Health
EURORDIS: Rare diseases need more centralised processes within the EU
Future improvement of the EU Orphan Medicines Regulation (OMP) could involve more centralised processes for all rare diseases at the EU level, the European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) told EURACTIV in a written interview.
Invest in digital tools to help avoid future crises, say intensive care experts
Investment in digital infrastructure and better coordination between data scientists and healthcare professionals can play a key role in the prevention of a second wave of coronavirus and future pandemics, healthcare professionals have told EURACTIV.
Ex-Eurogroup boss: Nobody is so stupid to propose to ‘just go back under 3% deficit’
As one of the most influential Eurogroup figures during the previous crisis, Thomas Wieser chaired the preparatory meetings of eurozone finance ministers between 2011 and 2018. In an interview with EURACTIV, the American-Austrian economist described the EU’s fiscal rules as “bad practical economics”, in particular for handling a crisis such as the current one.
Breton: With better information from China and WHO, we would have been better prepared
Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, told EURACTIV.com in an interview that Europe could have been better prepared to face the COVID-19 if China and the World Health Organisation had offered “better and more reliable information earlier”.
Bulgarian Deputy PM: Eastern Europe could replace China in sectors critical to the EU
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe do not have the huge human resources of China, but they do have plenty of advantages that must be used after the end of the pandemic, said Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV Bulgaria.
Austrian author and civil society activist outlines the way to a ‘common good economy’
Award-winning author Christian Felber believes the coronavirus outbreak is the perfect moment to question the entire system, after advocating for years to switch from capitalism to a public-interest economy. He explained his ideas in an interview with EURACTIV Germany.
Dombrovskis: ‘I could imagine containment costs covered by ESM loans’
Following the Eurogroup’s agreement on the economic response to the coronavirus, European Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis on Friday (10 April) welcomed the €540 billion package in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV.com
Eurocommerce boss: ‘no food shortages’ in EU provided everyone plays by the rules
Despite the agri-food chain have been under pressure in the past few weeks in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, there is no risk of food shortage provided that people behave appropriately, the head of the food retailers lobby told EURACTIV.
Being a doctor is quite a commitment, says MEP working on the ‘front line’
Some MEPs are getting personally involved in the fight against the coronavirus. EURACTIV France spoke to one of them, French centrist MEP Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, who is currently on the 'front lines' at a military hospital near Paris.
Austrian digital expert: Well-made disinformation is emotionally intelligent
The coronavirus pandemic has led to a flood of disinformation: Fictitious numbers of infection, ineffective treatments or false insider information. The Austrian author and digital expert Ingrid Brodnig, who monitors such cases, explains to EURACTIV Germany how and why coronavirus created a breeding ground for disinformation.
Migration and the coronavirus pandemic: Crash tests for Schengen
The refugee crisis in 2015 and the current coronavirus pandemic will put the Schengen area to the hardest test since its creation 25 years ago, says Christian Moos, Secretary General of the non-partisan Europa-Union Germany, in an interview with EURACTIV Germany.
Increase the price of goods to control demand, expert recommends
With restrictions to contain the coronavirus getting stricter in many member states and the fear of contagion growing, online shopping can be the solution to do the groceries, a consumer researcher told EURACTIV in an interview.
Ewald Lienen: Football is ‘by definition political’
German football veteran Ewald Lienen is convinced that football is political and bears social responsibility. In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, he explains how he combines football with climate protection.
Pharma boss: EU will have to focus on long-term medical research ecosystem
After the coronavirus crisis is over, Europe will need policies that can create a research ecosystem in the long run as well as ensure access to medicines to the patients who need them in a way that is sustainable for health systems today and tomorrow, a leading representative of European pharmaceuticals told EURACTIV in an interview.
WHO expert: Finding and distributing COVID-19 vaccine in 18 months would be ‘historic’
It would be “historic” to find a vaccine that can be distributed to all countries in 18 months to defeat the coronavirus, a high-ranking researcher at the World Health Organisation told EURACTIV’s partner EFE in an interview. “We are all...
Dombrovskis: EU’s fiscal rules are flexible for impact of coronavirus
The European Commission will be "flexible" with Italy and other member states affected by the coronavirus when assessing their efforts to balance their public accounts, European Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis said in an interview.
ECDC chief: Low risk for coronavirus but EU pandemic prep should be reviewed
The EU agency for infectious diseases control still considers the risk for the novel coronavirus low for Europe. However, its director is calling for a rethink of pandemic preparedness plans to help ensure Europe is equipped to deal with a virus spread scenario such as the current one in China.
Health minister: This time Belgium could mine healthcare data instead of coal
Belgium has an enormous wealth of digital data, which could help it become a new “mining” country. “We could mine data instead of coal”, Belgian Health Minister told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Chinese ambassador: Panic could be a more fearful adversary than coronavirus
In fighting an epidemic, it is quite befitting to say that the only thing to fear is fear itself. In other words, panic could be a more fearful adversary than the virus itself, the Chinese Ambassador to the EU Zhang...
MEP: Green Deal should ensure EU food sector’s competitiveness
With the new European Green Deal, all actors across the food chain will need to adjust to new EU standards. But policymakers also have to make sure EU industry is protected against unfair competition, MEP Maria Spyraki told EURACTIV.com.Special ReportPromoted content
Interview with Sir Peter Ratcliffe, 2019 Nobel Laureate: Paving the way for new cancer treatments
Just days before the inspirational scientist will receive the Nobel Prize in Stockholm, he underlines that it is "important that scientists are allowed to derive knowledge for its own sake”.
Health campaigners praise Finnish presidency’s focus on well-being
Finnish presidency approach on the economy of wellbeing was a milestone for a successful reorientation of health services towards a multisectoral approach in designing, building and delivering people-centred care, said Anna Żakowicz, Director of Programs at AHF Europe.
Whole grains ‘key part of a healthy diet’
In an interview with EURACTIV, Michaela Pichler, secretary-general of the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology (ICC), spoke about the importance of whole grains, but also about the lack of industry standards, labelling and promotion of whole grain foods.