CO-CREATE at the European Youth Parliament Novi Sad International Session
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From the 9th of March 2022 onwards, CO-CREATE was part of the programme for the first large in-person event of the European Youth Parliament (EYP) after the COVID-19 outbreak. The International Session, themed ‘Bridging the Culture Gap’ hosted 200 delegates in Novi Sad, Serbia to showcase best practices and serve as a hub for innovation. Read on to learn more about the Committee on the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety discussions and call for the evaluation and follow-up on the EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity, which expired in 2020. At the end of the debate at the General Assembly was a resolution voted and passed?
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Go to the home pageFrom the 9th of March 2022 onwards, CO-CREATE was part of the programme for the first large in-person event of the European Youth Parliament (EYP) after the COVID-19 outbreak. The International Session, themed ‘Bridging the Culture Gap’ hosted 200 delegates in Novi Sad, Serbia to showcase best practices and serve as a hub for innovation. The CO-CREATE vision of building healthier food and physical activity environments was addressed by 11 delegates from 10 countries, also known as the Committee on the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety. Over three days, the delegates from Croatia, Finland, Turkey, Armenia, Serbia, Belgium, Sweden, Romania, Greece, and Norway used the CO-CREATE Dialogue Forum tool to examine factors and processes driving rising rates of childhood obesity and discussed how it could be addressed in the European Union (EU). The tool provided a structure for the conversation and allowed them to explore the opportunities, obstacles, and factors for the implementation of the EU Action Plan. They also met with Knut-Inge Klepp, CO-CREATE Principal Coordinator, who served as an external expert for their committee work, answering questions and providing comments. According to Knut-Inge, they were extremely committed and knowledgeable and keen to discuss the matter.
“It was really fun and inspiring to engage with this group of European Youth Parliament members. Their questions and comments went straight to the core when it comes to societal causes of obesity and effective prevention efforts” Knut-Inge Klepp, PI, CO-CREATE
The main output of the committee’s work was a motion for a resolution submitted at the General Assembly of the EYP on the 11th of March 2022. Among the proposed measures, the Committee delegates urged the European Commission (EC) to commit to evaluating and follow-up on the EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity, which expired in 2020. In an updated plan, they demand the prioritisation of mental health, implementation of fiscal measures (SSB taxation), and marketing restrictions on tall forms of unhealthy food products and beverages to children and adolescents. In addition, they support the delivery of school meal programmes, funding for research and support to address weight stigma, education on healthy lifestyles, and sport.
At the first UN Food Systems Summit in 2021, commitments were made to make healthy and balanced diets, accounting for all preferences, more accessible to all socioeconomic groups of the EU. The committee thus authorises the European Social Fund (ESF) to financially support free lunch programmes through these commitments.
At the end of the debate at the General Assembly, the resolution was voted on and passed to European Authorities (69 in favour, 45 against). It can be concluded that the main goal of the EYP to support European youth to form their own opinion and reach a consensus was achieved.
The dialogue was co-organised by the European Youth Parliament, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and the University of Amsterdam.