EUROPEAN PROTECTION OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT

14/12/2007: Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP-ED, GR) drew the European Commission's attention to a statement about the protection of children’s rights to live in a healthy environment and about the implementation of guidelines on this subject. Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou also addressed the issue of the pollution of closed rooms, air pollution and the use of toxic contaminant substances. The Greek Member wanted to be informed about possibilities for cooperation between the European Commission, UNICEF and the WHO, as well as potential joint future actions to scale down dangers and risks in children’s environment.

According to WHO statistics, 3 million children die every year through factors linked to bad quality of environment. More than 80% of children’s diseases are being influenced from environmental factors.

The European Strategy for the Rights of Children, that still has to be approved, recognised that climate and environmental changes negatively affect the health and welfare of children.

In the answer to Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou the European Commission referred to Article 24 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and the United Nation Agreement of Children Rights. At the same time, the Commission underlined the important role of the European Union worldwide, to protect children's rights which also have been determined by Article 5 of the Treaty of Lisbon.

The European Strategy for the Environment and Health (June 2003) and the Provision Task List for the Environment and Health (June 2004) both constitute evidence: “of the assurance, that climate changes and the resultant dangers affect the health and welfare of children. The SCALE initiative (Science, Children, Awareness, EU Legislation, Evaluation) confirms the interests of the European Union in protecting children. A wider range of research programmes are concentrated on the effects of climate changes on the state of health of children and finance research about their sensitivity.

Of particular importance is also the air quality and the yet to be approved Reference of reduction of the PM2.5 aerial particles. As expected, positive results will contribute to improve the children’s state of health.

Children’s exposure in bordered or closed areas/environment is also an object of research. The European Commission assembled a group of experts which examines the quality of air in bordered and closed areas/environment. This group of experts will cooperate with the European Commission on potential decisions and the financing of environmental research.

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

ELECTRONIC ADDICTION OF UNDER-AGED PATIENTS

11/12/2007: Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP-ED, GR) spoke during the plenary meeting of the European Parliament in Strasburg, about the rise of "electronic addiction". Electronic addiction means Internet addiction.

The Member of the European Parliament underlined that the Greek nation is concerned about health conditions of children, who are being medicated for addiction on electronic media and PC games. This problem is currently much more important than the newest developments on the future of Olympic Airways, where she is going to work "in some way", to answer a Member's question from the socialist party.

The significance of this theme led to a debate about "electronic addiction" in the Committee on Research and Technology under the aegis of Mr G Sourla, 1st Vice-President of the Greek Parliament.

Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou mentioned that even if the use of new media should not be demonised, addiction due to overuse of these media can be isolating, can cause psychosomatic diseases, neglect of work and studies and can even cause violent behaviour and suicidal tendencies. The parents, encouraged by educational opportunities via the new media, invest in their upgrade and their modernisation, without being appropriately informed about the dangers behind the abuse of these.

Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou put on the record that there are practically no official legal measures that could reduce or even antagonise this form of addiction: "There are no opportunities for parents to control the period of use and the content of these media. The European Commission does not finance measures for a secure use of the Internet. In a competitive economy, imports from third countries, distribution and production of PC games and 24-hour Internet cafés are permitted. Medical research and care for counselling on addiction is practically non-existant in the European Union. Authorities are not in the position to control and reduce cyber crime."

For further information:
Tel.: +32-2-2847447 - Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

UNE STRATÉGIE EUROPÉENNE POUR LUTTER CONTRE LES "DYS-CRIMINATIONS" VIS-À-VIS DES ENFANTS ET ADULTES DYSLEXIQUES, DYSPRAXIQUES ET DYSPHASIQUES

20/09/2007: Anna Záborská, Présidente de la commission des droits de la femme du Parlement européen, Amalia Sartori, coordinatrice du Groupe du PPE-DE dans cette commission, et Marie Panayotopoulos, Présidente de l'Intergroupe "Famille" du Parlement européen, ont déposé une question orale à la Commission européenne plaidant en faveur d'une Stratégie européenne contre:

les "dys-criminations" dont souffrent les enfants atteints de difficultés d'apprentissage;

l'exclusion du monde du travail des adultes atteints des mêmes handicaps.

