Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Stricter Vehicle Noise Limits are Beneficial both for the Environment/Public Health and the Car Industry

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

Civil Society (NGOs), Consumer Protection, Environment, Public Health, Research & Development, Transport

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One Comment

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

Les conséquences de l’intervention militaire française á Mali pour une union politique européenne

January 19, 2013

(source of the photo © European Parliament) La crise militaire á Mali a bien montré que la crise politique général a touché la politique de sécurité et de défense commune (PSDC) . L’absence d’une véritable politique extérieure commune reste une des faiblesses les plus grandes de l’Union Européenne (l’UE). Néanmoins, cette faiblesse est une conséquence… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU Foreign Policy, EU Security and Defense Policy

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2 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

The 3 Hidden Messages of the 2014-2020 EU Budget

January 2, 2013

In my opinion, one of the key momentums which will be decisive not only for 2013 but also for the medium-term future of the European Integration is the final outcome of the 2014-2020 budget discussions. It is not just about money although the financial stability of the EU integration is crucial. This budget contains also… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Environment, Public Health, Transport

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9 Comments

The true Legacy of the EU Nobel Peace Price: the EU Shall never Force Democracy

December 11, 2012

(source of the photo © European Parliament audovisual service) Although I think that there should be zero tolerance towards any kind of extremism, the EU completely missed the point when it suggested that it is up to the EU to make sure that the rule of law in its Member States/in its neighbourhood is fully… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Eastern Partnership, EU Foreign Policy, EU Security and Defense Policy, Human Rights

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One Comment

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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In Time of Crisis, We Want Cuts on the Right Places: Let’s Have 50% Femal Quotas in the Public Sector, Right Now!

November 18, 2012

“I am not font of quotas but I very much like what quotas do. And maybe it is necessary what quotas do.” ~Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Justice (Source of the photo © Department for Communities and Local Government’s photostream) Are women happy with their secret supporting role in the shadow of successful men? I… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Education, Human Rights

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The Water Shortage as a Danger is not the Privilege of the Third World but the Cruel Reality in the EU

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

Civil Society (NGOs), Consumer Protection, Environment, European citizens, Human Rights, Public Health

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2 Comments

Will Dalligate mean a delayed Tobacco Products Directive? Don’t Let it Happen!

October 24, 2012

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

Civil Society (NGOs), Consumer Protection, EU news & updates, Health & Consumers, Public Health

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3 Comments

Nuthsell analysis through a timeline of the Dalli-gate based on a video interview with the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy

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

Civil Society (NGOs), Public Health

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5 Comments

What is the relevance of a break-in into the offices of 3 public health NGOs from a European perspective?

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

Civil Society (NGOs), Public Health

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5 Comments

The power of me: 8 key messages from a European Blogger to the Blog Action Day (October 15, 2012)

(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

Civil Society (NGOs), European citizens

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One Comment

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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No comments

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

Unprecedented International Legal Mistake from an EU Member State: Hungary Delivered the Axe Murderer to Azerbaijan : c’est plus qu’un crime, c’est une faute

September 2, 2012

“Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.” ~Albert Einstein Previously In February 2004, Mr. Ramil SAFAROV SAHIB, an Azeri soldier cruelly and treacherously murdered the 26 years old Armenian Gurgen MARKARIAN (in fact: decapitated with an axe in his sleep) in Hungary when both participated in an English course… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Eastern Partnership, EU Foreign Policy, EU Security and Defense Policy, Hungary, National minorities

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6 Comments

Denmark’s ban on phthalates (dangerous chemicals): a wrong step to the right direction?

August 30, 2012

“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.” ~Confucius As Euractive reported in its recent article„Danish Environment Minister Ida Auken has decided to ban four industrial chemicals linked to disrupting the human endocrine system, pushing Denmark ahead of the European Union which has… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Consumer Protection, Environment, Public Health

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2 Comments

The Cyprus Presidency meets the European Bloggers: 10 key-messages of the Brussels Bubble’s Blogoshpere

August 1, 2012

“A year from now you will wish you had started today.” ~Karen Lamb The European Bloggers were provided before the usual Summer holiday with an opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting with the Cyprus presidency on 26 July 2012 (Thursday). This event took place in the JUSTUS-LIPSIUS Council building’s press room and in the famous… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Culture, European citizens

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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

The Often Forgotten Health Dimension of Biocides on the Occasion of the Publication of the New Biocide Regulation 528/2012/EU on the 27th June 2012 in the Official Journal

July 13, 2012

“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” ~Lou Holtz The main purpose of this blog entry is to raise awareness among public health experts concerning a new, recently published piece of the EU’s health related environmental law regulating a specific group of dangerous chemicals: the so-called… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Consumer Protection, Environment, Public Health, Research & Development

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2 Comments

Why can I strongly recommend the inauguration/maintenance of ‘fat’ or ‘sin’ taxes?

