European Public Health A lliance Ilze Mūrniece Project assistant European Public Health Alliance

1. European Public Health Alliance Ilze Mūrniece Project assistant European Public Health Alliance Civic Alliance – Latvia Meeting of Anti-Poverty Network 7 April,2006, Vilnius European Public Health Alliance

2. About EPHA • A Platform of more than 100 non governmental and not-for-profit organisations across Europe working on health and health-related issues • set up in 1993, based in Brussels • Our mission: “To improve the health of European citizens and to increase their participation in EU policy-making”.

3. EPHA members • International networks • European networks • National organisations

4. EPHA members • Health advocates • Disease specific patient groups • Academic researchers • Health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses and pharmacists) • Consumer groups • Environment organisations • Development organisations

5. EPHA members • Benefit of members • Information on actual Public health issues and EU policy developments • Monthly Newsletter • web page • members only site • Expertise on political and legal documents • Advocacy in European level • Contacts • Project opportunities • Capacitybuilding activities

6. How does EPHA work? • Advocacy Working groups At present there are 5 ongoing working groups on the following subjects: • Alcohol • Food and Nutrition • Health and Environment • Health and Enlargement • Pharmaceuticals Policy Co-ordination Meetings Meeting every two months in Brussels, this group is open to allEPHA members. Contributions to the meeting are also received via e-mail

7. How does EPHA work? • Information exchange • Membership services • Lobbying: > EU institutions • Networking: > Other health NGOs > Other thematic NGOs • Tracking policy issues: > Day to day analysis > Mailings - Briefings

8. EPHA organisational structure The Annual General Assembly -Discusses the broad policy of EPHA -Elects the Executive Committee -May include consultation meetings and/or training seminars for members • The Executive Committee - 7 people elected for a two-year period - sets out the annual work programme and policy priorities • The STAFF– Currently five permanent staff members, located inBrussels and 2 based on projects in Riga

9. European Public Health Alliance Project • “Development of national platforms on public health in 10 new EU member states” • September 2005 - November 2006 • Ilze Mūrniece • Project assistant • European Public Health Alliance • Civic Alliance – Latvia • Meeting of Anti-Poverty Network • 7 April,2006, Vilnius

10. Supported • European Commission, DG Health and Consumer Protection (DG SANCO) http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm • Open Society Institute, New York www.soros.org

11. Objectives • To build up the capacity of NGOs in 10 new member states focusing on networking and advocacy. • To strengthen the development of national platforms in new member states. • To raise awareness to NGOs on networking as a tool of effective advocacy. • To inform NGOs on legislation processes in EU institutions. • To inform NGOs on EU policy on public health.

12. Activities • Training seminars and consultations in new member states. • Dissemination of the manual on networking and public health issues and translation to national languages. http://www.epha.org/a/2082 • Access and distribution of information in http://www.epha.org/r/97

13. The benefit of target group • Knowledge • Experience • Contacts • Information

14. Project leading organisations • European Public health alliance (EPHA) 39-41 Rue d’ArlonTel: +32 2 230 30 56 B-1000 BrusselsFax: +32 2 233 38 80 Belgiumepha@epha.org www.epha.org • Civic alliance Latvia (CAL) regional project co-coordinator Gertrudes street 19/21 – 3 Tel: +3717846464 LV-1011 Riga Fax: +3717846466 LATVIA ilze@nvo.lv www.nvo.lv