January 11, 2016
Genval, 11 January 2016. – Very little I must say. It would be very difficult to me to consider the current Commission Work Programme ‘public health friendly’ as its 10 priorities simply and elegantly ignored public health. One of the reasons why the Juncker Commission delivered so little for improving our well-being so far is… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
December 28, 2015
Worms, 28 December, 2015. – Why is this a relevant question for a public health advocate? Because of the deadly impact of tobacco consumption on human health and the shameless behaviour of the tobacco industry, as regards tobacco control measures. Concerning the societal harm caused by tobacco use, let’s have no doubts about it: tobacco… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
December 26, 2015
Worms, 26. December, 2015. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has delivered recently its strange ‘yes and no’ decision on the Scottish Public Health Policy called Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) of alcohol. The Court ruled that in principle a public health policy which may harm internal market and competition (a policy making the cheapest alcoholic… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Agriculture, Civil Society (NGOs), European citizens, Health & Consumers, Public Health , Agriculture, Civil Society (NGOs), European citizens, health and consumers, Public Health |
December 25, 2015
Worms, 25 December 2015. After one and half year break I decided to re-launch my EU blog with a different approach. I will continue to share my thoughts about public health relevant European developments but instead of ‘blogging’ in an ordinary way, I decided to launch a public diary which will allow me to share… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Civil Society (NGOs), European citizens, Health & Consumers, Public Health |
April 14, 2014
Good news is that the 3rd European Romma Summit has gathered high level political attention from both the EU Leaders (Commission President Barroso, Commissioners Reding, Andor and Vassiliou) and from Member States (Romanian President Basescu and 7 Ministers). Bad news is that that was it: there were no real chance either for Roma contribution or… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
February 25, 2014
We, EU citizens, definitively made history when we have collected first in the EU history more than 1 million signatures to ensure that water will be provided on a human rights basis to everyone. But will it be enough to reduce the EU’s democratic deficit? Will the Commission listen to us and make real, legally… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Civil Society (NGOs), Environment, EU news & updates, European citizens , Civil Society (NGOs), Environment, EU news & updates, European citizens |
February 13, 2014
Sad, but true: Europe lost its leadership in the world, as regards tobacco control. Despite the not strong enough, weakened Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), Member States still have the opportunity to go further and put Europe back on the right track of tobacco control. (Source of the photo Official website of the Lithuanian EU presidency… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
Electronic cigarettes will be regulated by the recently negotiated Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). E-cigarettes (nicotine inhalators) are both helpful to quit smoking and source of new dangers: long term adverse effects and re-normalisation of smoking. In my opinion, the regulation of e-cigarettes should be linked to have much stronger European tobacco control measures. What are… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
January 17, 2014
The European Union crossed the Rubicon of Fundamental Rights. The outbreak of the financial crisis turned into economic then political, institutional and social crisis. Despite evidence on the table, social consequences of the austerity policy were not taken into consideration, yet. It must end now. I will share you my short narrative on the way… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
In 2010, a Hungarian Law was amended to allow municipalities to ban homeless people from public spaces. Although this law was ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, the Consitution has been modified to allow prohibition of homelessness in 2013. I’ve collected 10 reasons why is it totally contrary to European laws and values. The incriminated… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
March 13, 2013
Hungary is one of the most mysterious country in Europe. Our Asian origin is as strange for most of the Europeans as our almost inexplicable Finno-Ugric language. Is Hungary on the right track? Why is the country in the centre of international and European critics? Which is more important: Europe or Hungary? The right answer… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Civil Society (NGOs), EU news & updates, European Integration, Human Rights, Hungary, Roma , Civil Society (NGOs), EU news & updates, European Integration, Human Rights, Roma |
March 7, 2013
The kick off momentum of the process which resulted this ad-hoc alliance has very likely started at the end of January with the controversial vote of the AGRI Committee of the European Parliament which unfortunately watered down all the promising elements of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform put forward by the Commission. The Council… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Agriculture, Civil Society (NGOs), Environment, Public Health , Agriculture, Civil Society (NGOs), Environment, Public Health |
February 2, 2013
