{"id":17037,"date":"2024-01-08T13:28:14","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T11:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=17037"},"modified":"2024-01-08T13:28:26","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T11:28:26","slug":"belgium-eu-presidency-key-priorities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=17037","title":{"rendered":"Belgium EU Presidency key priorities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">On 1<sup>st<\/sup> January 2024, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belgium24.be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Belgium<\/a> took over from Spain the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Over the next 6 months, Belgium will lead the European agenda and promote cooperation among the EU Member States, with the aim to strengthen the European Union and advance in several areas as climate change, economic growth and social cohesion. Several high-level <a href=\"https:\/\/belgian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">summits and conferences<\/a> will take place during that period, and important decisions taken on the future of the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Health will be key on the Belgium EU Presidency <a href=\"https:\/\/belgian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/programme\/the-belgian-presidency-programme\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">programme<\/a><\/strong>, who will make sure that it remains high in the EU policy agenda. The Presidency will emphasise the importance of strengthening the EU&#8217;s resilience to future health threats by reinforcing crisis management, supporting healthcare systems, and improving the security of medicines supply.\u00a0The key <a href=\"https:\/\/belgian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/programme\/priorities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">priorities<\/a> of Belgium EU Presidency in terms of health are divided into <strong>3 clusters: 1\/ Care<\/strong> &#8211; including health workforce challenges &#8211; the EU Presidency will invite the EU institutions to develop a comprehensive EU Health Workforce Strategy; <strong>2\/ Preparedness<\/strong> &#8211; including a) Preparedness governance \u00e0 The Belgium EU Presidency is aiming to invite the EU stakeholders and the EU institutions to reflect on the implementation of the lessons learned from COVID-19; and b) Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) \u00e0 The Belgium EU Presidency will continue the work of the Swedish and the Spanish EU presidencies; <strong>3\/ Protection<\/strong> &#8211; the issue of medicines shortage is being put on the EU agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>From the nurses\u2019 perspective<\/strong>, the EFN will mainly be focussing on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Healthcare workforce<\/strong> &#8211; Europe\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/EFN-Policy-Statement-on-Building-and-Sustaining-a-Resilient-EU-Nursing-Workforce-in-the-EU-and-Europe-April-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">health workforce<\/a> crisis is not a \u201cticking time bomb\u201d anymore. It has exploded!, with the <a href=\"https:\/\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/EFN-Policy-Statement-on-Safe-Staffing-Levels.pdf\">nurses leaving<\/a> massively the profession, and young generation not interested in the nursing profession anymore. It is therefore key that the EU Institutions and the national governments take adequate actions to protect the most vulnerable: to support the frontline health professionals that provide direct patient care, including recognising the added value of the nursing profession to the healthcare sector, to improve nurses\u2019 salaries, working conditions, and ensure safe levels of staffing delivering good quality care and patient safety.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)<\/strong> &#8211; Due to nurses\u2019 close relation with citizens and patients and their unique role in infection prevention and control, and hygiene, nurses are, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, one of the most influential actors to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/EFN-Position-Paper-on-Nurses-Combatting-AMR-Final-Oct.2016.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">combat AMR<\/a> frontline. Therefore, AMR can only be tackled frontline by \u2018fit for purpose\u2019 health policies and national AMR Action Plans reflecting the <a href=\"https:\/\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/EFN-Policy-Statement-on-AMR.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nurses\u2019 voice<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a key opportunity for the nurses to make sure their voice is heard and make change happen at EU level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On 1st January 2024, Belgium took over from Spain the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17063,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=17063","url_meta":{"origin":17037,"position":0},"title":"Belgium EU Presidency \u2013 EPSCO informal meeting","author":"efn efn","date":"January 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Within the Belgium EU Presidency key Priority \u201cA Europe that Cares\u201d, the first informal meeting of employment and social affairs ministers (EPSCO) took place over the last 2 days. This informal Council meeting brought together the ministers of EU Member States with the relevant European Commissioners, representatives of the European\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Family-photo.jpg?fit=1200%2C433&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Family-photo.jpg?fit=1200%2C433&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Family-photo.jpg?fit=1200%2C433&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Family-photo.jpg?fit=1200%2C433&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Family-photo.jpg?fit=1200%2C433&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15538,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=15538","url_meta":{"origin":17037,"position":1},"title":"EU Presidency Prioties: Trio Programme for 2023!","author":"efn efn","date":"December 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, EFN participated to the Health Council Briefing and EU Presidency priorities Confirmation organised by the European Policy Centre with Martina Brzkova - Public Health and Pharmaceuticals Attach\u00e9, Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union and Joakim Svensson - Health Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Sweden to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/EFN-PIC.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/EFN-PIC.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/EFN-PIC.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/EFN-PIC.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/EFN-PIC.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17539,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=17539","url_meta":{"origin":17037,"position":2},"title":"Wishing you all a lovely summer break!","author":"efn efn","date":"July 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"After an intense first half of the year, with Belgium holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and its many different high-level summits relevant to nurses, that the EFN followed very closely, and the EU elections behind us, it is time for us to have a good\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/20220721_114058-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/20220721_114058-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/20220721_114058-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/20220721_114058-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/20220721_114058-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19072,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=19072","url_meta":{"origin":17037,"position":3},"title":"Danish EU Presidency kicks off","author":"efn efn","date":"July 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Part of the trio - Poland, Denmark and Cyprus, Denmark is today taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next 6 months, for the eighth time in its history. Focussing on \u2018A secure Europe\u2019 and a \u2018competitive and green Europe\u2019, the Danish EU Presidency\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Logo-Danish-EU-Presidency-.jpg?fit=450%2C447&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16986,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=16986","url_meta":{"origin":17037,"position":4},"title":"European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2023 \u2013 by ECDC","author":"efn efn","date":"November 20, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"As defined by the ECDC \u201cAntimicrobial resistance is a major public health challenge in Europe and globally. Each year throughout the European Union, Iceland and Norway, more than 35 000 people die from infections with bacteria that are resistant to antimicrobials, a number that\u00a0has increased in recent years.\u00a0The impact that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ECDC-AMR-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C497&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ECDC-AMR-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C497&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ECDC-AMR-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C497&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ECDC-AMR-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C497&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ECDC-AMR-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C497&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15845,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=15845","url_meta":{"origin":17037,"position":5},"title":"Happy Easter to you all!","author":"efn efn","date":"April 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Before we close for Easter and then travel to Croatia for the Spring EFN General Assembly, taking place on 13-14 April - bringing together the EFN members from 36 National Nurses Associations from all over Europe, to discuss key EFN\/nurses policy topics and concerns, I would like to take this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG-20230406-WA0001.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG-20230406-WA0001.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG-20230406-WA0001.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG-20230406-WA0001.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG-20230406-WA0001.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17037"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17038,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17037\/revisions\/17038"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}