Wellbeing Newsline: Europe

Thursday, November 26, 2009

European report: ‘Normal’ for drug-addicts to combine different substances

Monitors concerned over rise in ‘pseudonym’ drugs sales

Edited by Jane Hill: According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction’s [EMCDDA] annual report, it appears to be normal practice amongst most of the continent’s drug-users to consume a combination of legal and illegal substances.

As a consequence, most people then go on to develop a joint alcohol and narcotics addiction habit, which EMCDDA says, poses challenges and requires complex treatment.

The 2009 report went on to reveal that whilst cocaine and heroin maintain a firm hold on Europe’s drug scene, new data shows that among young people there is a fall in the use of cannabis.

However, in its conclusion the study highlights EMCDDA’s concerns that more and more ‘psychoactive substances’ are for sale on the internet under various pseudonyms.

For example, a chemical called ‘spice’, which is often advertised online as ‘incense’, but, when it is smoked it has similar effects to cannabis.

For further information visit the European Parliament’s website at: www.europarl.europa.eu.

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Saturday, October 10, 2009

Euro Parliament urges Lithuania to make changes to its child protection laws

Vague words may lead to controversial interpretations

Edited by Jane Hill: Lithuania should reconsider recent changes in its child protection legislation to avoid any possibility of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, according to the European Union [EU] Parliament.

In July this year, the Lithuanian parliament approved changes to its child protection legislation, although these are now under review by the national authorities. The law bans public information that promotes homosexual relations from any place where children can access it, as it may have a detrimental effect on the development of minors.

According to Members of the European Parliament [MEPs] the wording of the law is vague and might lead to controversial interpretations. They say it is unclear what kind of materials are concerned and whether it extends to books, art, press, publicity, music, theatre, exhibitions or demonstrations.

While the EU Parliament acknowledges the need for what it calls ‘appropriate legal protection for children’, it stresses that the fight against discrimination, in particular based–on sexual orientations, is of the utmost importance.

The EU Parliament says Lithuania should ensure that their laws are compatible with international and European human and civil rights legislation. MEPs want the Agency for Fundamental Rights to give an opinion and for the EU Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee to follow–up the issue.

Visit the European Parliament online at: www.europarl.europa.eu.

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Thursday, October 8, 2009

Slovenian Government approves draft Medical Devices Act

Aims to give residents access to quality products

Edited by Nick Adams: The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has announced that it has recently finalised the contents of the draft Medical Devices Act, which it will submit to the National Assembly for ratification.

Due to the many changes to European legislation in regards to medical devices, Slovenia has stated that its current act needed to be up-dated.

The Government reported that the new regulations aim to give its citizens access to high quality medical devices and at the same time restrict the availability of products marketed as medical devices which fail to meet the necessary safety and quality standards.

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Sunday, October 4, 2009

European Parliament’s public debate on ‘sad’ human rights situation in Russia

Call ‘to try war crimes and crimes against humanity’

Edited by Andy Porter: The deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia, especially the northern Caucasus, was the focus of a public hearing last week which involved Members of the European Parliament [MEPs] and Russian activists.

One issue discussed was how best to strike a balance between dialogue and pressure in relations with the Russian authorities.

“The background to today’s debate is rather sad”, said Heidi Hautala, chair of the European Parliament [EP] Subcommittee on Human Rights, which organised the hearing. “This summer human rights defenders Natalia Estemirova, Zarema Sadulayeva, Alik Dzhabrailov and Stanislav Markelov and his assistant were murdered.”

Via video conference from Nizhny Novgorod Stanislav Dmitryevski, editor–in–chief of the newspaper Pravo-zaschita [Human Rights Defence] called for the creation of a special tribunal for Chechnya “to try war crimes and crimes against humanity” committed during the armed conflict in Chechnya. He also urged the European Parliament to support the creation of a permanent commission to investigate the facts in the northern Caucasus.

Human rights activist Sergei Kovalev said of current political trends in Russia: “We have an inactive constitution, no free elections, censorship of mass–media and no division of powers.” Mr Kovalev helped found the organisation Memorial, which seeks to rehabilitate victims of political persecution during the Soviet era. Memorial is among the nominees for the EP’s Sakharov Prize for the Freedom of Thought 2009.

Magomed Khazbiev, a representative of the Ingushetian opposition, criticised the repressive regime in Ingushetia, where murders of journalists, death squads and torture still take place. “During the presidency of Mr Zyazikov, 2,000 young people under 20 years–of–age were killed and many disappeared.”

Some MEPs were sceptical about the existing EU–Russia political dialogue on human rights but others stressed that the EU must continue to raise human rights matters in its consultations with Russia.

Visit the European Parliament online at: www.europarl.europa.eu.

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Venice announces three finalists for Europe's 2009 Lux Film Prize

Strasbourg to announce winner 25 November 2009

Edited by Jane Hill: It was recently announced at the Venice Film Festival, by the European Parliament, that the three films which will compete for the 2009 LUX Prize are:

Eastern Plays by director Kamen Kalev. The theme of the film is neo-Nazi violence in Europe,

Sturm by director Hans-Christian Schmid. The theme of the film is the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal,

and Welcome by director Philippe Lioret. The theme of the film is immigration.

A vote will be cast in November, by all 736 members of the European Parliament, to elect the winner, who will then be awarded the 2009 LUX Prize on 25 November in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

The LUX Prize winner will receive funds from the European Parliament to subtitle the film in the EU's 23 official languages and to adapt the original version for visually or hearing-impaired people.

For further information on the films and the award visit the European Parliament website: www.europarl.europa.eu.

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Sunday, August 23, 2009

Catalonia to open new social healthcare complex in 2012

Barcelona aims to provide top-level medical care

Edited by Nick Adams: Catalonia's new integrated social and healthcare complex which comprises a primary healthcare centre, a public convalescence home, a day centre and mental health centres for adults, children and adolescents, will open in the Les Casernes de Sant Andreu district of Barcelona in 2012.

Catalonia’s Department of Health stated that the aim is to give top-level medical care and assistance to residents who live in Les Casernes de Sant Andreu.

The department confirmed that the mental health facilities intend to address the present lack of provision, amenities and accessibility, for young people and children in need of mental health care who live in the district.

Also, the day centre will provide help to patients who have difficulties with social inter-action outside the family environment.

The primary healthcare centre will serve 30,000 residents in the vicinity of Les Casernes and will include a primary healthcare team, who specialise in general medicine, paediatrics, 24-hour care, public-health education and minor surgery.

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Friday, August 14, 2009

European Commission’s plan to tackle neurodegenerative diseases

Countries invited to develop research programme

Edited by Nick Adams: The health and social challenges presented by neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and dementias, in Europe call for co-ordinated actions to ensure efficient prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for those affected, says the European Commission.

The European Union [EU] Commission proposes:

early action to diagnose dementia and to reduce the risk of dementia in the first place,

improvements in research co-ordination between EU countries,

that best practice should be shared,

and a need for a forum to reflect on the rights, autonomy and dignity of patients.

EU member countries will be invited to pool their resources and better co-ordinate their research efforts in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s.

According to the Commission, already 20 countries in Europe have already shown their willingness to pool resources and to conduct research in an area where a common initiative would offer major added value compared with the current, fragmented research efforts.

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