The EU Council of Ministers renewed its call for a new EU Alcohol Strategy
Luxembourg, June 18 and 19, 2015 – The 3398th meeting of the EU Council Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs took place. Under the current Presidents Uldis Augulis, Minister for Welfare of Latvia, and Guntis Belēvičs, Minister for Health of Latvia, the Council also discussed EU Alcohol Policy under the agenda item “any other business”.
The item became relevant to discuss after the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Mr. Andriukaitis announced – despite calls from EU member states and the European Parliament – that the European Commission will not go forward with a new EU Alcohol Strategy.
The Outcome Document of the EU Council meeting makes the stance of the member states on EU alcohol policy clear:
“A majority of ministers backed a call of the Slovenian delegation to present a new framework for the EU’s alcohol policy. This framework would help member states to tackle the abuse of alcohol and alcohol related harm. According to the WHO, alcohol is the third leading risk factor for disease and mortality in Europe (9286/15).”