Invitation

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Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Riina Sikkut

Minister of Health of the Republic of Estonia

4 April 2024

Subject: Invitation to Speak at the Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases Risk

Factors

Theme: Population-level measures and policies to address the main risk factors of non-

communicable diseases: alcohol, tobacco, unhealthy food and drinks

Location: InterContinental Hotel, Ljubljana, Slovenia (Slovenska cesta 59, 1000)

Organisers: The European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare) and the Youth Health

Organisation (YHO) and on behalf of the FILTERED Consortium Partners*

Date: 27th of June 2024

Time: 09:20-10:00

Dear Minister Sikkut, Re: Invitation to speak at the Conference “Challenging Big Industry Narratives. Alcohol, Tobacco, Unhealthy Food and Drinks: Population Measures and Policies” We are thrilled to announce the upcoming conference aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of reducing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by effectively managing their main risk factors through population-level measures and policies. This conference will serve as a vital platform for policymakers, advocates, researchers, patients, youth, and health practitioners to convene and collectively explore effective ways to advance the NCDs prevention agenda. The primary objective of the conference is to provide a collaborative space for stakeholders to address the multifaceted issues surrounding NCDs prevention. Key areas of focus include understanding successes in population measures over the past decade, exchanging best practices in advocacy for policies addressing the harm caused by alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy food and drinks, and confronting corporate lobbying tactics and influence on health determinants (Commercial Determinants of Health) at both EU and national levels. The timing of this conference is particularly critical, given the upcoming renewed EU mandate, the end of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and upcoming 4th High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of

17 Rue Archimede I 1000 Brussels I Belgium I Tel +32 (0)2 736 05 72 [email protected] I www.eurocare.org

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

on NCDs (2025). It presents a unique opportunity for all attendees to contribute to shaping future policy measures and initiatives.

Acknowledging the pivotal leadership role that ministers such as yourself fulfil, it is with great honour that we extend this invitation for you to deliver a keynote address during the opening session of our upcoming conference. We are pleased to inform you that the following keynote speakers will also be addressing the audience during this session: Dr. Valentina Prevolnik Rupel, Minister of Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Frank Vandebroucke, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health of Belgium, Dr Rüdiger Krech, Director of the Department of Health Promotion at the World Health Organization and Sara Cerdas, Member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.

We trust that the conference will provide a platform to showcase your work and promote the initiatives you and your colleagues are championing in the realm of NCDs prevention. We sincerely hope you will accept our invitation.

We look forward to your response. Warm wishes,

Florence Berteletti Secretary General

European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare)

* FILTERED Consortium Partners: the European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare), the Smoke- Free Partnership (SFP), European Heart Network (EHN), Youth Health Organisation (YHO), Center Life and The Ukrainian Coalition for Reproductive Health and Family Planning.

FILTERED (From Silos to Synergies to Prevent NCDs) is an Action Grant funded by the

EU4Health Programme and led by Eurocare. Its main goal is to stimulate collaborative advocacy,

health promotion, action and accountability at European and national level, including in Ukraine,

for the prevention of NCDs among civil society organisations specialised in advocacy linked to

the reduction of alcohol-related harm, tobacco control and the reduction of the consumption of

unhealthy foods and drinks.