise about the severe pandemic lockdowns ordered by the Chinese regime. Commenting on the COVID protests in numerous major cities in the People’s Republic of China Reinhard Bütikofer says…
Millions of construction workers risk getting cancer from asbestos exposure during the EU-wide building renovation wave, it is claimed. To better protect them, organised civil society has called for stricter exposure limits than the European Commission proposes in its amended asbestos at work directive. This call was made at the European Economic and Social Committee…
The European Parliament’s special Covid-19 committee exchanged views with ministers from the Global South and leading representatives of international health and trade organisations last week. The S&Ds used the meeting to call on international partners to recommit to the global initiative, COVAX, intended to guarantee equitable access to Covid vaccines. As a next step, the scope…
On World Mental Health day this year (10 October), Mental Health Europe hosted an event at the European Parliament focusing on refugees, migration and mental health. World Mental Health day comes and goes every year, complete largely with perfunctory nods from politicians towards “delivering”, “stakeholders” and “comprehensive solutions”. The proceedings organised by the European Parliament…
Prevention is always better than cure, say MEPs as they welcomed the new European approach to cancer screening presented this week by the European Commission. The recommendation is an important step forward to implement Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. In 2020 alone, 2.7 million people were diagnosed with cancer and 1.3 million lost their lives. The…
The EU’s food watchdog says that current law fails to protect animals during transport – an issue that citizens have long protested against. The European Food Safety Authority issued five new reports outlining the scientific evidence about the suffering of animals when they are transported – for sale, fattening or slaughter. The scientific opinions cover…
The EU’s tailor-made centralised system for vaccine procurement succeeded in creating an initially diversified portfolio of vaccine candidates and in procuring sufficient doses of COVID-19 vaccines. However, the EU started procurement later than the UK and the US, and when severe supply shortfalls occurred in the first half of 2021, it became clear that most contracts…
The Socialists and Democrats have welcomed the announced European Care Strategy, which has been adopted by the European Commission. With its two recommendations, it is a first step towards strengthening long-term care and early childhood education and care, as envisaged under the European pillar of social rights. The S&D Group has called for an “ambitious…
The EU institutions demonstrated considerable resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, a report published today by the European Court of Auditors concludes. The European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the EU all responded rapidly and flexibly, and benefited from previous investments they had made in digitalisation….
