Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-10-21-Speech-2-202"
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"en.20031021.6.2-202"2
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".
I fully share the concerns of the honourable Member on this important question. Alcohol is one of the most important health determinants in the Community. I should like to assure you that the Commission, in further developing the Community public health strategy, will also focus on reducing alcohol-related harm.
In making progress at Community level, we should not forget the central role of our Member States in tackling these phenomena. An integrated approach to combating alcohol-related issues needs concerted action by all stakeholders, including families, schools, employers, industry, advertisers and national regulators. Effective enforcement of existing national legislation on issues ranging from drink-driving to age limits could make a significant difference.
The Community adopted two important documents on alcohol policy during the Swedish presidency in June 2001. The Council conclusions of 5 June 2001 on a Community strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm, referred to by the honourable Member, and the Council recommendation on the drinking of alcohol by young people, in particular children and adolescents (2001/458/EC). One major step in preparing these documents was the Stockholm Conference on Alcohol and Young People in February 2001.
It has to be emphasised that, besides being an important health policy issue, alcohol is also a controversial and politically sensitive issue both at the Community level and in the Member States. A Community strategy must be carefully planned in co-operation with the Member States. It must also be evidence based. Hence we have to assess the different measures as well as the different situations in the Member States.
The adoption of the new public health programme has provided the Commission with an efficient instrument in preparing the strategy.
First, a report on alcohol is going to be completed by the end of 2004 under the health information part of the new programme. This report will deal with the economic and social costs of alcohol, including issues of promotion of alcohol, protection of children and young people.
Second, hopefully from the beginning of next year, we will create a network of expert organisations to support the implementation of the Council recommendation on the drinking of alcohol by young people, and to develop further a Community strategy on alcohol foreseen in the Council conclusion referred to by the honourable Member.
The Commission has recently created a working party on alcohol and health, where the Member States' representatives discuss different aspects of alcohol policy in the Community and, specifically, how the Member States are implementing the Council recommendation on alcohol and young people. The working party will also allow us to monitor the situation in the new Member States.
A Commission report on the implementation of the Council recommendation on alcohol and young people is due to be presented at the end of 2005. This report will consider the extent to which the proposed measures are working effectively and the need for revision or further action.
The Commission is also exploring with the WHO euro-region and the Member States the possibility of holding a conference on alcohol and health in 2005 as a follow up to the Stockholm Conference in 2001. The results of this conference, together with the report on the application of the Council recommendation on young people and alcohol, will allow us to define the strategy, which will reflect the situation of the larger European Union."@en1
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