Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Poland is the most restrictive country in the EU in terms of accessibility to emergency contraceptives, Source: Depositphotos
The creation of this tool comes as a result of a protracted political battle regarding reproductive rights in the country
The Polish health ministry has unveiled a new pilot program of participating pharmacies, which will provide over-the-counter morning-after contraceptive pills to women in need. The program counts with an interactive online map so the women in need can quickly find the nearest such pharmacy. In addition, the pharmacies will also display that they provide this service by featuring a special label on their façade.
The solution was described as ‘Plan B’ by the Polish government not only because it mimics the popular name of the emergency contraceptive product, but also because it was the authorities’ backup plan in case the conservative president of the country, Andrzej Duda, vetoed the bill that would have introduced prescription-free emergency contraception.
In fact, he did just that continuing a policy initiated in 2017 by the previous government of the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party that made the product available only after doctor’s prescription. The only other country in the EU where this is required is Hungary.
Still, in order to veto a bill approved by the Parliament, the country’s president needed to provide a justification. Mr Duda used the argument that the morning-after pill is a “hormonal bomb” that could mess up with young girls’ bodies and thus represent a threat to their overall well-being.
His argument was based on the fact that the drug would be available to women aged 15 and above as this is the legal sexual consent age in Poland.
The Polish liberal government, however, upon being faced with the veto unrolled their pilot programme which asked pharmacies to volunteer to be included in a database to dispense the morning-after pill. According to the plan, the participating pharmacists will get the right to prescribe the pill after consultation with the women in a private room within the pharmacy for that purpose.
So far, over 1,050 pharmacies out of the 12,000 in Poland have submitted applications and signed the contract.
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital