The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 1 What are the benefits of EU networking? Francesco Longu Communications Officer European Public Health Alliance EU Information, Training and Scholarship Programme Third Training Seminar Zadar, Croatia, 19 March 2005

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 2 Workshop outline First part (10: :00): > About EPHA > Q and As - Debate Second part (13: :00): > Case study: The Social Platform > Case study: The Green 9 > EU networking: a SWOT analysis > Q and As - Debate

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 3 About EPHA A network of 107 non governmental and not-for-profit organisations across Europe working on health and health-related issues Our mission is to improve the health of European citizens and to increase their participation in EU policy-making

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 4 EPHA organisational structure (1/3) The Annual General Assembly > Convened once a year (extraordinary meetings are possible) > Discusses the broad policy of EPHA > Elects the Executive Committee > Members vote according to their membership category > May include consultation meetings and/or training seminars for members

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 5 The Annual General Assembly

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 6 EPHA organisational structure (2/3) The Executive Committee > Seven people elected for a two-year period - gender equality and balance between NGOs and professionals are required > Sets out the annual work programme > Sets priorities and targets for EPHA > Reviews EPHA financial management and annual accounts > Supervises the EPHA Secretariat and appoints the appropriate staff

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 7 EPHA organisational structure (3/3) The EPHA Secretariat > Manages the “day to day” work of EPHA > Ensures that the full work programme of the organisation is carried out efficiently and effectively > Actively contributes to the development of good organisational practice > Currently six staff members, located in Brussels Working Groups Policy Coordination Meetings

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 8 EPHA staff in action

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 9 EPHA members (1/3) EPHA has two categories of membership: Full members are Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) active in the public health sector. Full members have two votes at the Annual General Assembly Associate members are other not-for-profit organisations, professional bodies, academic institutions and local or regional authorities. Associate members have one vote at the Annual General Assembly EPHA membership fees are based on the income of the member organisation

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 10 EPHA members (2/3) Health advocates Disease specific patient groups Academic researchers Health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses and pharmacists) Consumer groups Environment organisations Development organisations

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 11 EPHA members (3/3) International networks European networks National organisations Complete list of EPHA members:

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 12 EPHA members: rights and obligations EPHA members have the right to: > receive copies of the statutes and of the internal rules of the association > receive appropriate notice of all General Assemblies of the Association, to be represented at those Assemblies and to exercise their vote in accordance with their membership category > enjoy the benefits of the information service provided > be consulted, in the preparation of EPHA Position Papers > participate in any appropriate working groups, and attend EPHA seminars or training sessions

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 13 EPHA members: rights and obligations EPHA members have to: > Notify one named individual to the secretariat to be their point of contact with EPHA and normally their representative at EPHA meetings. The contact person shall ensure that information concerning EPHA's activities is circulated throughout their own organisation > Share the EPHA mission statement and objectives > Respect the confidentiality of internal EPHA documents and website passwords

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 14 EPHA membership benefits (1/3) Electronic Newsletter: on a monthly basis a newsletter is sent by . Regular features include recent EU policy developments, secretariat activities, members’ activities and forthcoming events on public health related issues Health Alerts: short alerts are sent to members via whenever an important development on health-related EU policy takes place

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 15 EPHA membership benefits (2/3) Members Only section of our website: apart from the information available to the general public on EPHA’s website, members have access to internal policy and strategy information on website pages, which are accessible only with a membership password Newslists: special briefings on particular subjects of interest to a certain group of members are provided via an electronic mailing list

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 16 EPHA membership benefits (3/3) Daily information help desk Visibility in EU policy making circles Support for advocacy work Representation and participation at European and international fora

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 17 A special benefit:

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 18 How does EPHA work? (1/2) Advocacy: > Working groups. At present there are five ongoing working groups on the following subjects: Alcohol, Food and Nutrition, Health and Environment, Health and Enlargement, and Pharmaceuticals > Policy Co-ordination Meetings. Meeting every two months in Brussels, this group is open to all EPHA members. Contributions to the meeting are also received via Information exchange Membership services

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 19 How does EPHA work? (2/2) Lobbying: > EU institutions Networking: > Other health NGOs > Other thematic NGOs Tracking policy issues: > Day to day analysis > Mailings - Briefings

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 20 Consulting members on major policy The officers agree a topic on which a policy should be developed The secretariat, one of the members, or an outside consultant, is invited to produce a first draft Members are invited to comment The revised text is re-submitted to the membership, with a clear deadline for any last-minute response The Executive Committee then endorses the final text as EPHA policy. It may reject the proposed policy/text; or, alternatively, allow it to be adopted along with a minority report The object of the exercise is to achieve agreement by consensus

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 21 Consulting members: an example EPHA is involved in the policy work to ensure that a new EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market will not undermine health services The AGA put the issue as a work priority The Secretariat spread members’ positions The Secretariat met with EU policy-makers Awareness grew rapidly Many policymakers now share EPHA’s vision More information:

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 22 What does EPHA stand for? (1/2) Health protection as a goal in all EU policy- making - e.g. health impact assessments for all proposed legislation Involvement of citizens in decision-making related to their own health Equal access to good quality healthcare for all EU citizens

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 23 What does EPHA stand for? (2/2) Addressing health inequalities. (Children born in poor areas have a shorter, less healthy life than those born in richer parts of the same city, region and country) Ensuring that EU internal policies (e.g. competition, environment, transport, energy, agriculture, industry) and external policies (e.g. trade, development, external aid) actually contribute towards better health

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 24 What are the goals of EPHA? Develop key consultative role for civil society as partners in health Promoting healthy public policies throughout EU activities EU Policy to be based on the highest common denominator rather than lowest.

