Documents by topic : Health and environment

The use of a combination of drugs is the norm amongst people who misuse substances according to the latest report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Their annual report found that users now rarely restrict their use to a single substance.

Environment head Jo Leinen calls for "solidarity" at Copenhagen climate summit

Article - Environment - 05-11-2009 - 15:35

"The Obama Administration is very ambitious but the Americans have come quite late" says the head of Parliament's Environment Committee Jo Leinen. The German Socialist MEP is just back from talks with the US Congress ahead of the UN's Copenhagen climate summit in December where he will lead Parliament's delegation. In this interview Leinen says that a lack of targets for CO2 cuts and who is going to finance climate adaption and mitigation are two stumbling blocks.

With just over a month to go to the start of the Copenhagen climate summit members of Parliament's environment and industry committees are in Washington to urge their US counterparts to act. The visit coincides with a crucial point for a climate bill in the US Senate, which could define US energy use for decades. The EU's stated policy is a 20% cut in CO2 emissions by 2020 but this could rise to closer to 30% if other key international partners like Washington and Beijing are on board.

Wild birds know no borders, so the conservation of endangered species requires trans-frontier cooperation. The first European directive to protect wild birds was adopted in 1979 and is the oldest EU environmental law still in force. It restricts hunting and prohibits deliberate killing and destroying of nests and eggs. For its 30th birthday, lawyers are working to give it a new, clearer and more concise shape.

Amid fears of a second wave of the potentially deadly virus, the European Commission on 29 September gave a fast track go-ahead to two new vaccines to fight the influenza H1N1 pandemic. This would ensure people get vaccines before the start of the flu season. But are the new vaccines safe? Members of Parliament's Environment Committee discussed the issue yesterday.

There are currently over 7 million people in Europe suffering from Alzheimer’s and related disorders and this will double in 20 years. New plans to pool resources between countries to maximise investment, good practice and coordinate research were outlined Tuesday (29 September) to MEPs. We spoke to Philippe Lamberts, the Belgian Green Member who has been asked by Parliament to draw up a report on the issue.

The lights went out on the traditional 100 watt bulb on 1 September as new EU rules on energy efficiency kicked in. Supporters say the move will cut Europe's C02 emissions by 15 million tonnes and save householders €25-50 a year. However, there is disquiet in many countries about the decision and the way it was taken. In Germany consumers even stockpiled the older lights. We hear from two Members of Parliament with very different views.

European Health Insurance Card

Article - Public health - 04-08-2009 - 10:20

The holiday season has arrived. Your suitcases are packed, your neighbours are watering the plants and feeding the cat and your tickets are ready. But have you also thought about bringing your European Health Insurance Card? When travelling abroad, you may decide to bring your own European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), to get access and cover your possibly needed medical treatments. The card is available free of charge through your local health authority.

Swimming in the sea? Find out how clean the water is!

Article - Environment - 30-06-2009 - 10:00

When booking a holiday or planning a daytrip many people check out restaurants, sight-seeing and beaches before they leave. What is less well known is that it is also possible to check the quality of bathing water. Under EU law, bathing water has been tested since 1976. Each year the European Commission reports on the quality of bathing water around Europe. This year 96 % of coastal bathing areas and 92 % of bathing sites in rivers and lakes complied with minimum standards in 2008.

With 736 elected Members and almost 6,000 staff spread in 27 different countries, the European Parliament faces enormous challenges to meet its own self-stated aim of cutting its carbon footprint by 30% by 2020. To do this an Eco-Management and Audit scheme (EMAS) has been put in place to try and cut emissions. One step forward has been that since last year the Parliament has decided to use only electricity generated from renewable sources.

Over 3 million people in Europe bet online on sports like football, cricket and horse racing. For most it’s a bit of fun but gambling addiction and match-fixing are darker sides of sports betting. On Monday MEPs will decide whether online sports betting should be regulated at a European or national level. A report by the Parliament’s Internal Market Committee calls for national governments to regulate it. However, some MEPs on the Committee disagree and want European rules.

Car tolls and cleaning up the water are just two things that Stockholm city council has done in recent years to improve the quality of life. A few days ago it became the European "Green Capital" for 2010, a European Commission award to encourage green practices and identify where improvements can be made. We asked two Swedish MEPs about the capital city of their home country.

