EUPHA-LAW Newsletter February 2026

EUPHA-LAW Section Meeting

Monday, February 16, 17:00-17:30 CET

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89328624212?pwd=WZA5GZb6FLgMY3V3ND6LerhBsGpX4z.1

Password: 769601 [meeting will be recorded]

Agenda

• Welcome and agenda review
• Steering committee introductions [see below]
• Sample activities 2026

• European Public Health Week, 4-8 May (examples of possible topics, all webinars – could be later in the year as well tbc)

• Law enforcement and public Health (webinar)
• Legal frameworks for regulating PFAs (with FIDRA (UK))
• Impact of fossil fuels over the life course (with Global Climate and Health Alliance)
• Strengthening collaboration between law and public health – the Aletta model (with Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health and the Groningen Centre for Health Law)

• European Public Health Conference, 10-13 November, Bilbao

• Abstracts
• Pre-conference with EUPHA-ETH, other sections (tbc), 10 November –

• Short Webinars on key topics e.g.

• Public health and security

• Other matters
• Next meeting – Week of 20 April

• Finalisation of abstracts for European Public Health Conference

EUPHA-LAW steering committee 2026-2028

19^th European Public Health Conference, Bilbao, 10-13 November 2026

Below are early suggestions for workshops and pre-conferences shared with other Sections in January. Contact the persons listed for more information and to get involved.

Workshops (lead)

All workshops will be implemented in collaboration with other Sections – to be confirmed.

1. ‘Legal Preparedness for NCD Prevention.’  Linking foresight and healthy ageing by exploring future-proof regulation in the EU, including the commercial determinants of health and digital marketing (Orsolya Varga)
2. ‘Climate change and human rights – implications of the ICJ decision for public health’ (David Patterson)
3. The right to (digital) mental health’ There is lots of interesting research going on here, from regulation to protect children from harmful content online, to digital tools to combat loneliness. (Hannah van Kolfschooten)
4. Health promotion in 2026 – celebrating 40 years of the Ottawa Charter (Hannah van Kolfschooten) in collaboration with EUPHANxt (Jinane Ghattas)

Pre-conferences (lead)

1. Pre-conference on ‘Ethics and law for good public health policy and practice’ Will include a focus on the climate crisis. In collaboration with EUPHA-ETH and EUPHA-ENV (David Patterson, Farhang Tahzib)
2. Pre-Conference mini-course: “NCD Policy Myth-Busters”—clarifying what is and isn’t legally feasible in areas such as marketing restrictions, taxation, and labelling (Orsolya Varga)

Conferences and courses relating to law and public health

Research Methodologies Workshop – Global Health Law and Human Rights, University of Groningen, 11-13 March 2026. Application Deadline is 25 February, 2026.

Interesting publications

Ethics, values, and law for public health in a world in turmoil

Journal of Public Health, December 2025 (open access)

We are at an inflection point in history, with a crisis of trust and legitimacy in public health, with growing turbulent geopolitical influences, significantly impacting on public’s health, such as climate change, resulting in moral distress and injury to the public health workforce. The publication calls for renewed reflection on the mission, values, and mandate of public health, and for standing in solidarity to protect and advance the public’s health and well-being.

Building on this work, the EUPHA Ethics in Public Health Section plans a series of activities to create space for reflection and discussion on the issues raised, as well as their implications for public health policy and practice. Those interested in contributing ideas or engaging with this agenda are invited to get in touch. Please contact Farhang Tahzib, President of the Ethics in Public Health Section via farhang.tahzib@gmail.com

Becoming a climate conscious lawyer

La Trobe University, updated February, 2026 (open access)

A brilliant initiative in legal education: new chapters just added by Julia Dehm and colleagues at La Trobe University. A ‘must read’ for legal educators everywhere. Content is Australian but approach can be adapted to every jurisdiction. A transformative approach to legal education – preparing law students and the legal profession to address the growing legal challenges arising from climate change, today and tomorrow.

New chapters on Access to Justice and Climate Change; Climate Change and Land Law; Intellectual Property Law, Technology and Climate Change; Climate Change and Housing: Strata and Community Title; Climate Change and Personal Insolvency Law; Climate Change and Corporate Insolvency Law.  Something for everyone.