In the context of the highly anticipated 'Healthier Together – EU Non‑Communicable Diseases' (NCDs) initiative and the Commission’s pledge to work on health determinants and chronic respiratory diseases, in June 2022, several members of the European Parliament Interest Group on Allergy & Asthma submitted a question for written answer to the European Commission on the integration of allergies in future policies of the EU.
Around 150 million people in Europe live with an allergic disease. To highlight the prevalence of allergies in Europe, the Chair of the Interest Group, MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen, alongside the Vice-Chairs, MEPs Juozas Olekas, Manuel Pizarro, Tilly Metz, invited the Commission to further expand on its plans to integrate allergy prevention policies in the Commission’s roadmap on non-communicable diseases. The MEPs also put forward a question related to the plans of the Commission to support allergy care and research through EU programmes.
In her reply to the written question, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides acknowledged the launch of the EU NCD Initiative to help Member States to reduce the burden of NCDs, including chronic respiratory diseases, and covering the health determinants strand.
Commissioner Stella Kyriakides also indicated that actions to be implemented in the context of the EU NCD initiative will be based on the best practices submitted to the EU Best Practice Portal and chosen by the Member States.
EFA remains committed to work alongside the EP Interest Group on Allergy & Asthma, and not only, to have the needs of allergy patients addressed in future EU policies.
You can read the written question here, and the reply of the European Commissioner here.
More information about the 'Healthier Together – EU Non‑Communicable Diseases' (NCDs) is available on the European Commission website.