EFN UPDATE - JUNE 2010
News from the EU
EU Workforce for Health
Recently the European Commission DG Sanco presented estimations that by 2020 the EU would be facing a shortage of 590.000 nurses, 230.000 doctors and 150.000 allied health professionals. As a follow-up of the European Commission consultation on the Green Paper on the EU Workforce for Health in 2009, to which the EFN contributed, the European Parliament launched, on 17 May 2010, a Written Declaration on the EU Workforce for Health, fully supported by EFN. Submitted by Ms. Oana Elena Antonescu (Romania, EPP); Ms. Jean Lambert (UK, Greens/EFA); Ms. Antonyia Parvanova (Bulgaria, ALDE); Mr. Thomas Ulmer (Germany, EPP); and Mr. Marc Tarabella (Belgium, S&D), this declaration that has to be signed by more than half of the total number of MEPs in order for the text to be adopted, is calling the European Commission and the EU Member States to join action and efforts in establishing effective and sustainable recruitment and retention strategies in the health sector. As a follow-up, the EFN will organize an event in the European Parliament on 27 October 2010 on the EU Workforce for Health.
WHO global code of practice on the International recruitment of health personnel
Meeting for World Health Organization (WHO) sixty-third World Health Assembly, in Geneva, on 17–21 May 2010, the Health Ministers and senior health officials from WHO Member States adopted a global code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel that aims to establish and promote voluntary principles and practices for the ethical international recruitment of health personnel. It provides Member States with ethical principles for international health worker recruitment that strengthen the health systems of developing countries and discourages states from actively recruiting health personnel from developing countries that face critical shortages of health workers, while encouraging them to facilitate the “circular migration of health personnel” to maximize skills and knowledge sharing. It also enshrines equal rights of both migrant and non-migrant health workers.
EU role in Global Health
Following the adoption on 31st March 2010, by the European Commission, of the proposals to enhance the EU's role in global health aiming to make Europe’s contribution more effective to better accompany developing countries in getting back on track towards achieving health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Foreign Affairs Council adopted on 10 May, the Council conclusions on the EU role in Global Health, which highlights the need to take action to improve health, reduce inequalities and increase protection against global health threats.
Publications
For Europe
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the ‘Schuman Declaration’ of 9 May 1950, the Robert Schuman Foundation has reprinted the only book written by Robert Schuman: "For Europe", where he reveals the approach and the political stakes of Europe peaceful and determined construction. Under his quill, rather than confronting themselves, the states and the people of Europe combined themselves; a political and determined Europe, rich in its diversity but strong in its unity.