Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Archives for European Integration

7 Health actions to make a difference – Open Letter to the new Commission President-elect

June 25, 2019

7 Health actions to make a difference – Open Letter to the new Commission President-elect Brussels, 25th June 2019 Subject: Suggesting 7 actions to your next five years plan to re-launch Europe by improving health Dear Commission President Elect, By the time of writing this, it is not known to whom that letter will be… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU Priorities 2020, European citizens, European Integration, Health & Consumers, Public Health, Sustainable Dev.

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This time I’m voting for health

April 28, 2019

As a Hungarian European citizen, this time is the fourth time I am voting for Europe. The difference is that this time the first time I have a very good cause to vote for and this cause is called: health. I will vote for health beacuse I am convinced that Europe has the power and… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Air quality, Civil Society (NGOs), EU news & updates, European Integration, Health & Consumers, Public Health

3 Comments

Decoding the Sargentini-report: A New Hope?

September 16, 2018

By the adoption (?) of the European Parliament report on triggering the ‘Article 7 procedure’ against Hungary, a convincing political majority has been forced agreeing on the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach of the European values. Damning statement. Why did Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán provoked this precedent? What are the… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Children’s well-being, Civil Society (NGOs), Education, EU news & updates, Europe's East, European citizens, European Integration, Hungary, National minorities, Roma, Visegrád alliance (PL-CZ-SK-HU)

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Illiberal Hungary, as a Result of Historical Frustrations – One Way Road?

April 16, 2018

Both Europe and Hungary were surprised one week ago by witnessing the third, landslide victory of Viktor Orbán, with unexpectedly high participation, resulting a consitutional supermajority. Were the elections fair and democratic? Is the Hungarian illiberalism democracy or dictatorship? What are the cornerstones of the Orbán regime? What about the weak opposition? What are the… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Civil Society (NGOs), EU news & updates, Europe's East, European Integration, Human Rights, Hungary, Visegrád alliance (PL-CZ-SK-HU)

2 Comments

Wind of change: Air and Health in 2019

March 28, 2018

In the context of shaping the Future of Europe, the health community can bring the Wind of Change to the EU institutional renewal process by making the case for the added value of EU action on air pollution at European, national and local level, by pointing out the health benefits. Why is air pollution the… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Air quality, Civil Society (NGOs), Climate & Environment, Environment, European Integration, Health & Consumers, Public Health, Social Europe, Transport

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The Health Programme as the Lighthouse of EU Health Policy

November 26, 2017

While all stakeholders – including key Member States, Members of the European Parliament from all political groups and even the Commission’s own Health Directorate – agree upon the strong EU added value of the Health Programme, reducing EU health policy to the absolut minimum post 2020 is still on its making. Despite the worrying signs,… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU news & updates, European Integration, Health & Consumers, Public Health

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Health is a Big Thing!

June 6, 2017

Genval, 6th June 2017. – The European Integration is at crossroads, the EU is suffering from many crises, its legitimacy is questioned by populist forces and in order to respond to that what is the best idea President Juncker and his team could come up with? Bingo! Scrap the tiny health programme to alienate even… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Civil Society (NGOs), European Integration, Health & Consumers, Human Rights, Medicines, Public Health, Research & Development

2 Comments

‘Let’s Stop Budapest!’ – for Hungary, but by Hungarians

April 14, 2017

Genval, 14th April 2017 – Harassment of independent and critical NGOs, attempt to close the Central European University, mass anti-European campaign called ‘Let’s stop Brussels!’, violating Human Rights of Asylum seekers and antigypsyism resulting segregated education are the recent scandals in Hungary. If you look at them one-by-one and together, they can be considered as… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Civil Society (NGOs), EU news & updates, European citizens, European Integration, Human Rights, Hungary, Research & Development, Roma

2 Comments

Brexit, Article 50 and the Unknown Unknowns

March 27, 2017

Genval, 28th March 2017. – Triggering article 50 tomorrow is one of the known knowns. The exact content of the future EU-UK trade deal is one of the known unknowns, while the in-depth health consequences of Brexit are still unknown unknowns. Brexit means Brexit (On the photo – Infographic from the NHS European Office explaining… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Civil Society (NGOs), EU Priorities 2020, European Integration, Health & Consumers, UK in Europe

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Is Health a Priority for the Commission?

