On 10 June 2025, HEAL held an international conference dedicated to the impact of chemicals on health in Warsaw. The event brought together over 350 participants from various sectors – science, medicine, public administration, and non-governmental organiszations.
Following the proposal of the European Commission for the post-2027 EU long-term budget (Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034), the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) expresses serious concern over the insufficient action taken to address pollution and its related health impacts, including the phase-out of all fossil fuels subsidies.
Today, together with members PAN Europe and WECF, HEAL’s Executive Director Génon Jensen participated in the Implementation Dialogue on Biocides hosted by the EU Health Commissioner Várhelyi.
Today, directors of the Green 10, of which HEAL is a member, met with European Commission President von der Leyen and shared civil society’s recommendations for policy action.
As the European Commission is currently finalising the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal set to be launched on 16 July 2025, HEAL has sent a letter to the EU Commission President, the Executive Vice-Presidents, and Commissioners urging to scale up public investments into health protection from pollution and climate change in the next EU budget.
The EU Healthy Air Coalition (EUHAC), a coalition of diverse constituencies of the health sector, urges the Commission President to ensure that the next EU budget will help the EU substantially advance towards clean air and the prevention of the major diseases caused by air pollution.
HEAL has signed a letter, initiated by ClientEarth, alongside other organisations, calling for the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis calling to refrain from advancing the proposed deregulatory chemicals omnibus to protect health and the environment.
CHEM Trust and HEAL will host a high-level conference on 29 September 2025. The event will bring together policymakers, civil society organisations, industry representatives and experts, to discuss challenges and opportunities of modernising and simplifying the EU’s chemical safety rules and better protect people’s health and the environment.
Today’s publication of the European Commission’s chemicals omnibus confirms serious concerns: if pushed through the proposal will significantly weaken protections in the Cosmetic Products Regulation, allowing the prolonged use of carcinogens and other harmful chemicals in personal care products.
Ahead of a European Parliament debate in which MEPs will be considering the ambition of the European climate policy for the next two decades, HEAL has sent a letter highlighting that the decisions taken will either increase the health burden from climate change or help prevent health impacts.
Ahead of an informal ministerial meeting on 10-11 July, at which EU environment ministers will be considering the ambition of the European climate policy for the next two decades, HEAL has sent a letter highlighting that the decisions ministers take will either increase the health burden from climate change or help prevent health impacts.
The EU’s proposed 2040 climate target to reduce domestic emissions by 90% - while allowing up to 3% to be met through international carbon credits – risks undermining health protections. The Health and Environment Alliance calls on member states to strengthen their climate commitments in order to protect health, rather than delay and weaken overdue action.
HEAL welcomes the call from 250 scientists urging the European Commission to follow scientific recommendations and include provisions to account for the effects of chemical mixtures to better protect health in the upcoming revision of REACH, the EU’s regulation for chemicals.
EU Heads of State will be exchanging on EU defence, competitiveness, and preparedness matters as part of the European Council. HEAL urges them to strengthen health protection and disease prevention as part of EU preparedness and financing priorities, by placing health protection at the centre of EU climate efforts, strengthening legislative efforts to reduce chemicals pollution and stepping up investments in better health, not pollution.
HEAL together with representatives from the medical, scientific, and civil society sectors, is calling on policymakers in Poland to develop a national action plan to reduce the health impacts of harmful chemicals and to support the revision of EU regulations. The appeal was presented on 10 June in Warsaw during the International Conference Preventing Disease by Reducing Exposure to Harmful Chemicals, held under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Polish Minister of Health, and the President of the Polish Supreme Medical Council.
HEAL response to the articles in the German newspaper DIE WELT “Secret contracts and powerful shadow lobbying”, 7 June 2025 These articles include a series of allegations and insinuations which…
HEAL has sent a letter to EU environment ministers ahead of an Environment Council meeting on 17 June 2025, calling on them to ensure that the REACH revision will deliver the long-awaited improvement of human health and environment protection from harmful chemicals.
NGOs are calling for the European Commission to take immediate and ambitious action to restrict polyvinyl chloride (PVC) under the REACH Regulation in a letter.
HEAL has sent a letter to EU environment ministers ahead of an Environment Council meeting on 17 June 2025, where ministers will be considering the EU's 2040 climate ambition as well as preparedness and adaption needs. The letter calls on ministers to step up in placing health protection at the centre of EU climate policies.
In June 2025 the Health and Environment Alliance is hosting an international conference in Warsaw, Poland, presenting the latest science on health and exposure to chemicals, and an outlook on necessary policy measures. The international conference will take place under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