La question orale, qui sera débattue en session plénière mercredi à Strasbourg, souligne que plus de 10 pc des enfants sont atteints (*) de troubles "dys" (dyslexie, dyspraxie(**), dysphasie, dyscalculie, troubles de l'attention avec ou sans hyperactivité - TDAH. D'autres troubles ont des manifestations très voisines (enfants dits "surdoués", crampe de l'écrivain etc).

Ces troubles, même lorsqu'ils sont minimes, sont très invalidants car ils touchent dès le plus jeune âge les domaines de la communication (lire, écrire, compter, (parfois même parler) et d'autres domaines de la vie quotidienne (manipuler des objets, faire du vélo ou jouer au foot, etc).

S'ils ne sont pas repérés très tôt, si les rééducations adaptées ne sont pas entreprises, si certains aménagements scolaires ne sont pas mis en place (autorisation d'utiliser les technologies de l'information dans ce cadre notamment), ces enfants sont promis à l'exclusion scolaire, puis professionnelle et sociale. Non seulement leur vie, mais également celle de leur famille, notamment celle de leurs frères et soeurs, risque d'être ruinée.

Or ces troubles ne sont pas encore bien repérés et traités dans tous les Etats membres de l'Union européenne.

La question orale demande à la Commission si elle pourrait fournir des statistiques détaillées sur les problèmes "dys" et si elle pourrait contribuer à de meilleurs diagnostics et prises en charge de ces troubles trop souvent encore méconnus, en améliorant notamment l'information à leur sujet.

Alors que la Commission a déjà lancé l'an dernier un grand programme de recherche pluriannuel "Neurodys" pour mieux identifier les raisons de la dyslexie et de la dysphasie, la question demande si elle compte étendre cette recherche à d'autres troubles "dys".

Le texte interroge également la Commission sur:

la place accordée aux "dys" dans les programmes européens éducatifs, notamment en ce qui concerne les technologies de l'information et l'apprentissage tout au long de la vie;

les aspects concernant la réconciliation de la vie professionnelle et familiale pour les parents responsables de l'éducation de ces enfants;

l'application de la Directive 2000/78 établissant un cadre concernant l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail en ce qui concerne les "dys";

l'opportunité de créer un réseau européen afin de promouvoir l'échange des meilleures pratiques entre les Etats membres et de rédiger une "Charte" des enfants "dys";

l'utilité de mettre sur pied un réseau scientifique européen multidisciplinaire afin de rassembler et étudier les informations disponibles et de promouvoir la coordination d'actions transnationales.

Par ailleurs Anna Záborská, Marie Panayotopoulos, Richard Howitt, Président de l'Intergroupe "Handicapés" du Parlement européen, Roberta Angelilli, Rapporteur du Parlement européen sur la communication de la Commission consacrée aux droits de l'enfant ainsi que Kathy Sinnott, Vice-présidente de l'intergroupe "Famille", ont déposé en juin dernier une déclaration écrite (numéro 64) demandant notamment de promouvoir les meilleures pratiques ayant cours dans les Etats membres en ce qui concerne le dépistage et la prise en charge des enfants "dys".
Cette déclaration, qui sera clôturée le 25 octobre prochain, a recueilli jusqu'à présent 273 signatures de députés européens.

(*) à des degrés divers et parfois simultanément ;
(**) également désignée sous les termes de "troubles de la coordination" ou "syndrôme de l'enfant maladroit" ('developmental coordination disorder' ou 'clumsy child syndrom' en anglais).

Pour toute information:
Anna Záborska, MdPE, Tél.: +32-2-2845923
Amalia Sartori, MdPE, Tél.: +32-2-2845556
Marie Panayotopoulos, MdPE, Tél.: +32-2-2845447
Anne Vahl, Service de Presse du Groupe du PPE-DE, Tél.: +32-475-493354

MORE RIGHTS FOR PATIENTS

04/04/2007: The importance of sensibilising politicians and civil society to patient's rights and needs was stressed by Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP-ED, GR) during her speech on the occasion of the European Patient's Rights Day, organised by Active Citizenship Network.

