scholarly journals The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the European Union’s public health policy

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 651-674
Author(s):  
Attila Virág ◽  
Gergő Túri
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The Past ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In the spring of 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as one of the most complex and most serious challenges of the European Union, threatening the lives and quality of life of European citizens and the economy and healthcare systems of EU Member States. The fight against the pandemic required the collaboration of many different disciplines and sectors, and over time it had become clear that co-operation between EU Member States and EU organisations is essential for successful crisis management. This cross-border healthcare emergency has seriously tested the mechanisms set by EU treaties and legislations, as well as the organisations responsible for shaping and implementing the European Union’s public health policy. Over the past year we have gained valuable data on how the system of rules and task sharing mechanisms have supported the fight against the pandemic and its effects. By reviewing and examining our findings, we may find answers about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the European Union’s public health policy and how it can be further developed.

scholarly journals The innovative use of health information in public health policy across EU-Member States

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Haneef ◽  
H Van Oyen ◽  
R Gaidelyte ◽  
O Zeynep ◽  
B Pérez-Gomez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Linked Data ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Use Of Data

Abstract Background Health information systems both at the national and international level play a key role in ensuring that timely and reliable evidence is used for operational and strategic decision making inside and outside the health sector. The availability of data generated from different sources is increasing with the possibility to link these data sources together. However, more efficient data generation processes are required to use data collected for different purposes initially, as well as advanced statistical techniques to generate comparable and timely health information. The main objective is to explore the innovative use of health information for better public health policy across the Member States. Methods As part of InfAct, we have conducted as survey among EU-MS to describe the innovative use of data sources. We are collecting inspiring examples on the innovative use of health information based on national or European data networks involved with health policy-making at national, regional or local level. We are further developing generic methods to estimate health indicators using machine learning techniques and mathematical modelling. Results These approaches will generate a roadmap on the innovative use of health information across Member States, enlarge the existing list of health indicators estimated from linked data and/or advanced statistical techniques, inform on the implications of these indicators in health policy with inspiring examples from Member States, and provide methodological guidelines for using linked data and advanced statistics to estimate health indicators, and composite outcome measures. Conclusions This work will highlight the gaps in the innovative use of data sources, and improve the comparability of health indicators and the capacity of EU-Member states to apply innovation for increased relevance and timeliness of health information for public health policy-making.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS IN THE EU

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dunja Duić ◽  
Veronika Sudar
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Political Legitimacy ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Free Movement ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is being endured throughout the world, and the European Union (EU) is no exception. The rapid spreading of the virus effected, among other things, restriction on the freedom of movement. The EU member states introduced national response measures to contain the pandemic and protect public health. While broadly similar, the measures differ with regard to strictness and the manner of introduction, reflecting the political legitimacy of the respective country. With the ‘Guidelines concerning the exercise of the free movement of workers during COVID-19 outbreak’ – its first COVID-19-related Communication – the European Commission (EC) attempted to curb differing practices of the EU member states and ensure a coordinated approach. Ultimately, this action was aimed at upholding of fundamental rights as guaranteed to EU citizens, one such being the freedom of movement. Thus, from the very start of the pandemic, the coordinated actions of EU institutions sought to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections with the support and cooperation of EU member states. This is confirmed by the most recent Council of the EU (Council) recommendation on a coordinated approach to restrictions to freedom of movement within the EU of October 2020. While they did prevent the spread of infection and save countless lives, the movement restriction measures and the resulting uncertainty have greatly affected the people, the society, and the economy, thereby demonstrating that they cannot remain in force for an extended period. This paper examines the measures introduced by EU member states and analyses the legal basis for introducing therewith limitations on human rights and market freedoms. To what extent are the EU and member states authorized to introduce restrictions on the freedom of movement in the interest of public health? Have the EU and member states breached their obligations regarding market freedoms and fundamental rights under the Treaty? And most importantly: have they endangered the fundamental rights of the citizens of the EU?

scholarly journals Evading the price: do French smokers go abroad to buy cheaper tobacco?

