On September 23, 2025, I-Com Brussels hosted the second event of a series of close-door policy conversations held in Italian on the topics of health, lifestyles and harm reduction.
This session titled: “Stili di Vita e Prevenzione: nutrizione ed altri fattori di rischio nelle politiche europee” featured the contributions from MEP Stefano Cavedagna (ECR), Member of the intergroup on Wine, Quality Foodstuffs and Spirits and insightful remarks from relevant associations representatives attending the table.
The discussion was opened by Thomas Osborn, Director Health Department (I-Com), who presented the Institute’s study produced for this meeting.
This paper addresses the topic of prevention as a key factor for resilient healthcare and social system, focusing on four areas of risk, with particular attention to nutrition and physical activity. The study aims to demonstrate through key national and European figures that promoting healthy lifestyles is not only essential for improving individual health and well-being but also represents an economic investment for the national healthcare system. To this end, each chapter of the research concludes with a “policy box,” in which I-Com researchers provide an exhaustive summary of the main policy and regulatory initiatives promoted by the EU to reduce harmful habits among its citizens.
Regarding nutrition, participants generally agreed on the necessity of equipping consumers with the necessary means to make well-informed and critically considered choices when purchasing and consuming food. At the same time, the discussion highlighted the crucial role of the European internal market with regards to striking a balance between high food safety and sustainability standards with price affordability, so that healthy foods do not become a luxury item.
