Blog "Brussels Background"

Unsere Politikexperten im Europa-Büro sortieren und bewerten in ihrem Blog "Brussels Background“ regelmäßig die europapolitischen Ereignisse.

• 08.01.2019 | Brussels Background

  European Elections – Health Care’s time to shine?

  A Eurobarometer report showed that the European citizens want the European Union to do more on health. A demand that seems impossible to fulfil as the Member States have a history of strongly securing this department for themselves. But times are changing and some threats such as vaccination hesitancy cannot be handled only by national health care systems. Could health care be the new superstar topic which will get people to the polling stations in May 2019?
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• 15.11.2018 | Brussels Background

  Brexit Deal – Happy End in Sight?

  Yesterday, the British cabinet took more than 5 hours to discuss a 500 page document which shall organize a structured separation between the UK and the EU. Final outcome: the cabinet supports the draft deal and all ministers, except for one, are on board – at least for now. However, what seems to be glimpse of euphoria, is far from a happy end, since nothing has been decided yet!
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• 02.11.2018 | Brussels Background

  Mirror, Mirror on the wall- where will Brexit lead us all?

  It kind of feels like reading the same news for the past few months when it comes to Brexit – “We’re almost there”! But are they really and will the divorce agreement be concluded any time soon? A few options for the future are on the table and they are manifold: from the horrific “cliff edge” scenario that has been depicted for so many times to the possibility that all of this might bring the rest of the EU 27 closer together.
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• 19.10.2018 | Brussels Background

  Pharmaceuticals in the Environment – of fish and men

  Concern over increasing environmental pollution is growing. Nearly all industrial processes produce residues that could end up in the environment. Technological progress helps to identify quantities and origin of these micro-pollutants. However, the ways how these pollutants enter the environment are complex and the effects on human and animal health in many ways unknown. The water industry has identified the pharmaceutical industry as one of the main perpetrators and suggests solutions that may alter the way we live in many ways.
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• 05.09.2018 | Brussels Background

  The comeback of preventable diseases – measles and co on the rise

  The latest measles outbreaks as well as alarmingly high numbers of infections with other communicable diseases – all this could have long been a thing of the past. But hesitancy towards vaccination is growing, vaccination rates are dropping significantly across Europe and the anti-vaccination lobby is stronger than ever. Governments across Europe need to reinforce the confidence in long established medical treatments – but how?
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• 01.08.2018 | Brussels Background

  The fight against AMR- A tale of missed chances?

  There is one thing everyone can agree on: AMR is a tricky killer to tens and thousands every year all over the globe. AMR is also a health threat that does not stop at borders. To tackle and overcome this threat, effective and bold strategies are needed – but what is the right one and where do we stand?
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• 29.06.2018 | Brussels Background

  A wind of change: The revision of the current SME definition

  In 15 years the definition of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has never changed. Till now: The Commissions’ President Juncker claims that SMEs are the backbone of the European economy and that they therefore need proper and fair access to funding and support in order to meet the needs of the economy. A clear cut definition is supposed to facilitate this access and thus support these enterprises. Especially in Germany, we have a different understanding of what is an SME – also called German Mittelstand. The next months will show if and how the Commission will adapt to the changing world and possibly adapt also the SME definition. The pharmaceutical industry – especially in Germany – will closely watch this space.
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• 27.04.2018 | Brussels Background

  The Falsified Medicines Directive – a bridging gap between public health and the industry?

  Falsified Medicines constitute a risk for Public Health and for the legal supply chain of businesses. The origin of falsifications are often hard to discover and trace due to the increasingly complicated supply chain of pharmaceutical companies and healthcare delivery. The European Parliament and the Council passed the Falsified Medicines Directive in 2011 in order to tackle these problems and to ensure safe access to medicines in the European Union (EU).
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• 28.02.2018 | Brussels Background

  Health Technology Assessment at European Level - One man’s joy, another man’s sorrow

  More cooperation between the Member States when it comes to Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has long been part of the European Union (EU) policy agenda. A topic that is more present than ever now that the Commission has published its proposal for a new HTA regulation at the end of January. The aim of the proposal: Joint clinical assessments at EU level. Sounds good? – Well, not for everyone.
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• 28.02.2018 | Brussels Background

  Parallel trade of medicines – Towards a parallel society when it comes to health?

  Some argue that it is just a manifestation of the core principles of the European Union, some say that the practice of parallel imports leads straight to a public health crisis in the Eastern European Member States. A prominent discussion, which will get even more heated now that Bulgaria starts its Presidency of the Council and is eager to put the topic higher on the agenda.
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