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Andler ◽  
R Guignard ◽  
A Lermenier-Jeannet ◽  
J-B Richard ◽  
A Pasquereau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Policy Measure ◽  
Cigarette Smokers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Price Increases ◽  
Neighboring Country ◽  
Phone Survey

Abstract Background In France, selling tobacco is strictly supervised and can only be done by official “tobacconists” making the price lever all the more efficient in preventing smoking. However, tobacco prices are rather heterogeneous in Europe and France is surrounded by countries with lower tobacco prices. The aim of our study was to investigate tobacco cross-border purchases by French smokers. Methods Data come from the Santé publique France health Barometer, a national representative phone survey. In the 2014, 2017 and 2018 editions, respectively 4,721, 1,854 and 2,594 smokers where asked about their habits regarding purchasing tobacco. Results In 2018, among adults, 77.8% of cigarette smokers (including RYO cigarettes) made their last purchase from an official French tobacconist and 16.4% made it in a neighboring country. Rates in bordering regions are drastically higher. These figures are quite similar to the ones observed in 2014 while tobacconist purchases had increased in 2017 and abroad purchases had decreased. In 2018, among adults, 44.3% of cigarette smokers stated they had bought tobacco abroad at least once during the past 12 months. Conclusions Our study suggests that the frequency of cross border tobacco purchases by French smokers decreased between 2014 and 2017 while tobacco prices were not modified in France but increased between 2017 and 2018 as French tobacco prices went up. Our study also emphasises the fact that cross border purchases were a lot more common in bordering regions. Key messages Part of French smokers avoid price increases by purchasing tobacco abroad. This public health policy measure could be more efficient if tobacco prices were aligned in Europe.

European Union Rights and Values in Human Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 16-51
Author(s):  
Anniek de Ruijter
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
European Union ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Eu Fundamental Rights ◽  
The Eu

This book looks at the impact of the expanding power of the EU in terms of fundamental rights and values. The current chapter lays down the framework for this analysis. Law did not always have a central role to play in the context of medicine and health. The role of law grew after the Second Word War and the Nuremberg Doctors Trials (1947), in which preventing the repetition of atrocities that were committed in the name of medicine became a guidepost for future law regarding patients’ rights and bioethics. In the period after the War, across the EU Member States, health law developed as a legal discipline in which a balance was struck in medicine and public health between law, bioethics, and fundamental rights. The role of EU fundamental rights protections in the context of public health and health care developed in relation with the growth of multilevel governance and litigation (national, international, Council of Europe, and European Union). For the analysis here, this chapter develops an EU rights and values framework that goes beyond the strictly legal and allows for a ‘normative language’ that takes into consideration fundamental rights as an expression of important shared values in the context of the European Union. The perspective of EU fundamental rights and values can demonstrate possible tensions caused by EU health policy: implications in terms of fundamental rights can show how highly sensitive national policy issues may be affected by the Member States’ participation in EU policymaking activities.

Human epigenetics prematurely born(e)?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Wastell ◽  
Sue White
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Social Deprivation ◽  
Early Infancy ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Thought Style ◽  
A Site ◽  
The Impact

This chapterr shifts the focus from animals to humans, and examines the extant literature on the human epigenome. It reviews seminal work on the impact of natural disasters (such as the Dutch Hunger Winter) on the epigenetic profile of those subject to these calamities. It describes how gestation and early infancy are reconfigured as a site of risk. It interrogates the nature of the claims made within the literature and also examines the thought style and presuppositions, particularly in those studies which seek to translate findings from laboratory to the clinic and public health policy. The small size of the effects on human populations is also highlighted, compared to other influences such as social deprivation.

scholarly journals What is the future of Public Health Policy within the European Union?

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 792-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat ◽  
Katarzyna Czabanowska ◽  
Nicoline Tamsma ◽  
Archie Turnbull
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
European Union ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Future

scholarly journals Vectors of EU Common Agricultural Policy Reforms for the Period 2021-2027 with in the International Marketing Environment

2021 ◽  
pp. 180-187
Author(s):  
Nataliia SHYBAIEVA ◽  
Tetiana KVIATKO ◽  
Otabeg AZIZOV
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Common Agricultural Policy ◽  
Market Price ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The Impact

The article identifies the impact of agricultural policy on the development of state regulation of the economies of European Union member states (EU). The main reason for the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for EU member states has been identified. Some key reforms have been analyzed implemented within the integration association. It was found that the reform of CAP is due to the need to address market price uncertainty, respond to expanding access to the EU market by free trade agreements, use digital technologies to improve the accuracy and efficiency of CAP tools, accelerate their practical application, increase attention to environmental issues, environment, and climate change. The article also presents the main economic and social goals of the CAP, which are included in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. It is established that the institutional component of the CAP reform is reflected in the introduction of proposals into the legislative framework of the CAP for the period 2021-2027. The proposals of the European Commission were formulated in nine key objectives, which are considered in this article. Some tools, requirements for their use, and indicators for measuring progress towards the nine specific objectives of the CAP, which the European Commission has proposed to EU member states to achieve the defined goals are also analyzed. The CAP EU budget for 2014-2020 is considered and compared with the proposed budget for 2021-2027 (in constant 2018 prices).

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