Board of Norwegian Nurses Organisation visit EPSU to address key EU health sector initiatives and priorities

(8 February) Members of the Norwegian Nurses Organisation and EPSU policy staff unwind after a fruitful meeting which set out key EU regulatory and legislative initiatives and their likely impact on Europe’s health sector and health systems.

Following presentations from EPSU’s Richard Pond and Mathias Maucher, the meeting discussed  a range of issues including the European Commission’s plans to better promote and implement the Working Time Directive. Wide ranging debates, including a discussion on how public sector health workers can best engage with the European Pillar of Social Rights, ensued.

The Norwegian delegation sought information on a recent EU initiative in the context of the mutual recognition of health workers qualifications throughout Member States, focusing specially on health care assistants/support workers.

The discussions also addressed how CETA, the EU-Canadian free trade agreement, which will be voted on at the European Parliament plenary session next week, is likely to effect on European health systems and health workers.

EPSU’s Mathias Maucher said: ‘This was a useful and constructive meeting, we welcome the opportunity to address key EU health sector challenges with our Norwegian colleagues’.

Norway