"One message that came across strongly from the reflection process launched last year was the need to target children and adolescents in our strategy," said Mr Kyprianou, highlighting an important outcome of the public consultation on the future direction of EU health policy.
The new health strategy will have among its key themes the promotion of healthy lifestyles, cooperation between EU countries' healthcare systems and reinforcing Europe's defences against infectious diseases, the health commissioner explained in an exclusive interview with EurActiv. The 'Health and Consumer Protection Strategy and Programme 2007-2013' is scheduled for adoption by the Commission on 6 April.
"I passionately believe in the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles," said the commissioner, indicating that action in this area is particularly close to his heart. He will address the primary causes of premature death: "poor diet, lack of physical activity, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption."
Commissioner Kyprianou said that his ambition was to introduce bans on smoking in public places, similar to those already in place in Ireland, Italy and Malta. "Of course, my overriding objective is to reduce the number of Europeans who smoke," he said. One of his plans is a four-year 72 million euro campaign, to be launched shortly, with the objective of informing young people about the dangers of smoking and encouraging young smokers to kick the habit.
Mr Kyprianou explained that the Commission is planning to improve access to health information by launching an EU health portal serving as a "single point of access" to health information made available by the EU, its agencies and member state authorities. The health portal is to aid the cross-border mobility of patients.
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