Commissioner Dalli outlines challenges for 2012
EU Commissioner John Dalli today gave an overview of the activities related to his portfolio throughout 2011. His presentation touched on all aspects of EU Health and Consumer Policy.
In spite of the challenges Europe has gone through, work continued in earnest in this area and a number of major results were achieved, he told a press conference.
He said that in the health sector, the European Commission focused on wellness rather than disease.
Keeping people well and out of hospital beds was key to health sustainability in the future. Thus, policies that pushed people towards a lifestyle which kept them in good health needed to be developed and promoted.
In consumer policy, empowerment was emphasised over protection. Consumers, Mr Dalli said, ought to be proactive, especially as the single market develops further, but they need to have the proper leverage to be a full partner in the market. This could come about through information and right of redress.
Mr Dalli said this year will be a very busy one, with a number of proposals to be tabled in the coming months. These include an Animal Welfare Strategy, which will be presented this week.
Upcoming revisions of the Medical Devices Directive and the Medical Trials Directive also showed how the welfare and safety of patients were at the heart of the Commission's policies, Mr Dalli said.
The recent breast implants controversy showed that the EU must remain vigilant and must always react when such unacceptable situations arose.
The European Commission will also promote the Consumer Agenda, a joint effort with Vice-President Reding. The Agenda will provide an integrated approach for consumer policy to ensure that consumers' interests are included in all relevant EU policies.
Finally, in the second half of the year a new Directive on Tobacco Products will be presented, a development which is eagerly expected by NGOs and stakeholder, including the industry. The proposal will tackle crucial issues such as flavourings, additives, points of sale and of course packaging.
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P. Ciantar
Jan 17th, 16:18
Nationalist do not want him after his intervention in Joe Grima show whilst labour remember him for daewoo and hsbc see l orrizont of some years ago then euther in EU or Libia of Gaddafi or a new Party in Malta,
Joe Xuereb
Jan 17th, 00:56
@Stephan Zammit. So a bit of cat fluff passing your delicate nostrils would send you to the grave. You have obviously experienced this allergy first hand. Which begs the question - how come you are still here? Or does this happen only when you are in a small restricted space and nowhere else. Drama queen!
Is this the John Dalli with much investment in Libya, which he wanted safeguarded at ANY cost? I seem to remember he was quite upset when civil war broke out in Gaddafi's Libya as it once was(and still is?)
David Ellul
Jan 16th, 23:46
He's kidding right? I don't know whether to laugh of vomit.
"He said that in the health sector, the European Commission focused on wellness rather than disease.
This is the same man that his helping push GM foods into Europe? The accountant? GM foods have been proven to cause kidney and liver disruption. Shown to cause third generation sterility in animals it's fed to. On that topic, animals won't even touch the stuff if they have another food source.
This John Dalli?
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/03/biotech-potato-wins-european-approval-may-signal-a-larger-shift-on-gm-crops/
Joe Grech
Jan 16th, 21:43
Hey....any news concerning Genetically Modified crops, foods...? If memory serves me right John Dalli agreed that these should be introduced in Europe. Is that really true, cause if it is Commissioner Dalli may have an agenda very different from people wellness.
Possibly he will please reply to this comment.
David Ellul
Jan 17th, 19:34
Exactly
Francis Farrugia
Jan 16th, 18:38
Miss Abela. The problem of pets not taken with passengers in the cabin is not coming from air Malta but from the British Authorities so that they will make passengers pay Airport charges on inspection on arriving and departures.
If I am wrong, please let the British Embassy in Malta prove me wrong.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stefan Zammit
Jan 16th, 20:20
Pets in a cabin can be a death penalty to those allergic, even when taking medication. Case in point would be a cat sitting on a passenger next to me which decides to move about and some hair/fluff flies into the air would send me to an early grave.
Francesca Abela
Jan 16th, 17:57
It is not fair that to and from the UK people cannot take their pets on AirMalta like the rest of the EU, maybe Mr Dalli will take this issue up??
Tony Borg
Jan 16th, 21:46
Dear Ms Abela please check the facts exactly before you point Fingers!!
Tony Mangion
Jan 16th, 17:19
"Keeping people well and out of hospital beds", very well said. But how is it possible to keep healty with all the shortage of pills from Government dispensaries, let alone that very often we are faced by an inferior quality of pills than those prescribed.
victor caruana
Jan 16th, 15:52
get him back to lead the PN which now has reached its nadir.....