For the first time, over half of eligible voters took part in this weekend’s European Parliament elections – a record-high participation with a majority of voters expressing their support for pro-EU parties.
Health and social security are the second most important national concerns for voters across Europe, a recent Eurobarometer survey found. With health being so high on people’s list of priorities, EPHA calls on the newly elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to ensure that this message is highlighted and not forgotten throughout the next five years.
“This new Parliament will face many competing priorities in the years ahead, but MEPs must not forget the EU’s strong mandate to protect and promote people’s health and well-being. Action on health is indispensable to rebuild trust on the European project. This new mandate provides them with the opportunity to work together on crucial health threats like antimicrobial resistance, air pollution, growing health inequalities and the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for which we can only find solutions beyond national borders. We look forward to sharing our expertise to tackle these challenges together, and will continue to ensure that they measure up to the faith that has been placed in them” said Freek Spinnewjin, President, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA).
