23/05/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In view of the growing inequalities and current challenges, the Assembly should demand equal access to health-care and treatment for everyone living in Europe, without discrimination on the basis of financial means, residence status or place of residence,” said Jean-Louis Lorrain (France, EPP/CD) in his draft report on equal access to healthcare.
22/05/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Adopting a report on “Austerity measures – a danger for democracy and social rights”, prepared by Andrej Hunko (Germany, UEL), the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development said it was concerned that the restrictive approaches currently pursued may not reach their objective of consolidating budgets, but risk further deepening the crisis and undermining the social rights as they mainly affect lower income classes and the most vulnerable categories of the population.
23/03/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
“The energy sector will continue to be dominated by fossil fuels for many years to come. It is vital to first diversify our approach to energy”, said an expert, Professor Samuele Furfari, at a hearing held in Paris today by PACE's Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development. In particular, he proposed a three-pronged approach to diversification.
23/03/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
“From an economic perspective, cuts in public spending, social security and wages are not effective against the current crisis because they particularly affect those who receive the lowest wages, the unemployed, pensioners and other social groups in need of special protection - children, the elderly and disabled, migrants.
22/03/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In a draft resolution adopted unanimously in Paris today, PACE’s Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development proposes a series of measures to guarantee decent pensions for all.
22/03/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
With the report of Dirk Van der Maelen (Belgium, SOC) on promoting an appropriate policy on tax havens, the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development expresses its concern about the extent of the offshore financial system involving tax havens and its impact on public finances, stability of financial markets and society at large.
21/03/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
The danger of austerity measures for democracy and social rights will be a major theme of a PACE hearing on overcoming the economic crisis and its effects, taking place in Paris on 22 March 2012. Other topics at the hearing, organised by PACE’s Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, include the consequences of the financial crisis for young people and its impact on local and regional authorities.
19/03/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
“We need to think about the definition of environmental crime, since we are becoming increasingly aware that the health of our citizens is being endangered by the failure to comply with safety standards in the interests of profit”, said Bernard Marquet (Monaco, ALDE), speaking in Marseilles at the 6th World Water Forum.
26/01/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In their parliamentary contribution to the 6th World Water Forum, to be held in Marseille from 12 to 17 March 2012, PACE parliamentarians have called on public authorities across Europe and beyond to recognise the right of access to clean water and sanitation as a fundamental Human Right and to act with determination to translating this right into reality.
24/01/2012 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
“In the field of action to combat sexual violence against children, preventive measures and investment in training for educational staff, health professionals and social workers are essential, so that the signs of violence can de detected at the earliest possible stage,” said Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, speaking today at the 6th meeting of the network of contact parliamentarians for the Campaign to stop sexual violence against children.
12/12/2011 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Lord Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC), former rapporteur on climate change for the PACE and Kyoto Treaty signatory, and Sir Alan Meale (United Kingdom, SOC), today welcomed the decision taken at the climate change summit in Durban to endorse the policy put forward by the PACE to "Stop the Clock" on the Kyoto Protocol.
09/12/2011 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
"As a result of the inherent lack of transparency, no-one really knows how much public money is siphoned out via tax havens; by various estimates the amounts add up to trillions", according to Dirk Van der Maelen (Belgium, SOC), rapporteur on policy on tax havens, speaking today when he opened a Paris hearing on the subject organised by the PACE Committee on Economic Affairs.