February 7, 2016

Genval, 6th February 2016. – I am afraid it is not. Right at the beginning, the Juncker Commission prioritised profit to the health of EU citizens, forgot about health when defined its 10 top priorities, weakened pro-health legislation and a weak mandate was given to the health Commissioner. What is more important: patient safety or… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU Priorities 2020, European Integration, Health & Consumers, Medicines, Public Health

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Why Schulz could be the new Commission president?

May 27, 2014

Not always the biggest party gives the political lead. Securing political support is the Golden Key of political leadership. The same applies to the EU. I argue that Schulz and not Juncker holds better cards in that game. About European elections and the nomination procedure of the Commission President candidate The European Council composed of… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU news & updates, European citizens, European Integration, Social Europe

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Tobacco Products Directive: Will the Council Vote on the Right Side?

March 13, 2014

On 14th March 2014, the Council will vote on the revised Tobacco Products Directive. After three years in the making, endorsing the EU’s tobacco products directive should be top of the Council’s ‘to-do-list’. On 26th February 2014, the European parliament approved a better fit for purpose European regulation on tobacco. The new tobacco products directive… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Agriculture, EU news & updates, European Integration, Public Health

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Yes, We Can – Stop the Tobacco Epidemic in Europe

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

Agriculture, Civil Society (NGOs), EU news & updates, European citizens, European Integration, Public Health

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2 Comments

Coppenhagen Dilemma and Human Rights: the EU Crossed the Rubicon

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

Civil Society (NGOs), European citizens, European Integration, Housing, Human Rights, National minorities, Roma, Social Europe

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One Comment

VISEGRAD NEWS – Hidden messages behind the Budapest Declaration

December 21, 2013

< The joint V4+Croatia Foreign Ministers Declaration has three important political messages: the declaration marks the growing political importance of the V4 countries (1), it is a window of opportunity for the European Integration of the Balkan countries (2) and finally, it is another visible result of a Hungarian pro-Croatian foreign policy (3). Firstly, with… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Eastern Partnership, EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, EU Security and Defense Policy, European Integration, Hungary, Visegrád alliance (PL-CZ-SK-HU)

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Afghanistan 2001, Iraq 2003, Lybia 2011 Syria 2013? – A Modern Crusade against the Arabic World?

September 1, 2013

At this stage, there are rumours about the new stage of the modern crusade of Western military powers lead by the U.S. Will the upcoming intervention in Syria facilitate somehow the European Foreign policy? Or will it demonstrate the weakness of Europe again? Actually, the chain of the recent arabic wars in this century exactly… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, EU Security and Defense Policy, European Integration, Visegrád alliance (PL-CZ-SK-HU)

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Will the Visegrád quartett (PL-CZ-SK-HU) replace the DE-FR duo in shaping the EU’s future?

July 23, 2013

The Franco-German leadership has gone. The time of the Visegrád group is about to come? The German-French leadership is outdated in a way that the strong Kohl-Miterrand or Schröder-Chirac leadership – which could even confront with the United States about the Iraq war – has gone. Merkozy is broken, France is currently in an economic… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Environment, EU news & updates, European Integration, Human Rights, Hungary, National minorities, Public Health, Roma, Visegrád alliance (PL-CZ-SK-HU)

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3 Comments

How Long Will Hungary Remain the Pariah of the EU?

