November 24, 2012
We, the respected leaders of the 27 EU Member States failed once again to show to our citizens that we still believe in the European project and that we have understood that only a joint agreement and a commonly agreed budget – as a convincing sign of our good faith – can fight successfully the… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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
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 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
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Enlargement, EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, European Integration, National minorities , Enlargement, EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, European Integration, National minorities |
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. |
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
“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
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Consumer Protection, Environment, Public Health, Research & Development , Consumer Protection, Environment, Public Health, Research & Development |
“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
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Agriculture, Agriculture & Food, Consumer Protection, Public Health |
“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
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European citizens, Health & Consumers, Hungary, Medicines, Public Health |
“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
“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
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Health & Consumers, Innovation & Enterprise, Medicines, Public Health, Research & Development |
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
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EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, EU Priorities 2020, Euro & Finance, European Integration , EU Foreign Policy, EU news & updates, European Integration |
“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 |
“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
“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
June 5, 2012
“It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up.” ~Vince Lombardi There were and still are fierce discussions about the financial crisis almost at all imaginable levels. Austerity, budget cuts and the need for ‘crucial reforms’ became key words of exchange of views. Let’s talk about… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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European Citizens Initiative, European Integration, Public Health, Social Europe, Social Europe & Jobs |
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 |
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
“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
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EU news & updates, Euro & Finance, European Integration, Human Rights, Regional Policy, Social Europe |
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
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Agriculture, Agriculture & Food, Children’s well-being, Consumer Protection, Health & Consumers, Public Health, Roma , Agriculture, Children's well-being, Consumer Protection, Public Health, Roma |
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
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Consumer Protection, Environment, Health & Consumers, Public Health, Research & Development , Consumer Protection, Environment, Public Health, Research & Development |
– 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
“Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them.” ~ Abraham Lincoln This 9th May was a very special occasion for the European Parliament to dedicate one agenda item of its Plenary Sesssion to the overall discussion about the Future of Europe I had… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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EU news & updates, EU Priorities 2020, Euro & Finance, European Integration, Social Europe, Social Europe & Jobs |
May 7, 2012
“All the so-called secrets of success will not work unless you do.” This blog entry can be regarded as some kind of reaction to another interesting note of Mr. Eberhard Rhein visible on his blog: EU Health Policy should focus on Disease Prevention In this current post we will follow the next topics: 1. The… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
May 6, 2012
“Don’t let something that doesn’t matter cause you to lose something that does.” ~Phil Torcivia The problem of Chemical coctails still emerges and can be considered as a relatively new field of chemicals. It is quite easy to understand why are chemical coctails in the very center of interests of scientific and legal professionals and… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Climate & Environment, Consumer Protection, Environment, Health & Consumers, Public Health |
The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.” ~Mark Twain Followed by an interesting discussion in the European Parliament group, I decided to dedicate my next, short Blog Entry to a common, more general, but interesting question: Does Europe really need to speak always in one voice and therefore to have a… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
“Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.” ~ Jackson Brown Jr. Following a summary on relations between Healthcare costs and budget cuts published on EurActiv in march 2012, I try to further develop this idea which might be an always green subject of budget discussions, especially under the seemingly never-ending financial… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
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Euro & Finance, Health & Consumers, Public Health, Social Europe |
“Everything around us is made up of energy. To attract positive things in your life, start by giving off positive energy.” Obviously, alcohol consumption is an important issue which is in the center of interests of many of us. Although it belongs to the culture and to our social life, and there is a major… » read more
Posted by Zoltán Massay-Kosubek
Zoltán shares his personal views on public health relevant European policies. Motto: “The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.” ~Marcus Aurelius
