The Slovenian Minister of Health, Zofija Mazej Kukovič, will attend the European alcohol policy conference entitled "Alcohol Policy Conference – Building Capacity for Action", to be held in Barcelona on 3 April 2008 as part of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Health of the Government of Catalonia.
The conference is part of the Building Capacity project in the area of alcohol, which is managed by Slovenia and is partly financed by the European Commission. The project includes 41 partnership organisations and is based on the EU strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm. The aim of the project is to reduce inequalities between the Member States and to achieve the Lisbon objectives in the sense of reducing social exclusion due to alcohol abuse and emphasising the significant role of alcohol policy for a more capable and economically productive Europe.
By convening this conference, Slovenia wishes to make an active contribution to improving capacities at the state, regional and local community level, with a view to effectively implement programmes and policies to prevent alcohol-related harm.
The main topic of the conference will focus on strengthening abilities and skills in the field of alcohol policy and programmes at the European, national, regional and municipal level, aimed at investing in the health of European citizens. One part of the conference will be a session to promote effective alcohol policy at the European level, at which projects currently being carried out in the field of alcohol and co-financed by the European Commission will be described in detail.
Alcohol-related accidents and injuries are the most important element with regard to the role played by alcohol in diseases and premature death in Europe. They appear particularly among young people and are an important source of inequality among and within European countries. Consequently, particular emphasis will be placed on preventing alcohol-related accidents, injuries and violence at the conference.