Proposals to boost shopper's confidence on the high street and the internet will be opened to public debate by MEPs Monday afternoon. Pricing, late delivery, returns and refunds are some areas that will be covered by proposed new EU-wide rules. The increase in online shopping through eBay and the importance of people shopping around for bargains in times of economic hardship are two key aspects behind the new directive.

Mental health problems can affect our "daily life, family, school, work and leisure" and early diagnosis and treatment is the best way to avert personal catastrophe, according to Greek Socialist Evangelia Tzampazi, who is preparing a report on the subject. Mental illness affects millions of Europeans and is linked to 90% of all suicides. She talked to us about the issues involved.

Over 350 cities across Europe have made a green pledge to make a 20% cut in CO2 emissions by 2020. The "Covenant of Mayors" pledge was made Tuesday 10 February at the European Parliament. Each city will now draw up a sustainable energy action plan over the next 12 months. At the ceremony we asked a number of Mayors their views.

Only 1% of Europe is untouched by humans and everything must be done to preserve what is still out there for the future. That's the message in a report by Hungarian Socialist MEP Gyula Hegyi backed by MEPs Tuesday.

A series of ice statues symbolizing the dangers of global warming welcomed delegates to the climate change conference taking place in Poznań this week. The aim of the meeting is to get a post-Kyoto deal on fighting global warming. The deadline for reaching agreement on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol expires in December 2009.

Eighteen months after it began work, Parliament's Temporary Committee on Climate Change called for an 80% cut in greenhouse gases by 2050, binding interim targets to improve energy efficiency 20% by 2020 and incentives to encourage everyone to do their bit.

You may see lots of people wearing red ribbons today. The reason: December 1, 2008, marks the 20th World AIDS day. In 2007, 33 million people were affected by HIV, with Africa hardest hit. Some 269,000 new EU cases were diagnosed between 1999-2006 and parliament wants a strategy on early diagnosis, testing and care, ensuring that access to testing remains free and anonymous.

A recent report found that children in Europe are not getting enough fruit and vegetables, so the European Commission is proposing to set aside money to ensure they get weekly fruit. However, MEPs on the Agriculture Committee don't think that is enough and want more money made available so children get a daily allowance of fruit. MEPs will debate the issue on Tuesday at 1100 CET.

MEPs were in Moscow recently to hold talks with Russian MPs and government official on steps to tackle climate change. By December next year the world must have plans for a post-Kyoto agreement that will limit CO2 emissions and it is vital that Russia, as a key producer of fossil fuels, is involved.

Every year 7,000-8,000 people in the EU die because of drug use and a drugs overdose remains one of the main causes of death among young people. These are some of the findings of a report by the Europe's drug monitoring agency, released to Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee Wednesday.

Bad health through a bad diet is a growing problem across Europe. One such case is obesity which experts believe is responsible for over 10% of deaths across the continent. MEPs recently discussed the merit of the "Mediterranean diet" - fish, fruit vegetables - and whether it could lead to a healthier life.

To avoid a global climate catastrophe, Europe must build an alliance with developing countries. This is the stark conclusion of a plan backed by MEPs on 21 October. It aims to take climate change into account in EU polices such as trade, agriculture and aid. We spoke to Anders Wijkman MEP who drafted parliament's response to the European Commission's original plan.

What will be the future shape of the European Emission Trading System (ETS), a cornerstone of the EU’s efforts to curb greenhouse gases? The EU Commission proposed in January to extend ETS to other sectors and greenhouse gases. Parliament rapporteur Avril Doyle agrees, but her draft report for the Environment Committee calls for adjustments to channel ETS auction revenues towards climate protection measures and to give industry more clarity of how exactly the system will work after 2012.

There are a staggering 220 million cars on Europe's roads and that number is growing all the time. The CO2 they emit is 12% of the yearly total for the whole European Union. This week MEPs debated proposals by the European Commission to increase fuel efficiency and substantially cut CO2 emissions within 4 years. In October Members called on Europe's carmakers to meet even tougher CO2 emissions targets.

The use of pesticides in Europe will be debated by MEPs today. Being decided is a proposed Europe-wide regulation to set up an “approval system” for new pesticides, a political strategy and a directive on their use. A vote on Tuesday will follow the debate. Parliament’s Environment Committee has called for a 50% reduction in pesticide use within 10 years and a ban on aerial spraying of pesticides. The chemicals industry, farmers and environmentalists will be watching the result closely.