European Commission

Citizens gain control of health data in groundbreaking EU deal

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Citizens gain control of health data in groundbreaking EU deal

The European Commission announced an agreement on the creation of a European Health Data Space (EHDS), proposed in May 2022, aiming to empower citizens by giving them control over their health data and unlocking research potential. The EHDS will allow EU citizens immediate access to their digital health data across the EU, facilitating healthcare delivery, research, innovation, and policymaking while adhering to EU data protection standards. It includes a robust legal framework for the reuse of health data for research and public health purposes, with strong data protection and security safeguards. The European Parliament and the Council will formally adopt the new regulation, which will be implemented in stages.

Our View: Political will to protect environment is nonexistant

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Our View: Political will to protect environment is nonexistant

Cyprus governments have historically not prioritized environmental protection, often disregarding their own regulations and laws to favor local communities, developers, and interest groups, despite pressure from the European Union. This has led to Cyprus being referred to the European Court for not adequately protecting Natura 2000 sites. All governments have failed to protect the environment, with a notable example being unauthorized road works in the Akamas area. Despite two investigations into these road works, the reasons behind the deviation from agreed specifications remain undisclosed, prompting a third investigation. The European Commission has criticized Cyprus for approving projects that could harm Natura 2000 areas without proper impact studies, despite a warning letter sent in 2019. Cyprus has designated 37 sites as Special Areas of Conservation, yet no conservation measures have been established for 28 of these. In response to the Commission’s report, the agriculture ministry claimed to have initiated inter-departmental working groups to complete the legal framework for managing Natura 2000 areas, aiming for full compliance with EU directives. However, the lack of political will is seen as a significant barrier to genuine environmental protection.

Cyprus government takes aim at influencer marketing

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Cyprus government takes aim at influencer marketing

The Consumer Protection Service (CPS) and the Advertising Control Agency (ACA) signed a 5-year memorandum of understanding to inform consumers about the commercial intent of influencers’ posts on social media. They aim to educate businesses, consumers, and influencers on the necessity of clear promotional disclosures in posts, establishing rules for these disclosures to be easily understandable across various content forms on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. The ACA has also created a Guide for Influencer Marketing, recognized by the Ministry of Health as a best practice. This initiative responds to the significant growth of influencer marketing and its impact on the digital economy, highlighted by the European Commission’s 2023 Sweep survey on influencers, which indicated the need for further actions in this domain.

EU initiates legal action against Cyprus for conservation failures

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EU initiates legal action against Cyprus for conservation failures

The European Commission has referred Cyprus to the Court of Justice of the European Union for not complying with the habitats directive (Directive 92/43/EEC). Cyprus has designated 37 sites as special conservation areas but has failed to establish necessary conservation measures for 28 of these sites and has inadequate conservation objectives for 5 sites. The Commission had previously sent Cyprus a warning letter in June 2021 and a reasoned opinion in April 2022. Despite some progress, the efforts by Cypriot authorities are deemed insufficient by the Commission. The habitats directive aims to protect biodiversity by establishing the Natura 2000 network, requiring member states to identify, propose, and manage sites of Community importance for species and habitat conservation. The Commission has also initiated infringement proceedings against 16 member states regarding the designation and management of special conservation areas.