Health care violations are still widespread in many Eastern European and Central Asian countries. At the same time, many countries in this region have engaged in extensive legal reforms and passed laws to protect rights. But these laws are rarely enforced, and they remain largely unknown by lawyers, health care providers, and patients. To help these laws work for patients, Open Society has produced a series of practical how-to manuals - Practitioner Guides - for lawyers to address human rights violations in patient care.
The European Commission has requested Italy to respect the rights of doctors working in public health services to minimum daily and weekly rest periods, as required by Working Time Directive (Directive 2003/88/EC). Under Italian law, several key rights contained in the Working Time Directive, such as the 48-hour limit to average weekly working time and minimum daily rest periods of 11 consecutive hours, do not apply to "managers" operating within the National Health Service.
Member States will need to step up their efforts to improve childcare provisions if the EU is to reach its 75% employment rate target by 2020, said the European Commission. Figures for 2010 show that most EU countries have missed their own targets for childcare provision: only eight were able to meet the targets for both age categories (0-3 years; 3 years to mandatory school age): Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
The European Parliament has overwhelmingly approved the appointment of the Croatian Neven Mimica as European Commissioner for Consumer Protection. Mimicry begins to perform his duties in July, when Crozia officially becomes the 28th Member State of the EU. His tenure will end 'on October 31, 2014, at the end of the mandate given to the team led by President Jose' Manuel Barroso.
Since June 1 became effective a new list of approved additives at EU level, which includes only those additives considered safe based on a scientific evaluation. The main advantage of the new rules is transparency: the additives will be clearly listed according to the category of foods to which can be added. The most important condition for their use is that they are safe and justified from a technological point of view, that is not misleading to the consumer and indeed the benefits make changes. To ensure that the additives continue to be used safely, the European Food Safety Authority has adopted a comprehensive re-evaluation program, currently in progress.
For the first time, millions of holiday-makers travelling in the EU this summer will be protected by comprehensive passenger rights – whether travelling by air or rail, and now also by ship, bus and coach. But research shows that two-thirds of passengers are not aware of their rights. For this reason, the Commission is launching a new campaign to inform the many people gearing up to travel this summer about their passenger rights, and how to claim them if needed.
In your city is taking place a good practice in terms of public transport and sustainable mobility? Participate in the collection of good practices initiated in Europe as part of the Mobility. The best experiences will be brought to the attention of the European institutions at the end of 2013. Do you want to report on Good Practice?
Almost two thirds (64%) of young Europeans intend to vote in the 2014 European Parliament elections whereas around one thirds (35%) say they are unlikely to do so, according to a Commission survey on youth participation in democratic life.
A Greek partner of Active Citizenship Network, Kathi Apostolidis has been appointed Vice President of the European Coalition of Cancer Patients. Congratulations and good luck!
The European Ombudsman dealt with more than 30000 complaints and opened almost 3500 investigations into alleged maladministration in the EU administration during his ten years in office. In 2012 alone, he received 2442 complaints (2510 in 2011) and opened a record number of 465 inquiries (396 in 2011). Most of the 2012 inquiries were about lack of transparency (21,5%), including refusal to release documents or information.