Environment and Health Events
During the Belgian EU presidency, several high-level events will be organized by the partners of the Joint-Interministerial Conference on Environment and Health (JICEH). This very diverse programmeof environment and health issues mirrors the growing social and political interest in the challenges and opportunities around linking more closely health and environment and their interactions, which are increasingly being recognized. At least 6 key conferences and not less than twelve other events will be organized during the following months.
The conclusions and results of the Belgian Presidency events shall be used as a foundation to support European Council decisions regarding the preparation and development ofa second European Environment and Health Action Plan (EHAP).
A first step in this direction has been taken by the Belgian Federal Minister for Environment by commissioning a reflection document: “The EU Environment and Health Action Plan (EHAP) – Assessment and Outlook for Future Action”. This document sets out the policy and research background for many environment and health themes such as nanomaterials, indoor air quality (IAQ), human biomonitoring (HBM) and better protection of vulnerable sections of the population, which will be discussed during those events.
Hereby the JICEH wishes to underline its commitment to develop a more coherent environment and health policy on the European level. Such a clear framework will serve, firstly, as a strong back-up for policy makers on national and regional levels. Secondly, a framework will highlight the EU’s leadership role in environment and health to other policy makers concerned worldwide. The ‘fine-tuning’ of the policy sectors of environment and health (and in a future phase: mobility, industry, spatial planning, economy, etc.) is indispensable to improving the environment and the wellbeing of populations.
For all essential information please visit the Belgian Presidency section at www.nehap.be