(source of the photo © elmada) Some say that that the European Parliament will be in a very difficult situation next week when it will decide upon the new vehicle noise regulation, since by setting stricter or lighter vehicle noise limits, the Members of the European Parliament should prefer either the population’s public health and… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
October 30, 2012
(Source of the photo: www.right2water.eu/) Is Water a Human Right in the EU? Is Water Shortage a Matter of Concern in the EU? Can We Sweep this problem under the Carpet(as usual)? Yes, yes and no. Yes, I firmly believe that water is a human right. Yes, there are alarming water shortages within the EU.… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
We may not be so silly that we give up before the goal! The real issue behind the whole #Dalligate story is not the future position of a single Commissioner or our shaked faith in President Barroso but the failure or success of the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC) (Source of the photo… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Civil Society (NGOs), Consumer Protection, EU news & updates, Health & Consumers, Public Health , Civil Society (NGOs), Consumer Protection, EU news & updates, health and consumers, Public Health |
October 17, 2012
“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.” (Source of the photo © Tomas Hawk) This nutshell summary is based on a NEW EUROPE VIDEO INTERVIEW with Commissioner John DALLI (Source of the photo © European Commission audivisual service) Basic timeline of the Dalli-gate: February 2012 – The Commission finalised the… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
October 15, 2012
“Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.” ~Winston Churchill Itt olvasható egy magyar nyelvű összefoglaló a betörésről (Hungarian summary about the brake-in) I witnessed a very targeted and professional break-in into 3 public health related NGOs offices (I work for one of them) on the early morning of 18 October 2012. We can… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
(Owner of the photo © alamodestuff) “Great opportunities are not seen with your eyes. They are seen with your mind.” ~Robert Kiyosaki Being a European blogger I would like to contribute to the Blog Action day with 8 key messages an EU Bloogger (me) could identify in his career so far. 1.) “European Bloggers are… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
October 8, 2012
(Owner of the photo © Roger Blackwell) “Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.” ~Harold Coffin Did you know that 2012 is the European year of Active and Healthy Ageing and the Solidarity between Generations? If I had made a research among the readers of my blog, not… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Children’s well-being, Civil Society (NGOs), Human Rights, Public Health, Social Europe, Sustainable Dev. |
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” ~Harry S Truman Conference on Social Innovation (Brussels, 13th June 2012) The co-organizers of the Conference on Social Innocation and Independent Living were the Liaison Agency Flanders-Europe (VLEVA) and the Kent County Council on behalf of the Social Inclusion… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Civil Society (NGOs), Housing, Public Health, Research & Development, Social Europe, Social Europe & Jobs , Civil Society (NGOs), Housing, Public Health, Research & Development, Social Europe |
“It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste.” ~Henry Ford The Impression of an Independent Health Expert on the Spot – EPHA Conference 06/06/2012 Although there were several health related events on 6th June 2012, I decided to take part in the Annual Conference of the European… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
May 31, 2012
A review by MEPs, the Commission and the Civil Society in order to make some useful remarks to the new Health Strategy (2014-2020) “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” ~Lewis Carroll I had the honour to participate in a public workshop organized at the European Parliament on… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Children’s well-being, Civil Society (NGOs), European Integration, Health & Consumers, Public Health , Children's well-being, Civil Society (NGOs), European Integration, Public Health |
– Lessons Learned after the Policy Debate in the EP on 16/05/2012 “We believe what we repeatedly tell ourselves. What are you repeatedly telling yourself? “ Foreword Under the auspices of the following 3 public health NGOs European Society of Intensive Care Medicine [ESICM], European Public Health Alliance [EPHA], and LIFE-PRIORITY, a policy debate took… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Civil Society (NGOs), Health & Consumers, Medicines, Public Health, Research & Development , Civil Society (NGOs), Public Health, Research & Development |
(on the photo: Kolozsvár with the Matthias Corvinus Monument made by János Fadrusz Photo © Julie Kertész) “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ~Winston Churchill Why did I focus on the European Youth Capital issue? I discovered the significance of that idea when I participated… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
April 14, 2012
My blogging history is basically a constant search for a better understanding on how can I formulate my EU related policy and advocacy experience publicly. This blog has been created on 14 April 2012 under the heading ‘Blog of Zoltán Massay-Kosubek’, so 14 April is considered as the ‘birthday’ of this blog. After several months,… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
Zoltán is Hungarian qualified lawyer ⚖ and a Brussels-based European public health advocate. 💪 He shares his personal views here only.
