Health
ECDC: Legionella outbreak may be reduced with appropriate controls
A new community outbreak of Legionella in Belgium's Flanders region renewed public attention to the so-called Legionnaires' disease, which is increasing in the EU, according to the EU agency for infectious diseases control.
Cross-border healthcare directive had too little impact so far, EU auditors warn
Very few patients ask for reimbursements for treatment accessed abroad and the only exchanges of patients’ health data are between two member states, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) found in its report released on Tuesday (4 June).
Poll: Europeans care more about food origins than safety
Coinciding with the first International food safety day, a Eurobarometer poll about food safety published on Friday (7 June) found that food awareness among Europeans is high, as 50% of them consider safety to be an important factor in choosing food.
EU should tackle health inequality with investments: MSD official
Every EU government should prioritise healthcare because only health citizens can be a driving force for economic growth, told EURACTIV Croatia Gabriele Grom, Vice President of MSD in Central Eastern Europe (CEE).
How the EU wants countries to tweak transport policy
The European Commission unveiled a whole series of country-by-country recommendations on Wednesday (5 June), including guidance on how to improve transport links and boost sustainability through shrewd investments.
Cocaine trafficking reaching record highs, says EU drug agency
Cocaine seizure in the EU reached record highs in 2017 and the trafficking of synthetic drugs has also increased, according to this year's European Drug Report. A closer look into Berlin's drug help centre shows how drug consumption is linked to mental health. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Pharma incentives reform is for the next Commission, EU official says
Stakeholders gathered in the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) reiterated their demands to reform the incentives for pharmaceutical innovation, making a set of recommendations to the European Commission during an event in Brussels on Monday (3 June).
The football tournament you’ve never heard of
Eight football teams will duel it out in the foothills of the Caucasus this month to decide which is the best in Europe. But you will not find Germany, Italy or Spain on the match list and none of the teams taking part are fully recognised by the international community.
Iodine tablets to be distributed to 2.2 million French people living near nuclear plants
An additional 2.2 million French people residing close to nuclear power plants will receive iodine tablets and information on how to proceed in the event of an accident. This was announced by the French Nuclear Safety Authority on Monday. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Betis, the Spanish club committed to going climate neutral
Spanish football club Real Betis is well known for the colours of its T-shirt, green and white. But now they want to integrate that concept into their whole policy by leading the way in making soccer more sustainable.
UEFA faces criticism over carbon footprint for Euro finals
Criticism over football carbon footprint erupted as English clubs fans had to travel the world to see their teams playing against each other, thousands of kilometres away from home in Spain and Azerbaijan.
AMR incentives could be next big EU opportunity, pharma boss says
Europe could become the first region worldwide to incentivise the fight anti-microbial resistance (AMR), Nathalie Moll, director general of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), told EURACTIV in an interview.
E-racers electrify Berlin’s old airport
Formula One’s electric cousin came to Berlin’s defunct Tempelhof Airport on Saturday (25 May), in the latest round of a rapidly advancing sport. Formula E’s fortunes have progressed hand-in-hand with those of electric vehicles in general.
Romania cuts VAT rate for ‘healthy and traditional food’
The Romanian government has decided to promote the consumption of healthy and traditional foodstuffs by cutting the VAT rate from 9% to 5%. EURACTIV Romania reports.
EU cities join forces for more sustainable tourism
Climate change and tourism are closely interlinked. Local and regional authorities across Europe are working together to improve waste management to make tourism more sustainable in their towns.
Commission: EU tobacco track and trace will be fully functional in a year
The much-awaited EU tobacco track and trace system will be fully functional in "maximum one year" after its official launch due on 20 May, a European Commission official told EURACTIV.com.
Salvini declares war on cannabis, threatens to bring down government
Italy's hardline Interior Minister Matteo Salvini announced his intention to close every legal cannabis shop in Italy "one by one", saying he would even consider toppling the government if his coalition ally, the Five Star Movement, refuses to back him.
Childhood obesity is a plague on Southern Europe, new WHO report finds
Higher numbers of severe obesity and overweight cases were reported in Southern European, according to a new study from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Treatment and management options are still having a limited impact.
London marathon goes greener
As the London marathon aims at becoming a world leader in sustainable sports events, the Sunday (28 April) edition introduced a new set of measures to become greener.
Poll: Nearly half of Europeans think vaccines ‘can often produce severe side effects’
85% of EU citizens believe vaccines are an effective way of preventing diseases, but almost half of them think vaccines "can often produce severe side-effects," according to a new Eurobarometer survey.
French professional League and WWF join forces to boost sustainability in football
The French professional football governing body and the environmental NGO WWF signed a partnership in April to reduce the ecological footprint of football clubs.
Uruguay begins exporting medical marijuana, Germany is first EU client
Already the first country in the world to legalize recreational use of marijuana, Uruguay now aims to go further by becoming the first in Latin America to export it for medicinal purposes.
EU curbs trans fats from 2021 to boost heart health
The EU adopted a regulation on Wednesday (24 April) to curb trans fat amounts in products like snack food as part of efforts to fight heart disease and strokes in Europe.