Across Europe there is a shortage of human organs available for transplantation. The Commission adopted a combination of initiatives. First, a Directive setting the basic safety and quality principles and measures in relation to the donation, procurement and transplantation of human organs. Second, an Action Plan with 10 priority actions to meet the challenges of organ donation and transplantation in the EU, through a mechanism that strengthens coordination and cooperation between Member States.
Initiative: Commission Action plan on Organ Donation and Transplantation (2009-2015)All available translations. 
: Strengthened Cooperation between Member States and Directive on Standards of Quality and Safety of Human Organs intended for Transplantation
More on organ donation:
in the EU Public Health WebsiteAll available translations.
The important issues of organ donation and transplantation, as well as cross-border health threats with particular reference to communication strategies in crisis situations, will be at the top of the agenda as the EU’s Health Ministers hold their Informal Meeting under the Cyprus Presidency
Donations of human blood and plasma form the basis for a wide range of essential, often life-saving, therapies
On World Blood Donor day, under this year's motto of “Every blood donor is a hero", the European Commission stresses the importance of safe blood supplies and encourages all European citizens to join the ranks of responsible voluntary donors
The Joint Action between Member States and the European Commission on Achieving Comprehensive Coordination in Organ Donation throughout the European Union (JA ACCORD) is starting in May 2012
On 18th October, the European Commission organised a second journalist workshop on organ donation and transplantation in Europe. The programme, contacts, testimony and articles are available on the European Commission dedicated web-page.
This event is an opportunity for patients and their family to talk to international experts in the stem cell transplantation field during various interactive sessions. It will focus particularly on the health status and possible late effects after successful transplantation.
WHO chose 14 June as the day to recognize the millions of people who save lives and improve the health of others by donating blood. The Day highlights the need to regularly give blood to prevent shortages in hospitals and clinics, particularly in developing countries where quantities are very limited.
The programme covers a wide variety of issues and topics, including the Council of Europe's strategies in the field of organ transplantation, organ transplantation activities in Georgia and the Caucasus, the ‘Spanish model' of organ donation and World Health Organization (WHO) and EU policies.
This Conference gives attendees a vision of the current situation and the main challenges in the field of organ donation and transplantation in the countries of the European Union (EU), as well as up-to-date information about the future actions of the EU in this sphere.
The website for the World Day of Organ Donation/European Day of Organ Donation (October 4th 2009) is online. Check out the program, the bands and a lot more information about this event!
The important issues of organ donation and transplantation, as well as cross-border health threats with particular reference to communication strategies in crisis situations, will be at the top of the agenda as the EU’s Health Ministers hold their Informal Meeting under the Cyprus Presidency
Donations of human blood and plasma form the basis for a wide range of essential, often life-saving, therapies
On World Blood Donor day, under this year's motto of “Every blood donor is a hero", the European Commission stresses the importance of safe blood supplies and encourages all European citizens to join the ranks of responsible voluntary donors
The Joint Action between Member States and the European Commission on Achieving Comprehensive Coordination in Organ Donation throughout the European Union (JA ACCORD) is starting in May 2012
On 18th October, the European Commission organised a second journalist workshop on organ donation and transplantation in Europe. The programme, contacts, testimony and articles are available on the European Commission dedicated web-page.
Second Journalist Workshop - Organ donation and transplantation Programme and list of contact points available
The need for organ transplants is increasing worldwide. The ongoing lack of available organs has resulted in an increase in the number of patients on the waiting list.
Despite the EU Action Plan on organ donation, there are still sharp differences in the levels of donations and successful transplants between member states. Euranet investigates the current system of organ donation and asks what can be done to improve it.
Promoting and improving the organisation of organ donation and transplantation at a European level is a real concern and the subject of much effort by the Council of Europe since 1987. Over the last few years, the Council of Europe has implemented several projects, mainly directed towards the development of effective legislative frameworks and the establishment of national transplant authorities and programmes.
A Commission report shows that nearly all EU countries have provisions in place for citizens to donate tissues and cells without being paid for it.
This year on World Blood Donor Day, people are encouraged to give blood to save lives.
This report shows that Member States overall are taking the necessary measures to encourage voluntary and unpaid blood donations.
Following the Eurobarometer survey carried out about organ donation and transplantation, results are compiled in country-specific factsheets.
This Eurobarometer survey includes questions on behaviours and attitudes in relation to organ donation and transplantation. It is based on a Eurobarometer survey of 26,788 European citizens carried out in October 2009 in the 27 European Union Member States, as well as 3,504 interviews in the candidate countries
Today more than 50 000 people in Europe are waiting for transplant of a kidney, liver, heart, lung, etc. Medicine is progressing by leaps and bounds, but waiting lists are as long as ever.
Lungs, heart, liver, kidneys: 60,000 Europeans are waiting for an organ to live. Donors are needed to save them, and can be founding in another EU country.
The edition of the Health-EU newsletter dedicated to organ donation and transplantation with latest news, publications, events and conferences.
Adopted in July 2010. Provides for the appointment of bodies in all EU countries to authorise procurement and transplantation centres and activities, for the introduction of traceability systems and for the reporting of serious adverse events and reactions.
The Council adopted a directive setting out the basic quality and safety requirements for human organs intended for transplantation.The directive aims to minimise the risk for the organ transplant recipients and to facilitate the exchange of human organs between member states.
