As part of our remit to shape EU health priorities and impact policy, we follow the European Parliament’s agenda and attend meetings relevant to our work. Below you can see a summary of recent highlights and outcomes of these meetings:
- During the European Parliament plenary session from 9-10 October, the Commission marked World Mental Health Day by presenting a statement on the need for new strategies on mental health. The statement highlighted an additional support package from the EU to tackle stigma that was developed with input from member states. The European Lung Foundation coordinates a Mental Health Working Group, which aims to improve access to mental health care for patients with lung diseases and support advocacy efforts to promote policy change. Recent work from this group included sending a response to the European Commission’s consultation on a comprehensive approach to mental health in 2023. Find out more about the ELF Mental Health Working Group.
- At a meeting of the European Parliament’s subcommittee on public health on 17 October, the Commission presented a proposal on smoke and aerosol-free environments. The proposal is aimed at protecting people from second-hand smoke and aerosols both in indoor and outdoor spaces and discourage children from the use of tobacco products. Most of the members of the subcommittee welcomed the proposal, especially highlighting the need to protect young people and the vulnerable populations. Some MEPs were concerned about interference in the private life and freedoms of citizens. The debate raised an issue about the need to revise the current tobacco legislation and the Lungs Europe team will keep following this agenda. See our recent statement about the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and recent proposals for Smoke Free Environments.
- On 16th October we took part in a breakfast discussion on “Europe’s Escalating RMD Crisis: How to Protect EU’s Healthcare System, Workforce and Economy”, organised by the interest group on Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) at the European Parliament. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) often occurs alongside RMDs and can sometimes get worse before it is spotted. This can lead to delays in treatment and long-term damage to the lungs that cannot always be undone. This discussion was a chance to bring together Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), scientists, healthcare professionals and people with lived experience of these conditions to find possible policy actions to tackle the impact that RMDs are having on Europe’s healthcare systems and economy. We hope to continue our work for improving lung health for all in the newly re-established MEP Lung Health Group.
- The ‘European Health Policy and its impact on CEE countries and Romania’ event was hosted by the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu. European Respiratory Society (ERS) representative, Professor Dragos Bumbacea, talked about care for people with lung conditions in Romania and how medical education and training of healthcare professionals can help with bridging the gap in inequalities. We are calling on the EU to provide additional funding to help Central and Eastern European countries to strengthen their respiratory units through the EU4Health funding programme, with the aim of addressing inequalities in care for people with lung conditions across Europe.
- In October, the European Parliament adopted a calendar for Commissioners-designated hearings, which will take place from 4-12 November. The hearing for the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare will take place on 6 of November, coordinated by the ENVI and AGRI Committees. We have submitted questions for the oral hearings to make sure that respiratory health will be among the priorities of the new Commissioner. We will follow closely the whole discussion in the European Parliament in November. We hope that the new Commission will give priority to lung health and that the financial support from the EU will reflect this.
