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Around 100 million people in the EU– or 1 in 4 adults – have some form of disability. Addressing both fiscal support and public service accessibility for people with disabilities is crucial for a more inclusive and equitable tax system across the EU. On 3 December 2024, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) will host a public hearing on this topic as part of the European Parliament's Disability Rights Week.

World AIDS Day, proclaimed by the United Nations in 1988, is marked every year on 1 December. The aim is to raise awareness, fight prejudice, encourage progress on prevention, and improve treatment around the world. Although infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is preventable, significant HIV transmission remains a challenge to EU Member States' health systems. This year's theme –'Take the rights path: My health, my right!' –underlines the need to ensure that everyone, everywhere ...

In September 2024, the European Commission proposed a Council recommendation aimed at better protecting people, particularly young people, from the effects of second-hand smoke and emerging products such as heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. MEPs are due to debate a Commission statement on the draft recommendation on smoke- and aerosol-free environments in plenary in November.

A sharp deterioration in the population's health, as well as in healthcare systems, is often the consequence of armed conflicts, natural hazards or human-made disasters, of which there have been many in recent times. The European Union (EU), a significant global humanitarian player, views health as an essential part of its assistance.

Behavioural taxes, such as those levied on tobacco, alcohol, and fossil fuels, serve as instruments to influence consumer behaviour, as well as to collect revenue. By levying these taxes, governments seek to discourage the consumption of products that contribute to (significant) negative externalities, such as health costs or climate change. However, the design and implementation of such taxes can be quite complex, with volatile revenue collection. Additionally, public acceptance and consumer responses ...

Olivér Várhelyi, the Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare, has worked on EU related issues throughout his professional career. He has been serving as Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement since 2019. From 2015 to 2019 he held the dual roles of Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU, having served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary from 2011 to 2015. From 2008 to 2011, Várhelyi headed the Commission's Unit for Industrial Property Rights in ...

The purpose of World Mental Health Day is to improve knowledge, raise awareness and mobilise efforts in support of mental health around the world. This year's theme – 'Mental health at work' – underlines that supportive work environments foster mental health, providing purpose and stability. On the contrary, poor working environments – including excessive workloads, low job security and discrimination – can undermine mental health and lead to decreased performance and absence from work, and can also ...

This paper presents current developments and challenges in the prevention and management of obesity in the European Union. The analysis provides an overview of the disease, emphasises the importance of designing supportive environments in prevention efforts, and makes an argument to upskill the healthcare provided to persons living with obesity. This document was provided by the Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies at the request of the Subcommittee on Public Health ...

On 13 June 2024, as part of efforts to build a strong European health union, the EU adopted a regulation that updates and expands EU legislation on blood, tissues and cells. The new rules establish high standards of quality and safety for substances of human origin (SoHOs) intended for human application, improve the protection of donors, recipients, and offspring born from medically assisted reproduction, reinforce the principle of voluntary and unpaid donation in the EU, and strengthen the national ...

Good health and well-being is a key indicator and a precondition for sustainable development, allowing people to enjoy fulfilling lives, receive education and be productive members of society. In contrast, the burden of disease has high economic, social and individual costs. Therefore, achieving the highest attainable level of health is of interest for all. However, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing crises, progress towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 3 ('ensure healthy ...