A poll published three days ahead of the 2010 World Blood Donor Day shows that 37% of Europeans have given blood. The Eurobarometer survey indicates a 6% increase since the last survey was conducted in 2002 in EU-15. The countries revealed to have the highest levels of blood donation are Austria (66%), France (52%), Greece (51%) and the Republic of Cyprus (51%). Over half of Europeans are willing to donate organs according to a Eurobarometer survey on organ donation also published today.
The European Parliament today voted in favour of the EU Directive on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplant.
Public Sénat: Reins, foie, coeur, poumons... alors que la médecine progresse à pas de géant, les listes d'attente des patients en attente de greffe sont toujours aussi longues. En Europe, 7 pays se sont unis pour faire face aux urgences : leur réseau, Eurotransplant, permet de trouver le plus rapidement possible le meilleur « receveur » à chaque prélèvement d'organe, par-delà les frontières. Reportage à Bruxelles, au centre de coordination des transplantations de l'hôpital Erasme.
The aim of the European Commission's policies is to reassure European Citizens that wherever they are in Europe, the organs for transplantation have the same high quality safety guarantees. If all countries have a similar standard then it will also be easier to facilitate exchanges of organs for urgent cases (emergencies, accidents) or for children and patients who are difficult to treat with for example, rare conditions.
Today, the Commission adopted important safety and quality measures for organ donation and a 10 point action plan to work with Member States on strengthening organ donation and transplantation systems in Europe. For many patients, organ transplantation represents the only life saving treatment available. There are currently 56,000 patients waiting for a suitable organ donor in the EU. It is estimated that every day 12 people die while waiting for transplantation. The Directive and Action Plan address three key challenges: improving the quality and safety of organs across Europe, increasing organ availability and making transplant systems more efficient and accessible.
Diario Médico followed the professionals involved throughout the whole process, from removing the organ from the potential donor to implanting it in the recipient.
2010 is the 60th anniversary of the founding of Cracow's Haematology Centre. Over the past 12 years, more than 600 bone marrow transplants have been carried out. This year, there have been 13 meetings for people who have had a transplant, this time also attended by donors.
Each day, 10 European citizens die while waiting for a suitable organ transplant. That’s almost 4,000 people on a yearly basis. Moira Mizzi delves deeper into the subject.
Dr Julio Velasco works on the intensive care ward of a hospital in Mallorca, where, as a member of the Spanish transplant organisation, he coordinates organ donations.
Over the course of last year, donorship of ova went all the way from the noble gesture of giving life to a stigmatised and commercialised procedure… or vice versa.
Appeal to Member States not to cut health budgets. Article published on 22nd October 2011 in Corriere della Sera.
More likely that 'we will need a transplant than become a donor'. Have you ever discussed organ donation with your family? The article was published on 21st October 2011 in CiênciaHoje.
Published in Politis, 22nd October 2011. Every day 10 Europeans die waiting for an organ to save their lives, while seven organs are lost because of a lack of cross-border cooperation.
The article was published on 23rd October in Novi List.
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16th November 2010. Article written in El Médico Interactivo.
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13-15th November 2010. An article written in Spanish magazine El Médico Interactivo.
An article published in Romania Lebera, 15th November 2010. Lack of reliable information, religion and mistrust of doctors are contributing to longer transplant waiting lists.
An article published in NRA, 15th November 2010.
Finns are among the most willing organ donors in Europe. And in Spain, a campaign changed attitudes.
An article published 8th December 2010.
An article published in the Estonian newspaper Ekspress, 25th November 2010.
An article published in Viata Medicala, 7th January 2011.
Emília Juhásová has had dialysis more than a thousand times – that's more than 2 000 injections
"Here you will meet four people who very nearly died but, thanks to new organs being found in time, they’ve been lucky enough not only to survive, but live life to the full with renewed strength. Hopefully, you will also find information that can help you decide whether to become a donor."
To save their daughter’s life, Mara’s parents had been searching for a liver donor for half a year, but without success. Anita Liepina, a colleague of the baby's father, wanted to help. The Belgian doctors were surprised that a stranger wanted to donate and almost refused to operate.
Undergoing renal replacement therapy, waiting for an organ transplant. (An interview with Darren).
"Christoph Broelsch, the famous surgeon from Essen, will appear in court next week, accused of demanding money from terminally ill patients before agreeing to operate. The case lifts the veil on criminal activity in our hospitals."
Heroes are those who decide to donate part of themselves while still alive, knowing that for the rest of their lives, they will have to live without that organ.
An inside look at bone marrow transplants. An entire world is fighting the personal pain, objecting to charity and asking for one simple thing: our participation and solidarity.
Article published in The Standard magazine, Saturday, 31.10.2009. Without knowing who I am, she gave me her life-saving bone marrow. Eleven years later I meet my donor for the first time. A true life story.
Organ transplants are still a controversial topic in our society. Reactions range from wonder at the medical miracles to outright disapproval for ethical reasons. The people working here have nerves of steel, a talent for improvisation and often reach the limits of legal working hours. A visit to the coordination unit of the Vienna AKH hospital transplant department.
Before, she could see only darkness but after the surgery she was able to see her own son for the first time.
Every day in these countries, four patients die waiting for an organ transplant.
The article covers not only donor and transplantation issues, but also cross-border healthcare.
