European Parliamentary Interest Group

The Interest Group on Maternal and Neonatal Health was founded in May 2011 by Prof. Dr. Angelika Niebler together with her parliamentary colleague Dr. Peter Liese.

The Group seeks to bring a diverse group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) together for open dialogue and advocacy to help ensure the best possible start in life for all babies born in Europe through prevention as well as improved care for preterm and newborn infants throughout Europe. The Group also seeks to mainstream the issue of maternal and neonatal health within all relevant policies and initiatives.

Led by Prof. Dr. Angelika Niebler and Dr. Peter Liese, a wide range of MEPs have come together to express their concerns on the issues of preterm birth and maternal and neonatal health in Europe. The interest group collaborates closely with the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI). The aim of the group is to:

  • work towards EU recognition of preterm birth as a growing threat to the health and wellbeing of Europe’s citizens,
  • highlight the importance of prevention measures before and during pregnancy,
  • highlight the major risks and impacts associated with infant prematurity in Europe, including infant mortality and morbidity, the greater risk of suffering from short-term and long-term health complications and the increased chance of developing serious chronic conditions and lifelong disabilities,
  • highlight the (long-term) burden and impact on the entire family and by extension society as a whole.

 

Members of the Interest Group

Chairs

Prof. Dr. Angelika NIEBLER
Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
Germany-Member of the Bureau Germany Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.

Dr. Peter LIESE
Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
Germany-Member of the Bureau Germany Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands

Members

Biljana BORZAN
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Croatia-Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske

Esther de LANGE
Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
Netherlands-Christen Democratisch Appèl

Elisabetta GARDINI
Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
Forza Italia

Lidia Joanna GERINGER de OEDENBERG
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Poland-Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej

Karin KADENBACH
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Austria-Sozialdemokratische Partei

Jo LEINEN
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Germany-Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands

Linda McAVAN
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
United Kingdom-Labour Party

Mairead McGUINNESS
Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
Ireland-Fine Gael Party

Dr. Andreas SCHWAB
Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
Germany-Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands

Dubravka ŠUICA
Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
Croatia-Hrvatska demokratska zajednica

Anna ZÁBORSKÁ
Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
Slovakia-Krest’anskodemokratické hnutie