Study: EU test undervalued toxicity of cigarettes
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment says that levels of carbon monoxide can be twenty times as high when using a different measurement system.
EU accused of 'half-hearted approach' on air quality
European Commission has taken six EU countries to court over failing to achieve EU air quality standards. But what about the other countries where air quality is equally bad - or worse?
Supported by
How France escaped EU legal action over chemical ban
A previously-unseen internal paper by the European Commission warned that a French ban of the bisphenol A chemical was "fully disproportionate". However, there was no consensus on starting an infringement procedure against France.
Dust storms can make Cyprus unbearable for asthmatics
On World Asthma Day, EUobserver looks at an EU-funded project that aims to mitigate the newly-understood health effects of desert dust storms.
Stakeholder
Life is possible for patients with severe asthma
On World Asthma Day, European asthma patients are joining voices under the theme "Never too early, never too late" to ask for more research on the causes of asthma.
Visual Data
Top 100 European places where Dieselgate 'kills' most
In Europe, more than a third of those killed each year by toxic particulate matter - associated with unlawful diesel emissions exceeding the EU limits - live in about 100 conurbations, mainly in Italy, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain.
Feature
Nordic scientists warn Brussels over 'superbugs'
Superbugs already kill 25,000 Europeans each year, despite hospitals fighting to stop the antibiotic resistant bacteria from spreading. This week the Nordic Council lobbied Brussels to wake up.
Opinion
Time for EU to take charge of global health research agenda
This week the world celebrates World Malaria Day, a time to take stock of progress to date, much of which has been made possible through investments by the EU, a world leader in development aid.
ECJ ruling set to end 10-year 'mouth tobacco' lobbying saga
Years of heavy-duty and expensive lobbying, including of a European commissioner for health, has not opened the way for mouth tobacco sales in the EU. The EU court in Luxembourg last week refused to lift the ban.
EU to miss road safety target at current rate
The European Union is on course to spectacularly miss a self-imposed road safety target, with 25,300 people killed on EU roads in 2017.
Opinion
'Denial' - is meat the new climate change?
The European Parliament's agriculture committee meets on Tuesday, with speculation that the EPP will vote against a report on the EU plant protein plan if it mentions switching away from animals to plant-based diets.
Plastics lobby in court to keep toxic item off EU list
Bisphenol A is toxic for reproduction and a substance "of very high concern", but PlasticsEurope has filed a case at the EU court to overturn that listing.
Not a bug: insect 'novel food' fines vary widely across EU
Companies are required to check if their 'novel' food product is allowed. But breaking that EU rule is not as costly in some member states as in other EU countries.
Opinion
On breast cancer our work is far from over
Breast cancer is still the most frequent cause of cancer death for women in Europe - but life expectancy of patients in Romania or Poland are lower than the EU average, and screening programmes vary hugely.
Opinion
Intellectual property protection - the cure for Europe's ills
The European Commission is considering rolling back medical research incentives, on the faulty assumption they are somehow driving higher drug prices. But not only is that premise flawed – the proposed fix will do nothing to benefit ordinary health consumers.
EU states stay mute on implementation of mercury bill
Most EU states forget to tell Brussels how they will punish misuse of the toxic metal, despite legally agreed deadlines having passed.
Stakeholders' Highlights
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Latest News
- Tear gas bodes ill for Macedonia name deal
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- Greece and Merkel's fate top This WEEK
- How Italy's government might hijack EU migration policy
- The EU cannot shape the future of AI with regulation
WHO praises EU's action against pollution, despite delays
The World Health Organization has called upon policymakers in the EU to take forward a decisive action to clean up the air for the benefit of citizens.
Opinion
Illegal cigarette trade still dogs Europe's fringes
The European Commission is putting in place a tracking mechanism but the devil will be in the detail in terms of involvement by big tobacco companies.
Interview
Cigarette-smuggling expert asks MEPs not to veto new bill
Anti-smuggling expert Luk Joossens says draft bill in European Parliament on a 'track-and-trace' system - due by May 2019 - will bring improvements, and that a veto 'would be the nuclear solution'.
Opinion
Europe needs incentives to combat chronic disease
As our leaders aim to get the EU back on track, they should remember that healthy populations are the basis for strong economic growth.
MEPs annoyed at no-say in medicine agency relocation
The decision to move the European Medicines Agency to Amsterdam still needs to be approved by the European Parliament, which was hardly involved in the process.
Interview
Health inequalities are economic issue, says commissioner
Social and geographical inequalities in Europeans' health are one of the main challenges for the EU, says health commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis. He calls on finance ministers to look at the consequences for their country's economies and competitiveness.
Medical cannabis makes small steps in EU
As of January 1, 2018 Denmark now permits the use of medical cannabis for patients suffering from various illnesses. But a stigma still lingers against the use of the plant-based drug as a medicine across Europe.
EU renews glyphosate approval, pledges transparency
A five-year renewal of the herbicide glyphosate, used in Monsanto's Roundup, was officially adopted by the EU Commission on Tuesday despite public alarm.
Analysis
Microplastics threat poses dilemma for new EU strategy
Leading scientists and conservation groups have said the EU's plastics strategy must include 'serious regulation' given the potential impact of microplastic pollution on human health.
Council of Europe warns on backlash to abortion access
In recent years, proposals for bans and restrictions on voluntary terminations have risen in some EU member states - as well as bills proposing more 'conditions' before women are allowed to access abortions.
German vote swings EU decision on 5-year glyphosate renewal
EU member states broke an 18-month deadlock over a controversial renewal of the weedkiller. But politicians and NGO continue to call for a ban.
EU calls for better disease prevention
EU health commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis is encouraging states to spend more to prevent diseases that weigh much on health systems.
Glyphosate: 1.3 million EU citizens call for ban
War of words continue in the run-up to next week's final vote on whether to renew the licence for the herbicide glyphosate, a chemical in Monsanto's Roundup.
Europe's 'invisible' killer, chronic lung disease
Campaigners are calling on EU and national policymakers to help lung disease sufferers live longer and keep them out of hospital.
Meat 'taboo' debated at Bonn climate summit
Animal agriculture is responsible for a significant share of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but until recently it 'was an issue that was really brushed under the carpet'.
EU fails again to agree glyphosate renewal
Member states failed to agree on a licence renewal for weedkiller glyphosate. A new vote will take place before 22 November at the European Commission's appeal committee.
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- Old White Men are Destroying Macedonia by Romanticizing Greece
- Controversial EIB-Backed Project Under Fire at European Parliament
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- EU Leaders to Cease Contact with Mahmoud Abbas Until He Apologizes for Antisemitic Comments
- Annual Report celebrates organization’s tenth anniversary
Stakeholders' Highlights
- Nordic Cooperation Needed on Green Exports and Funding
- Premier Li Confirms China Will Continue to Open Up
- Calls on Brussels University to Revoke Decision to Honour Ken Loach
- 12 Recommendations for Nordic Leadership on Climate and Environment
- Oxford Professor Calls for an End to the Anti-Macedonian Name Negotiations
- People Who Speak-Up Should Feel Safe to Do So
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- World's Energy Ministers to Meet in Oresund in May to Discuss Green Energy
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- Jobs, Energy, Steel: Government Work Report Sets China's Targets
- Kantor Center Annual Report on Antisemitism Worldwide - The Year the Mask Came Off
- Calls for the Protection of Children in the Gaza Strip
