A public debate on the EU’s future health priorities
The results of the public debate that took place at the request of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) have finally been published in a report by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
Ahead of the European Union elections on June 6 to 9, 2024 DG SANTE asked the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies to conduct a public debate on the EU’s future
health priorities.
The purpose of the public debate was to:
- raising awareness of the opportunities for EU action in the field of health,
- exploring key health topics,
- gauging public sentiment on needs and actions, and
- gathering ideas from the public on the EU’s future health priorities and mandate.
Three formats captured the debate:
- a set of polls at leading public health and health policy events,
- interactive webinars, and
- a stakeholder survey.
All three approaches used a framework that highlighted nine topics of particular relevance addressing the themes:
- health security,
- determinants of health,
- health system transformation,
- health workforce,
- universal health coverage,
- digital solutions and AI,
- performance and resilience,
- long-term challenges such as climate change and ageing, and
- the EU’s global role in health.
Out of these nine topics, people highlighted the importance of tackling alcohol harm in four key themes.
Participants in the public debate also raised topics beyond the framework of these nine key themes and a set of common concerns emerged:
- non-communicable diseases (including cancer, cardiovascular diseases),
- mental health,
- equity,
- public health,
- prevention and health promotion,
- political determinants of health, and
- health services and provision to meet patients’ needs.
Among these common concerns, alcohol evidently features in each of the areas, underlining the need for EU alcohol policy action.
The report says that there is a strong and shared sense of the kinds of actions the Commission and DG SANTE can take to support health.
The report “A public debate on the future health priorities of the European Union” reveals that people in Europe see long-term challenges and health factors as one of the most important priorities for the European Union. This discussion is an important element of setting future policy priorities for the region.
The analysis includes more than 800 responses to conference surveys, as well as the results of public opinion polls. The evaluation concludes that EU needed to play a more significant role in healthcare work and do more across various sectors.
The evaluation also makes reference to alcohol policy in relation several areas and sectors.
The public wants the European Union to address commercial determinants of health
According to the ideas expressed in the report, many people want better control policies for dangerous substances such as alcohol and other drugs, as well as the use of antibiotics in the food industry.
Health harming products such as alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy food are all also commercial determinants of public health. Regulating these products therefore should take a public health approach over prioritizing narrow industry motives.
The public sentiment expressed in the report recognizes the role of the European Commission and the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection in the area of public health.
After the European elections, the new European Parliament and the new European Commission both have important opportunities to set the right priorities in the public health sector. The European public also shares a strong understanding of what the Commission and the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection can do to promote health. This shows a great appreciation of what is already being done by the EU as well as some interest in greater EU engagement beyond its current remit.
Four key themes highlight public demand for addressing alcohol harm in the EU
Among other commercial determinants of health, alcohol places a heavy strain on the healthcare systems in the European Union (EU). Better alcohol policies would go a long way towards reducing this burden. Considering their wider impact, broad public health strategies in the EU need to encompass the regulation of commercial determinants of health such as alcohol.
Under the topic of “Enhancing health security” the reported a key theme that highlights alcohol policy support among the European public: Enforce stronger regulations on issues impacting health security, such as the use of antibiotics in the food industry and the consumption of alcohol and other drugs.
Under the topic of “Addressing the determinants of health through Health in All Policies and Health for All Policies” the report also identified alcohol policy as key theme. People are concerned about the interference of the alcohol industry. The public wants to see more policy action addressing the influence of commercial interests that negatively impact public health, such as tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food products. And the public in the EU supports action implementing better regulations and ensuring these industries do not unduly influence policy making.
Under the topic of “Achieving Universal Health Coverage” the report highlights another area where the public expresses concern about alcohol harm. They support alcohol policy enhancement in the EU to achieve Universal Health Coverage: Implement stronger regulations on public health concerns like alcohol and other drug use to reduce healthcare burdens.
And the fourth area where public opinion expressed concern about alcohol is the topic of “Addressing long-term challenges such as population ageing or climate change” the key themes the report identified included alcohol policy: People want to see better implementation of regulations on health determinants such as alcohol and other drug use as part of a broader strategy to promote public health and sustainability.
However, there are reasons to believe that the journey to achieve this will not be easy.
Big Alcohol obstructs alcohol policy improvements in the European Union
In 2022, a report published by IOGT-NTO and Movendi International exposed how the alcohol industry lobby interferes in EU public policy making. Big Alcohol operates a large lobby apparatus to target and interfere in EU institutions and policy formulation processes. The results show that the alcohol industry has met with the EU Commission 270 times between 2014 – 2022. In comparision, the EU held only 14 meetings with civil society.
The report, called “Uncorking Big Alcohol in the EU” further describes and discusses the practices of the alcohol industry in EU policy. It describes an industry that takes every opportunity to dilute health messages and to delay or derail progress towards the adoption of improved and effective public health policy.
The results are very similar to how the industry acts nationally and is also very similar to how Big Tobacco acts. It also shows why the alcohol industry should not be consulted on health policy. Inviting the tobacco industry to discuss public health policy today would be seen as absurd. Unfortunately, the alcohol industry is still not seen with the same critical eye,” said Emil Juslin, then the European Policy Officer at IOGT-NTO.
Emil Juslin, European Policy Officer, IOGT-NTO
The report concludes that a large alcohol industry presence likely steers European health policy away from health objectives in favor of commercial interests.
Uncorking Big Alcohol in the EU: the key facts
- Big Alcohol met with top-level EU Commission officials 270 times between 2014-2022.
- During the same time period civil society had only 14 meetings.
- The alcohol industry estimates that they spend over €9 million on EU lobbying every year.
- The alcohol industry is estimated to have the equivalent of 95 full-time lobbyists working on lobbying the EU institutions.
- This can be compared to 14,5 from public health NGOs.
- Observations of the industry’s lobbying strategies show that Big Alcohol aims to take up space in policy debates, shift focus from health issues and undermine science and evidence-based policy solutions.
Movendi International and IOGT-NTO are monitoring and documenting the lobbying practices of alcohol companies in Brussels, the heart of EU policy making, as well as in EU Member States. A resource page and database of more than 200 articles is exposing the unethical lobbying practices in the European Union and its member states, since 2004. It is more important than ever that all stakeholders engage in alcohol policy discussions on a meaningful level.
Suggested citation
Mauer N Scarpetti G Wismar M. A public debate on the future health priorities of the European Union: Outcomes insights and ideas for action. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe on behalf of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies 2024. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
About the Observatory
The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies is a partnership, hosted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, which includes other international organizations (the European Commission); national and regional governments (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the Veneto Region of Italy (with Agenas)); other health system organizations (the French National Union of Health Insurance Funds (UNCAM), the Health Foundation); and academia (the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)). The Observatory has a secretariat in Brussels and it has hubs in London (at LSE and LSHTM) and at the Berlin University of Technology.
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Source Website: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies