EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL POLICY, HEALTH AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COUNCIL MEETING ON 1 AND 2 DECEMBER 2011

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COU CIL OFBrussels, 17 ovember 2011

THE EUROPEA U IO

16708/11

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SA 238 - -

OTE

from: General Secretariat of the Council

to: Permanent Representatives Committee (Part 1)/Council

Subject: EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL POLICY, HEALTH AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COUNCIL MEETING ON 1 AND 2 DECEMBER 2011

Draft Council conclusions on "Closing health gaps within the EU through concerted action to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours"

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Adoption of Council conclusions (Public debate in accordance with Article 8(2) of the Council's Rules of Procedure [proposed by the Presidency])

  • 1. 
    The Working Party on Public Health discussed and agreed on the draft Council conclusions as

set out in the Annex.

  • 2. 
    COREPER is invited to confirm the Working Party's agreement and submit the draft

conclusions for adoption by the Council (EPSCO) at its meeting on 2 December 2011.

  • 3. 
    The Council is invited to adopt the draft conclusions and forward them for publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union.

____________________

AEX

Draft Council conclusions on

Closing health gaps within the EU through concerted action to promote healthy lifestyle

behaviours

THE COU CIL OF THE EUROPEA U IO

RECALLS

that under Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, a high

level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union

policies and activities. Union action, which shall complement national policies, shall be directed

towards improving public health, preventing illness and disease, and obviating sources of danger to

physical and mental health. The Union and Member States shall foster cooperation with third

countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of public health.

RECALLS

· The Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health adopted on 21 October 2011

at the World Conference on social determinants of health held in Rio de Janeiro;

· the Political declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention

and Control of Non-communicable diseases adopted by the United Nations General Assembly

on 19 September 2011;

· the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and guidelines for its implementation;

· the 2011 Annual report of the EU Platform for action on diet, physical activity and health;

· the Council conclusions of 8 June 2010 on equity and health in all policies: Solidarity in

health;

· the Council conclusions of 7 December 2010 on `Innovative approaches for chronic diseases

in public health and healthcare systems';

· the Communication from the Commission Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable

and inclusive growth;

· the Council conclusions of 1 December 2009 on alcohol and health;

· the Council Recommendation of 30 November 2009 on smoke-free environments;

· the Communication from the Commission of 20 October 2009 on "Solidarity in health:

reducing health inequalities in the EU";

· the Final Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health "Closing the gap in a

generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health", CSDH (2008);

· the World Health Assembly Resolution (WHA62.14) on reducing health inequities through

action on the social determinants of health, and Resolution (WHA61.18) on monitoring of the

achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDG), both adopted,

among others, by the EU Member States;

· the Resolution EUR/RC61/R1 " The new European policy for health Health 2020: Vision,

values, main directions and approaches" adopted at the meeting of the WHO Regional

Committee for Europe on 14 September 2011;

· the Commission White paper on Sport;

· the Council conclusions of 6 December 2007 on putting the EU strategy on nutrition,

overweight and obesity related health issues into operation;

· the Commission's White Paper "Together for Health: Strategic approach for the EU 2008-

2013";

· the Green Paper "Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke: policy options at EU level";

· the Council conclusions of 30 November 2006 on Health in all policies.

RECOG ISES THAT

  • 1. 
    The size of the health gaps within the EU is inconsistent with EU core values such as

solidarity, equity and universality.

  • 2. 
    Health gaps are understood as being population differences in premature mortality, morbidity

and disability between and within Member States, as well as between EU regions. These arise

in part from the major unhealthy lifestyle behaviours (i.e. tobacco use, alcohol related harm,

unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity) which are often linked to social determinants.

  • 3. 
    Health gaps within the EU remain after the first decade of the new millennium, some of which

may be reinforced by adverse economic circumstances as well as the demographic challenge

of an increasingly aging EU population.

  • 4. 
    Poor health also has a human impact, as well as social, economic and financial costs.
  • 5. 
    The reinforcement of public health policies, and in particular health promotion and disease

prevention, should favour raising health awareness and development of pro-health attitudes in

the population (to reduce `health illiteracy' and empower citizens in making healthy choices).

  • 6. 
    A `Health in all policies' approach with an equity focus should be used in specific policy

areas and coordinated activities that have the greatest health impact contributing to reducing

the persisting health gaps. This might include health, education, research, environment,

agriculture, economy, employment and social policies.

  • 7. 
    Improved evaluation and assessment can help determine whether strategies and policies are

effective for addressing health inequities and the health needs of populations. It can thus

support Member States to develop and implement effective public health strategies and

appropriate infrastructure.

EXPRESSES ITS COMMITME T TO

  • 8. 
    Promote strategies for addressing health determinants using population wide intervention

complemented by actions focusing on vulnerable groups in order to reduce health gaps,

especially those arising from preventable unhealthy lifestyle behaviours.

  • 9. 
    Accelerate progress on combating unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, such as tobacco use, alcohol

related harm, unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity, leading to increased incidence of

non-communicable chronic diseases, such as cancer, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular

diseases, diabetes and mental illnesses, which are recognised to be important causes of

premature mortality, morbidity and disability in the European Union.

WELCOMES

  • 10. 
    The initiatives contributing to closing health gaps through tackling lifestyle behaviours which

have been taken at EU level, the EU Health Programme, the Joint Action (Equity Action) on

Health inequalities and the work of the EU expert group on Social Determinants and Health

Inequalities.

  • 11. 
    The EU strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol related harm as an important

step towards a comprehensive approach to tackle alcohol related harm at EU and national

levels, stressing that health inequities between population groups within Member States and

health gaps between Member States are often linked to, among other factors, harmful alcohol

consumption17.

  • 12. 
    The continued efforts at national and EU levels to tackle tobacco consumption through

legislation on tobacco products and tobacco advertising, co-ordination with Member

States, awareness raising campaigns and international co-operation and thus addressing one of

the major risk factors for premature mortality, morbidity and disability. 17e.g. Communication from the Commission of 24 October 2006, `An EU strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm' [COM(2006) 625 final]

  • 13. 
    Progress in the implementation of the Strategy for Europe on nutrition, overweight and

obesity related health issues and in particular the reinforced focus on vulnerable groups in the

priorities of members of the `EU Platform for action on diet, physical activity and health' and

also the work of the High Level Group on Nutrition and Physical Activity which amongst

other issues includes work on product reformulation.

  • 14. 
    The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing , which aims to increase

the number of healthy years of life on EU citizens.

  • 15. 
    The outcomes of the following events:

· Expert-level conference on Member States' Activities on Nutrition, Physical Activity

and Smoking-related Health Issues held in Budapest (Hungary) on 30-31 May 2011;.

· Expert meeting on alcohol `Alcohol Policy in Poland and around Europe: Medical and

Economic Disadvantages of Alcohol Use' held in Poznan (Poland) on 11-12 October

2011;

· Ministerial conference 'Solidarity in health: Closing the health gaps within the EU' held

in Poznan (Poland) on 7-8 November 2011.

CALLS O MEMBER STATES TO

  • 16. 
    Continue, intensify and/or develop policies and actions promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours

and addressing social determinants in order to contribute to closing health gaps.

  • 17. 
    Make optimal allocation of available resources especially in relation to health promotion and

prevention activities.

  • 18. 
    Support and share existing best practices on policies and actions dedicated to reducing the

health gaps within the EU.

  • 19. 
    Follow the Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments.

CALLS O MEMBER STATES A D THE EUROPEA COMMISSIO TO

  • 20. 
    Further support the Joint Action so as to better address the health and health equity issues of

policies and strategies.

  • 21. 
    Maintain and strengthen, as appropriate, those actions and policies shown to be effective in

reducing health gaps, as well as creating new ones as and when required including: assessing

health and behavioural indicators to monitor progress resulting from interventions focused on

the aforementioned lifestyle behaviours and health determinants; disease prevention and

health promotion measures; promoting healthy choices.

  • 22. 
    Promote the effective implementation of `Health in all policies' approach with an equity

focus, to encourage and coordinate all relevant sectors in playing their part in reducing health

gaps within the EU.

  • 23. 
    Strengthen cooperation and make better use of existing networks and existing public health

and related institutions, which investigate, monitor and research the impact of the health

determinants, thereby supporting the above measures.

  • 24. 
    Develop health inequality audit approaches so as to better address the health and health equity

issues of politics and strategies.

  • 25. 
    Reinforce and continue action to support healthy lifestyle behaviours including:

· Promoting effective tobacco control at national, EU and international levels in

accordance with relevant EU legislation and the WHO Framework Convention on

Tobacco Control and its guidelines, and consider its strengthening.

· Supporting the quantitative and/or qualitative reformulation of food to reduce total fat

content, saturated fats, trans fats, salt, sugars and/or energy value.

· Promoting the implementation of the WHO set of recommendations on the marketing of

foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children and adults concerning foods that are high

in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or salt. In this respect also encouraging

further voluntary and effective agreements with the food industry within the framework

of the aforementioned `EU Platform for action on diet, physical activity and health'.

· Implementing effective alcohol policies and programs to address alcohol related harm,

including exposure to alcohol advertising, information, early education and intervention

to discourage harmful alcohol consumption.

· Encouraging the development of urban and social environment policy conducive to

physical activity for all, assessing and taking into account the needs of different groups

in the population.

  • 26. 
    Explore ways to optimise the use of EU financial programmes with equity focus, including

inter alia the Cohesion Fund and Structural Funds, which can contribute to reducing health

gaps and inequities within the EU at all appropriate levels, without prejudice to the future

financial framework.

CALLS O THE EUROPEA COMMISSIO TO

  • 27. 
    Reinforce actions to promote health and to reduce health gaps and focus attention on the

health gaps between and within Member States as well as between different regions and social

groups of the EU and include this aspect in the report due for publication in 2012 as set out in

the Commission Communication on "Solidarity in health: reducing health inequalities in the

EU".

  • 28. 
    Consider the need for the better deployment of existing data and additional comparative data

and information on unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, social health determinants and non-

communicable chronic disease. This should be obtained from sustainable health monitoring

systems already in place or which might be established at EU level.

  • 29. 
    Prioritise support for the assessment of the cost-effectiveness of activities and polices to

promote health and prevent diseases and for dissemination of the results, to provide a better

information and evidence base for implementation of policies and activities in Member States

to address health inequities.

  • 30. 
    Provide further support to existing mechanisms for policy coordination and exchange of good

practice on health inequities between Member States, such as the Council Working Party on

Public Health at Senior level, EU expert group on Social Determinants of Health and Health

Inequalities and Social Protection Committee, as set out in the Commission Communication

on "Solidarity in health: reducing health inequalities in the EU" to ensure optimal deployment

and synergy.

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