1. European Public Health Alliance Ilze Mūrniece Project assistant European Public Health Alliance Civic Alliance – Latvia Meeting of Anti-Poverty Network 7 April, 2006, Vilnius European Public Health Alliance

2. About EPHA A Platform of more than 100 non governmental and not-for-profit organisations across Europe working on health and health-related issues set up in 1993, based in Brussels Our mission: “To improve the health of European citizens and to increase their participation in EU policy-making”.

3. International networks European networks National organisations EPHA members

4. Health advocates Disease specific patient groups Academic researchers Health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses and pharmacists) Consumer groups Environment organisations Development organisations

5. Benefit of members Information on actual Public health issues and EU policy developments Monthly Newsletter web page members only site Expertise on political and legal documents Advocacy in European level Contacts Project opportunities Capacity building activities EPHA members

6. How does EPHA work? Advocacy Working groups At present there are 5 ongoing working groups on the following subjects: n Alcohol n Food and Nutrition n Health and Environment n Health and Enlargement n 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 e-mail

7. Information exchange Membership services Lobbying: > EU institutions Networking: > Other health NGOs > Other thematic NGOs Tracking policy issues: > Day to day analysis > Mailings - Briefings How does EPHA work?

8. EPHA organisational structure The Annual General Assembly -Discusses the broad policy of EPHA -Elects the Executive Committee -May include consultation meetings and/or training seminars for members The Executive Committee - 7 people elected for a two-year period - sets out the annual work programme and policy priorities The STAFF – Currently five permanent staff members, located in Brussels and 2 based on projects in Riga

9. Project “Development of national platforms on public health in 10 new EU member states” September 2005 - November 2006 Ilze Mūrniece Project assistant European Public Health Alliance Civic Alliance – Latvia Meeting of Anti-Poverty Network 7 April, 2006, Vilnius European Public Health Alliance

10. European Commission, DG Health and Consumer Protection (DG SANCO) http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm Open Society Institute, New York www.soros.org Supported

11. n To build up the capacity of NGOs in 10 new member states focusing on networking and advocacy. n To strengthen the development of national platforms in new member states. n To raise awareness to NGOs on networking as a tool of effective advocacy. n To inform NGOs on legislation processes in EU institutions. n To inform NGOs on EU policy on public health. Objectives

12. Training seminars and consultations in new member states. Dissemination of the manual on networking and public health issues and translation to national languages. http://www.epha.org/a/2082 Access and distribution of information in http://www.epha.org/r/97 Activities

13. Knowledge Experience Contacts Information The benefit of target group

14. European Public health alliance (EPHA) 39-41 Rue d’ArlonTel: +32 2 230 30 56 B-1000 BrusselsFax: +32 2 233 38 80 Belgiumepha@epha.org www.epha.org Civic alliance Latvia (CAL) regional project co-coordinator Gertrudes street 19/21 – 3 Tel: +371 7846464 LV-1011 RigaFax: +371 7846466 LATVIAilze@nvo.lv www.nvo.lv Project leading organisations