Safeguarding civil society participation in health policymaking

Organised by the University of Edinburgh in the context of the Better Regulation for Better Health Project
Civic engagement is essential to ensure a thriving democracy that promotes and protects health. It requires institutional structures that facilitate participation, active outreach on the part of policymakers, and a vibrant, protected civic space. In the context of growing pressures, and with a new Parliament and Commission in place, this session launches a conversation about the role of civil society in EU health policymaking, and how the EU civic space can be safeguarded.
The panel will introduce the current pathways for consultation in health policymaking, the Commission’s approach to stakeholder collaboration, and the challenges facing civil society organisations. An interactive discussion with participants will gather experiences and best practice to explore how the link from citizen to policymakers and institutions, as a core factor of a healthy European democracy, can be strengthened.
SPEAKERS
Stefan Schreck, Advisor for Stakeholder Relations, European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Eleanor Brooks, Senior Lecturer in European Health Policy, University of Edinburgh
Anca Toma, Executive Director, European Patients' Forum
Raymond Gemen, Head of Policy, European Public Health Alliance
MODERATOR
Charlotte Marchandise, Executive Director, European Public Health Association