June 30, 2013

Hungary remains a high priority for several International Institutions examining the respect of rule of law (Council of Europe) and the situation of Fundamental Rights (Comission, European Parliament). Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will participate in the European Parliament plenary session to defend his policy against the European criticism on 2 July 2013. He believes that… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU news & updates, European Integration, Human Rights, Hungary

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3 Comments

EU Law and Rule of Law on the Balance: Justice for Hungary?

April 21, 2013

Hungary’s place in the sun in the EU After having a short overview about the controversial political developments in Hungary 2010-2013, the questions emerge: shall Europe be really ready for confrontations with Hungary? Did the country really put basic European values and fundamental EU principles to the test? And what added-value can a non-aligned Hungarian… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU news & updates, European Integration, Human Rights, Hungary

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Minority Rights, Solidarity and Inequalities: question marks on Croatia’s EU Membership

April 6, 2013

Some critics argue that Croatia is not ready for an EU accession because of its national conflicts, its economic and political weakness. Minority Rights, Solidarity and inequalities are the key issues worth to examine in this regard. (Source of the Phtoto © the Council of the European Union) Historical heritage of Croatia as part of… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Eastern Partnership, EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, European Integration, Hungary, National minorities, Roma

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20 Comments

A long road from the “Schuman-price” winner Hungarian EU Presidency to the possible suspension of voting rights

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

Civil Society (NGOs), EU news & updates, European Integration, Human Rights, Hungary, Roma

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8 Comments

Horsemeat Scandal and the Weaknesses of the Single Market: Does the European Court of Justice (ECJ) Have the Philosophers’ Stone in its Pocket?

February 16, 2013

(on the photo Zoltán Massay-Kosubek in Luxembourg as a lawyer-linguist at the European Court of Justice in 2007 © Zoltán Massay-Kosubek) Why is the Single Market a disaster for consumer protection? The EU common market became a threat and a real danger for consumers. With harmonised legislation and without border control the 4 basic freedoms… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Agriculture, Consumer Protection, EU news & updates, European citizens, European Integration, Public Health

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4 Comments

The European Parliament Has the Final Word for the EU Budget (2014-2020) – Legal Analysis in the Light of the Lisbon Treaty

February 10, 2013

(Source of the photo © European Parliament) The European Council composed of the 27 respected head of state and government has been finally adopted the new multiannual EU budget for 2014-2020. This agreement has been often called in the media as “the final deal”. However, may I kindly point out that the budget negotiation has… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU Foreign Policy, EU Security and Defense Policy, European Integration

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10 Comments

A Speech and What is Behind the “Splendid Isolation”

January 24, 2013

(source of the photo © bisgovuk) We all have heard the words of a politician who decided to re-shape the thematic of the ongoing discussions about the future of Europe right in the middle of the financial, economic and dept crisis. But the true question behind “The Speech” is this: does the British PM really… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU news & updates, European Integration, Public Health, Roma, Social Europe

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5 Comments

Will the Irish Presidency put Children at the Heart of all EU Policies?

January 12, 2013

From IE PRES to IE PRES: what happened between 2004 and 2013? (source of the photo © European Parliament audovisual service) The euphoria of the ‘Big-bang’, the ‘historic enlargement’ of the EU in 2004 has been passed long ago. Some consider that the promise of the reunification of the old continent has been broken, the… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Children’s well-being, EU news & updates, EU Priorities 2020, European Integration, Public Health, Social Europe

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2 Comments

Only a Massive Increase of the Budget of the ERASMUS Programme Could be a Real European Answer to the Crisis

December 2, 2012

It would be so easy to cut the budget of the ERASMUS Programme to make immediate, short term savings in period of economic crisis. It is true that there is a massive push on national political leaders to achieve as many cuts at European budget level as possible. From this perspective, maintaining the same level… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Culture, Education, European citizens, European Integration, Languages & Culture

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Why not Base the United States of Europe on the EU-Turkey Reconciliation? Vision of an Amoeba EU Integration.