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 25 What does the EU treaty state? Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty states: “A high level of health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities” But the EU must respect Member State responsibilities for organisation and delivery of health care

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 26 What does the new Constitutional Treaty state? Article 179 – Public Health as coordinating, complimentary or supporting action “Action by the Union, which shall complement national policies, shall be directed towards improving public health, preventing human illness and diseases, and obviating sources of danger to physical and mental health”. “The Union shall complement the Member States' action in reducing drugs-related health damage, including information and prevention”. “Union action shall respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care. The responsibilities of the Member States shall include the management of health services and medical care and the allocation of the resources assigned to them”. Article goes on to mention “the protection of public health regarding tobacco and the abuse of alcohol”.

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 27 What EU rights to health exist? “Everyone has the right of access to preventive healthcare and the right to benefit from medical treatment under the conditions established by national law and practices” Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, Adopted in Nice, 12/2000

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 28 Why health needs to be addressed at EU level Many EU policies have an impact – direct or indirect – on the health of EU citizens Implementation of internal market legislation is de-facto creating policy on health related issues The European Commissioner has greater powers to promote animal welfare than to protect human health

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 29 Networking the networks

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 30 The Social Platform The Platform of European Social NGOs was established in 1995 to support and add value to the work of its member organisations It brings together 40 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which are European federations and networks

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 31 The Social Platform The Social Platform and its members are committed to the advancement of the principles of equality, solidarity, non discrimination and the promotion and respect of fundamental rights for all, within Europe and in particular the European Union.

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 32 What does the Social Platform do? Capacity building: helping its members develop and improve their work Civil dialogue: working together to gain better access to the EU institutions Campaigning: developing common positions and lobbying the EU Communication: raising awareness of Social NGOs and their work

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 33 The Platform’s organisational structure

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 34 The Platform members Full members: > Networks or federations with a European character > Non-profit organisations > Networks or federations active in the social sector > Networks or federations with distinct legal personality > Networks or federations that can demonstrate their representativity and that are structured and managed in a democratic way Associate members: > Organisations satisfying all the full members membership criteria and not wishing to endorse all the responsibilities of full members > Other organisations satisfying criteria above but not having a European character

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 35 The Green 9 The Green 9 consists of the nine leading environmental non- governmental organisations (NGOs) active at EU level: > BirdLife International > Climate Action Network Europe (CAN-Europe) > European Environmental Bureau (EEB) > EPHA Environment Network (EEN) > European Federation for Transport and the Environment (T&E) > Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) > Greenpeace > International Friends of Nature (IFN) > WWF European Policy Office (WWF-EPO)

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 36 How do the Green 9 work? The G9 work with the EU law-making institutions the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers to ensure that the environment is placed at the heart of policymaking. This includes working with their member organisations in the Member States to facilitate their input into the EU decision- making process.

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 37 How do the Green 9 work? While campaigning at EU level, Green 9 NGOs: > encourage the full implementation of EU environmental laws and policies in the Member States > lobby for new environmental proposals, as appropriate > work with the EU institutions to ensure that policies under consideration are as environmentally effective as possible > promote EU environmental leadership in the global political arena

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 38 The G9 organisational structures No statutes No secretariat No offices No website No formal decision-making process Closed membership, or at least, no formal membership procedures

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 39 Still... Both the Social Platform and the Green 9 are two examples of efficient and effective networks...both met with President Barroso on the same day!

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 40 EU networking: a SWOT analysis Strengths Weaknesses Opportunites Threats

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 41 EU networking: a SWOT analysis

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 42 EU networking: a SWOT analysis Strengths: Recognition, credibility Influence Independence Cost reduction Expertise

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 43 EU networking: a SWOT analysis Weaknesses: Diversity of interests which might sometimes compete Lowest common denominator Communication problems Poor quality of outcomes Possibility of one organisation dominating the others

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 44 EU networking: a SWOT analysis Opportunities: Mutual learning Creation of consensus Learn how to negotiate

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 45 EU networking: a SWOT analysis Threats: Passive participation of some members Poor communication Bureaucracy Lack of transparency

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 46 Take home messages: There are many different types of networks Networks are popular as they provide more benefits than difficulties Networking is about time and commitment Networking is an additional layer, it does not substitute your work Networking is a conscious, rational decision your organisation has to take

The benefits of EU networking - 19 March Slide 47 European Public Health Alliance Rue d’Arlon B-1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: Fax: