Lifestyle choices and the risk of developing cancer
25.11.2020
Question for written answer E-006419/2020/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 138
Aldo Patriciello (PPE)
The World Health Organization estimates that around 40 % of all cancers are preventable[1] – undoubtedly a very high percentage that needs to be reduced. It is clear that certain lifestyle choices can increase an individual’s risk of developing cancer, for example the consumption of products such as alcohol, tobacco or junkfood. It is widely known that such products are not healthy, yet many of us choose to consume them for a variety of reasons.
The Commission will soon present one of its flagship initiatives: the Europe’s Beating Cancer plan[2]. Pillar one of the plan sets out that the Commission intends to introduce measures that will increase taxes on alcohol and tobacco and lower the cost of healthy food. While such policies will work to some extent, it is clear that such measures will have but limited success.
- 1.Will the Commission include other measures to influence lifestyle choices, apart from those policies intended to change the prices of everyday products?
- 2.Does it plan to educate people in the EU so that they opt for healthier choices?
- 3.Is it looking into less harmful alternatives?