In light of the September United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the European Chronic Disease Alliance (ECDA) have released a set of policy recommendations to advance NCDs prevention and control in Europe. 

Building on the “ENOUGH” campaign priorities, the organisations call on the European Union (EU) institutions to:

• Show high level political leadership at the High-Level Meeting
• Encourage EU Member States’ Heads of State/Government to attend the meeting and work towards a meaningful Outcome Document which commits to a number of strategic priorities
• Support EU Member States to fulfil their commitments by initiating a series of achievable steps to advance action on the prevention and control of NCDs

Recommended actions include incorporating public health protection and promotion in EU trade and investment agreements, proposing an EU-wide legislative limit to industrially produced trans-fats in food, ensuring renewal of the EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity post-2020, with the aim to leverage national NCD prevention efforts and support the implementation of the WHO Best Buys, provide EU-level leadership in the response to NCDs and pursue a positive contribution to the global NCD reduction agenda. 

EPHA and ECDA call on the Austrian Government, who will coordinate the EU position as part of its EU Council Presidency and the Italian Government, acting as co-facilitator of the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs, to commit to these recommendations and to work with the European Commission and other EU Member States in pursuit of better health. 

Read the paper here.