July 8, 2012

“It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t.” ~Martin Van Buren Sin taxes may result a WIN-WIN situation under the current economic crisis and they can help to avoid another health crisis. On the one hand, they can produce additional benefits for national budgets and promote a healthier lifestyle… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Agriculture, Agriculture & Food, Consumer Protection, Public Health

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4 Comments

Gondolataim a hálapénz-rendszerről a magyar egészségügyben

June 30, 2012

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it’s faced.” ~James Baldwin Comment: this blog entry focuses on the “gratitude money-phenomenon” in Hungary and since this can be considered as a Hungaricum symptom in the Hungarian healthcare system therefore this summary will be edited exclusively in Hungarian since it… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

European citizens, Health & Consumers, Hungary, Medicines, Public Health

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8 Comments

Mini Public Health Day – Second Part (2/2): Mental well-being under economic turmoil: suicides rates are just the top of the iceberg

June 27, 2012

“It’s hard to beat a person that never gives up.” ~Babe Ruth (source of the photo © Mentalhealthhumor.com) “Mini Public Health Day – 19 June 2012” Introductory comment: On the 19th June I faced an inconvenient situation which may occur quit frequently in the life of EU professionals in Brussels due to the high intensity… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Health & Consumers, Public Health, Social Europe

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4 Comments

Mini Public Health Day – First Part (1/2): ‘EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES’ impressions from the STOA-AVIESAN workshop

June 20, 2012

“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” ~Benjamin Franklin “Mini Public Health Day – 19 June 2012” (Owner of the photo © Shuttersparks) Introductory comment: On the 19th June I faced an inconvenient situation which may occur quit frequently in the life of EU… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Health & Consumers, Innovation & Enterprise, Medicines, Public Health, Research & Development

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2 Comments

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

Restructuring Health Systems: How to Promote Health in time of Austerity

June 6, 2012

“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

Civil Society (NGOs), Consumer Protection, Environment, EU news & updates, EU Priorities 2020, Euro & Finance, Health & Consumers, Human Rights, Medicines, Public Health, Social Europe

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3 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

The Tymosenko Case and the European-Ukrainian Relations in the Light of the 2012 European Football Championship

May 23, 2012

“Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up.” ~ G.K. Chesterton Comment: The open discussion in the EP started with a performance of the ALDE group. Several Members showed a transparent with the picture of the former prime minister. Moreover, the daughter of Tymosenko attended the major part… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Eastern Partnership, Enlargement, EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, Europe's East, Global Europe, National minorities

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4 Comments

The Final ‘Extraordinary’ Summit: Is Greece on the Dinner Menu?

May 22, 2012

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” ~Chinese proverb On the 22th May (Tuesday) – just one day before the extraordinary European Summit about Investments, Growth and Jobs to be held on the 23th May (Wednesday) immediately followed by a dinner intented to discuss the… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

EU news & updates, Euro & Finance, European Integration, Human Rights, Regional Policy, Social Europe

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7 Comments

Strategy for Strengthening the Rights of Vulnerable Consumers and the Democratic Function of the EP

May 21, 2012

“At one point in your life you either have the thing you want or the reasons why you don’t” ~ Andy Roddick This time I have willingly chosen the last item on the EP’s plenary agenda on 21 May (monday) and the title reflects this approach. Although the end of the public debate was expected… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Agriculture, Agriculture & Food, Children’s well-being, Consumer Protection, Health & Consumers, Public Health, Roma

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2 Comments

Thought Starter about the Role of REACH

May 15, 2012

“Any person who knows all the answers most likely misunderstood the questions.” ~ Dr. Joyce Knudsen After reading and analyzing a consize article on EurActiv about that issue, I decided to draw the general public’s interest to the significance of the REACH regulation. I hope that this short summary can serve as a thought starter… » read more

Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek

Consumer Protection, Environment, Health & Consumers, Public Health, Research & Development

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2 Comments

Improving Patient Outcomes through Intensive Care Medicine (ICM)

May 12, 2012

– 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

Civil Society (NGOs), Health & Consumers, Medicines, Public Health, Research & Development

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4 Comments

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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