The European Commission is taking the next steps towards introducing workers’ right to disconnect and fair telework and launched today second-stage talks with social partners. These talks will gather EU social partner’s views on a potential EU-level initiative to reduce the risks of the ‘always-on’ work culture and to ensure fair and quality telework for workers. Concretely, social partners […]
Commission approves up to €403 million in State aid for major EU healthcare project
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, the second health-related Important Project of Common European Interest (‘IPCEI’) to support innovations in medical devices. This includes the introduction of novel digital and artificial intelligence (‘AI’) features in medical devices. The IPCEI will support collaborative research and innovation, as well as the first industrial […]
EU strengthens crisis readiness and health security
The European Commission launched last July 9 two initiatives under its Preparedness Union agenda: an EU Stockpiling Strategy and a Medical Countermeasures Strategy. Both are designed to improve access to essential goods for European citizens and societies, businesses and economies – ensuring continuity of essential goods and lifesaving medical supplies at all times, in particular during crises such as […]
The mystery of why diseases do not affect men and women in the same way
It is no secret that men and women face unique health challenges because of their genes. But to truly understand and address these challenges, are we relying too much on genetic factors that affect diseases, symptoms and health outcomes? Beyond genetics and medical factors, what role do other factors play in the evolution of our […]
Commission restricts use of chemicals to protect workers’ health
The Commission has restricted the use of the chemicals N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) and 1-ethylpyrrolidin-2-one (NEP) to protect workers from exposure to these substances. DMAC and NEP are solvents used in many industrial processes, including the production of chemicals, coatings, cleaning agents and fibres. DMAC is commonly used to manufacture synthetic fibres and varnishes for electrical cables, […]
Commission invests in innovative products against respiratory viruses
The European Commission, with the support of the European Investment Bank, will provide €20 million for the development of nasal sprays designed to protect against respiratory viruses. To this end, the Commission, through its Health Emergency Response and Preparedness Authority (HERA), has signed an investment agreement with Dutch biotech company Leyden Labs. Nasal sprays deliver […]
Could we live without pain?
“There are people who live without pain,” says Treede, a neurophysiologist at the University of Heidelberg. “They have been known to exist for centuries. Insensitivity to pain, known as analgesia, is thought to be caused by a group of rare genetic diseases. However, being immune to pain does not mean being immune to injury. For […]
Internships – Traineeships at the EU-OSHA – Belgium
Every year, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) offers a limited number of paid traineeships for a minimum of six and a maximum of 12 months, to nationals of EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein (parties of the EEA agreement). The traineeships are based in: Resource and Service Centre (RSC) Bilbao […]
Agreement on new EU law with better support for farmers
The informal agreement between EU co-legislators will ensure soil is monitored in all EU countries and farmers get better support to improve soil health. On Wednesday evening, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional political agreement on the Commission’s proposal for a soil monitoring law. The overall objective is to have healthy European soils by 2050, in […]