News from the European Parliament plenary session

Image caption: Representatives of Lungs Europe and the TB Europe Coalition in Strasbourg.

Representatives of the European Lung Foundation and European Respiratory Society met with MEPs and representatives of their offices during the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg. 

The visit included discussions with members of several committees, including the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Foreign Affairs (AFET), Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Budget (BUDG) and Committee on Development (DEVE) to address the needs of people living with respiratory conditions.  

The meetings provided a chance to discuss several key issues, including:  

• the need to support the mental health of people with chronic lung disease  

• dangerous working conditions that cause respiratory diseases in workers   

• the prevention of respiratory diseases, in particular, to promote respiratory testing  

• the international cooperation to fight tuberculosis in developing countries, as well as barriers to innovative tuberculosis treatments within the EU itself 

• support for people in Ukraine whose health condition has deteriorated due to the consequences of the war  

Representatives from the European Lung Health Group and also met with the MEP Marit Maij, Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. 

The meeting focused on important issues related to health and safety measures at the workplace, and the protection of workers from occupational lung diseases caused by certain work environments, such as factories, mining, fires, construction and agriculture. 

Diseases such as work-related asthma, allergy or pneumoconiosis are caused by the long-term exposure of unsafe chemicals and dust that are breathed in the lungs. Preventing further exposure and diagnosing these conditions in a timely manner can benefit workers’ health.  

The meetings also provided a chance to discuss the international cooperation for the treatment of respiratory diseases and, in particular, tuberculosis which, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing countries. 

Together with MEPs, ELF and ERS, through Lungs Europe, plan to work on this range of topics in the new MEP Lungs Health Group, which is an informal platform for policymakers, health professionals and patients to work together to define EU policy measures to improve lung health.