October 14, 2012

“People who never do anything more than they get paid for never get paid for any more than they do.” It is somehow ironic that the EU faces the biggest crisis of its history and in the meantime it has been awarded with such a prestigious acknowledgment that the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. I do… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Enlargement, EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, European Integration, National minorities

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One Comment

Risk factors of the EU and my advice to overcome them: Do not speak too much about the EU Integration. Just do it!

September 29, 2012

(source of the photo © European Parliament)“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for.” – Socrates All the important EU decision makers beginning with the presidents of the most powerful EU Institutions until the most influential EU Member States’ leaders are… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

European Integration, National minorities

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Dictated Media Freedom? No Open Press Conference on the 15th EU-China Summit

September 20, 2012

“I don’t make jokes. I just watch the public affairs and report the facts.” – Will Rogers “Freedom of Media is for us … I mean, it is a sacred principle. It is a problem of values. Let’s have no doubts about it.” stated the President of the Commission in respect of the controversial Hungarian… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

European citizens, European Integration, Human Rights

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One Comment

Why Barroso III Would Harm Europe?

September 8, 2012

(source of the photo © European Commission Audiovisual service) “The fastest was to pass your own expectations is to add passion to your labor.” Previously European Commission Vice President Viviane REDING has called for the current Commission President José Manuel Barroso to stay on for an unprecedented third term. She pushed for a third BARROSO… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

European Integration

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4 Comments

Hungary’s place in the sun of the EU – What does the international media think about Hungary? And You?

July 20, 2012

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” ~John Maxwell This time, I will react on the content of a more-or-less objective analysis about the situation In Hungary (and the perception of the international media of it) Wrong Way Down the Danube “Greece’s economic peril has raised fears about the… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

European Integration, Human Rights, Hungary

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8 Comments

My vote on LinkedIn for the most relevant issue passed through Parliament the first half of 2012 – and the explanation of my vote

July 19, 2012

“Failure is often that early morning hour of darkness which precedes the dawning of the day of success.” (on the photo: the European Parliament building in Strassbourg in April 2012 © Zoltán Massay-Kosubek) There is an ongoing, interesting vote on LinkedIn launched by Dan Anderson, Social Media Producer at European Parliament with the following title:… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Euro & Finance, European Integration, InfoSociety

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One Comment

Roars of the EU-lion on the G20 Summit

June 19, 2012

“If you worry about yesterday’s failures, then today’s successes will be few.” (Photo © EC Audiovisual service) In this current entry I will present you what kind of messages have I captured from the twin-presidents of the EU (namely from Mr. Barroso, President of the COM and from Mr. Van Rompuy, president of the Council).… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, EU Priorities 2020, Euro & Finance, European Integration

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3 Comments

3 Selected Main Political Challenges Europe is facing in 2012

June 12, 2012

“If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.” ~J.M. Power 1. Does Europe Need a “European New Deal”? (photo © European Parliament) Europe is struggling under the continuous pressure of the economic and financial crisis. The French-German stewardship followed a strict austerity policy in… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Eastern Partnership, EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, European Integration, National minorities

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5 Comments

The EU Health Strategy (2008-2013)

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

Children’s well-being, Civil Society (NGOs), European Integration, Health & Consumers, Public Health

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One Comment

Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Zoltán is Policy Manager at the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and he shares his personal views on public health relevant European policies, as a blogger here.

Zoltán has a proven record on effective campaigning, project delivery and advocacy, and strategic planning, including staff and budget management. Zoltán has extensive knowledge of the Brussels based advocacy arena from a membership based NGO perspective and he is aware of the importance of the internal governance procedures. He has excellent understanding of international diplomacy.

A Hungarian qualified lawyer with a strong commitment to protecting the public interest, he has over 13 years of experience including on international and European affairs at the Ministry for Health of Hungary, as a lawyer-linguist at the European Court of Justice, and as a clerk in national courts.

Zoltán is fluent in English, French, German and native in Hungarian.

Zoltán tweets from @EU_ZMK.


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