The MEP emphasised that European citizens due to the EU-principle of freedom of movement have the possibility to get medical treatment in a member state other than their country of residence with the same conditions as local inhabitants. This is possible due to the EU Health Insurance Card. However, the MEP regretted the fact that there are still differences in health care systems between the Member States which lead to the so-called "health care shopping". Therefore, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou insisted that public authorities should strengthen and maintain citizen's confidence, especially by offering quality health care services in the whole EU.

The MEP pointed out that it is also important to consider the gender differences in medical care, especially concerning clinical tests of drugs and some gender specific illnesses such as osteoporosis which affects more women than men. Furthermore, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou insisted on the fact that the health care system should consider the principle of gender equality. She also underlined that all women in Europe should benefit from quality health care and medical treatment during pregnancy and maternity.

The Greek MEP reminded as well the necessity to sensibilise the medical staff to the rights of children patients. She underlined the fact that more than half of the drugs used by children have never been tested for that purpose. "This is unacceptable", said Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and emphasized that children should get special produced drugs according to their age and should not be treated as "little adults". She also added that "the adoption of the Regulation on medicinal products for paediatric use is a very important tool for care system based on the needs of children".

For further information:
Maria Panayotopoulos - Cassiotou MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847447

QUALITY ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH FOR CHILDREN: MEETING OF THE INTERGROUP ON FAMILY AND PROTECTION OF CHILDHOOD

15/03/2007: The Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood met yesterday in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss 'Quality Environment and Health for Children: Essential Components of the future EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child.' The meeting, which aimed at highlighting the impact of environmental change on children's health as well as the medical problems that children face, gathered together MEPs, representatives of the European Commission, the World Health Organisation and NGOs.

Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou indicated that the Commission's Communication on a Strategy on the Rights of the Child points out that over 10 million children under the age of five die each year of illnesses that could have been easily treated or prevented. A third of the world's children suffer from malnutrition, live in desperate circumstances (no access to drinkable water, bad hygiene, environmental pollution) and do not have access to healthcare prevention and treatment. However, Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the right of children to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and have facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.

Referring to the fact that over 50% of medicines used in the EU for treating children have not been tested or authorised specifically for children, Peter Liese MEP underlined that the new Regulation on paediatric medicine requires Member States to verify that the medicines put on the market take into account the specificity of a child's organism. He insisted on the dangers arising from chemical substances which can affect children more than adults. Finally, Liese noted the crucial role of the family environment for the health and well-being of children.

The representative of DG SANCO, Charles Price, explained that the Commission was placing great importance on the protection of children as consumers and indicated that the new EU Strategy on Public Health, which should be adopted in the summer of 2007, will pay particular attention to the fight against tobacco use, the protection against the dangers of alcohol and to a responsible sexuality. Mr Price added that over 31% of young Europeans smoke and that tobacco use has become one of the greatest medical problems of our time. The new Health Strategy will thus launch an initiative for youth without tobacco as well as a strategy for the prevention of alcoholism. In addition, the New Strategy will contain provisions for medical problems arising from over-consumption (obesity) as well as provisions for mental health, young people being increasingly more at risk.

Lucianne Licari, on behalf of the World Health Organisation, mentioned that a joint report of UNICEF and the WHO revealed that 33% of the illnesses that affect children under the age of five are caused by environmental change (respiratory diseases, allergies, diabetes, cancer etc). She added that beyond the medical dangers linked to a sedentary life and accidents, the WHO has identified internal and external pollution, the absence of drinkable water and hygiene and lead contamination as major health risks. Mrs Licari finally underlined that the collaboration between all stakeholders at all levels, the implementation of specific actions and better synergies between environmental and health policies could substantially contribute to the improvement of the quality of children's health.