The European Union is enhancing its strategic partnership with Kazakhstan to improve cooperation in energy, critical materials, connectivity, and agriculture. This partnership supports Kazakhstan's long-term goal of becoming one of the world's most developed nations. Czech EU MP Tomas Zdechovsky emphasized Kazakhstan's importance due to geopolitical shifts, including competition with China and the war in Ukraine. The EU-Kazakhstan relationship has evolved beyond resource-based cooperation to a dynamic strategic partnership, with Kazakhstan playing a key role in trade, transport, and cultural exchange. The EU Parliament hosted a conference to deepen political dialogue and explore new cooperation opportunities. Kazakhstan is a crucial partner for the EU in securing resilient supply chains for critical raw materials and improving transport connectivity. The partnership aims for further growth, benefiting both sides and contributing to regional and global stability.

Jan Runar Eliassen, an Alzheimer's activist diagnosed with the disease, urges politicians to promote understanding of Alzheimer's as a highly individual condition. Despite the lack of a cure, early diagnosis can help patients and families manage the disease. Eliassen, a member of Alzheimer Europe and a similar group in Norway, shares his personal challenges and advocates for improved healthcare services for dementia patients. Professor Wiesje van der Flier from the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam highlights the need for better diagnostic services and awareness across the EU. The article emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and the potential for new treatments.

The article discusses the challenges and personal experiences of Jan Runar Eliassen, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at a young age. It highlights the variability in access to diagnostic services across the EU and the importance of early diagnosis. Wiesje van der Flier from the Centre Alzheimer d’Amsterdam emphasizes the need for comprehensive diagnostic approaches and expresses optimism about future treatments. The article underscores the necessity for political awareness and improved healthcare strategies to support Alzheimer's patients.

The EU is urged to establish common standards for 'high-quality' carbon credits to prevent greenwashing and enhance transparency in carbon markets. The European Commission has introduced legislation requiring companies to report on environmental, social, and governance issues, aiming to align sustainable finance with corporate responsibility. Experts highlight the need for standardization in carbon credit evaluation to boost investor confidence and drive ecological restoration projects in Europe. Despite the potential of carbon markets to fund restoration efforts, companies remain hesitant due to fragmented methodologies and climate-related challenges.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, ALDE's lead candidate for the June elections and Chairperson of Germany’s Defence Committee, emphasizes the need for a collective European security strategy to protect against threats like Russia. She advocates for a coordinated EU foreign policy and a stronger European identity. Strack-Zimmermann criticizes the rise of nationalist parties and the current European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, for not addressing Europe's security and adding bureaucracy. The interview also touches on the importance of legal migration to Europe and the need to protect borders from illegal immigration.

Researchers at the University of Limerick, in collaboration with University Hospital Limerick and Queen’s University Belfast, have discovered a new species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Pseudocitrobacter limerickensis, in a hospital setting. The discovery, which has implications for global health due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), was published in the Journal of Hospital Infection. The study highlights the importance of addressing AMR, which the WHO has declared a top global public health threat. Ireland's approach to AMR includes a One Health National Action Plan, and the private sector is also taking steps, with Sandoz and Teva receiving AMR certification from the British Standards Institute. The European Commission is considering AMR in its reform of pharmaceutical legislation, with the pharmaceutical trade body EFPIA advocating for incentives to develop new antimicrobials.

Ireland's healthcare system faced severe overcrowding and staffing issues in 2023, with over 121,526 patients admitted without a bed and a 24% increase in children treated on trolleys. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation criticized the government for chronic underfunding and unsafe staffing levels. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly secured temporary funding for 2024 and announced the roll-out of 'virtual wards' to improve efficiency. MEP Billy Kelleher emphasized the need for a comprehensive government approach to training and hiring healthcare specialists. The government also plans to enhance the role of community pharmacists to alleviate hospital pressure. Long-term preventive medicine remains a challenge due to political short-termism.

The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association has raised concerns to the Oireachtas about the slow access to innovative medicines in Ireland, with some patients waiting up to 1,000 days. Medicines available in other European countries and Northern Ireland are delayed in Ireland due to a complex approvals process and insufficient funding. MEP Grace O’Sullivan criticized the two-tier health system and called for procurement reforms. The Health Service Executive is responsible for drug pricing and reimbursement decisions, but the process has been criticized for not aligning with faster adoption rates in other countries. The Department of Health acknowledges the voluntary nature of the private health insurance market and its limitations. A Mazars Review found the reimbursement process to be in line with international norms but identified areas for improvement. Ipsos polling indicates that a majority of Irish people believe access to new medicines is slower in Ireland compared to Europe, especially for rare diseases and cancer.

The political agreement on the AI Act could give Europe a competitive edge, but there's a risk of widening the EU's regional innovation divide. McKinsey's report highlights the need for Europe to nurture its startup ecosystem to close the gap with the US. EIT Health and the Regional Innovation Scheme aim to promote healthcare innovation across Europe, especially in regions with modest innovation capacity. The EIT Community maps synergies across industries and focuses on upskilling to prevent brain drain. Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasizes the need to mobilize private funds for health innovation. The Horizon Europe funding program and the Venture Centre of Excellence, operated by EIT Health and the European Investment Fund, are key initiatives supporting this goal. Success stories like iLof, Iyoni, and Ligence illustrate the potential of cross-regional collaboration and high-quality innovation projects.

Dutch experts, including Wim de Vries of Wageningen University, highlight the challenges of meeting the EU's ambitious nitrogen emission targets. A €1.5 billion buyout scheme for Dutch farmers aims to halve emissions by 2030, but faces criticism for its impact on production and environmental sustainability. The European Environmental Bureau criticizes the European Commission's approach, while COPA-COGECA and FoodDrinkEurope express concerns over profitability and resource allocation. De Vries emphasizes the need for a balance in fertilizer use, efficient farming practices, reduced meat consumption, and food waste to address the issue comprehensively.