Advocacy

In promoting digestive health, we work towards the prevention of digestive diseases, as well as the advancement and equal access to treatments to help improve patient outcomes. We focus on reducing the socio-economic burden of digestive diseases and call for increased research funding.

In order to enhance our advocacy efforts, we have produced a Manifesto on Digestive Health as our plea towards policymakers. The Manifesto underlines our key focus areas and aims to prioritise digestive health on the political agenda of the EU.

Browse Manifesto on Digestive Health

On April 26, 2023, we organized an event at the European Parliament that brought together digestive health experts and key stakeholders from the European health community for a lively and solution-oriented discussion on the current state of digestive health across Europe. 

On this occasion, we also launched our latest publication on the burden of digestive diseases. Based on the key findings, we have issued an Open letter addressed to EU leadership with six policy recommendations to create a stronger policy environment for digestive health in the EU.

Read Open Letter

Find a summary of the event in this article published on Euractive.

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Data from the pan-European study, commissioned by UEG on the burden of digestive diseases and associated research gaps, highlights worrying increases in the prevalence of several digestive diseases since 2000. UEG conducted a similar study in 2014 which highlighted similar burdens and, with limited improvements since, the results and outcomes of this new UEG study will assist in accelerating progress in reducing the burden of digestive disorders. It will also help to identify priority areas where research and investment are required across the whole of Europe as well as individual nations.

Part 1: The burden & economic impact of digestive diseases

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Part 2: Research gaps & priorities

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Burden, economic impact and reasearch gaps

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Dietary choices can increase the risk of developing chronic digestive diseases. The increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods, including those high in sugar, salt, saturated fats and trans-fats, is a huge concern and places an excessive strain on European health systems. 

More on nutrition
 

Way forward:

• Greater understanding of digestive diseases and promotion of a change in eating culture
• Whole-of-society approach to transform food systems: establishing clear, scientific targets and limiting the consumption and production of unhealthy foods
• Comprehensive range of policies to limit the availability, affordability and acceptability of fast foods (fiscal measures, marketing, labelling)
• Legislation to ban industrial trans-fats
• Subsidies to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables

Farm-Fork-Microbiome connection: Steps towards a healthier future

This event was the final webinar in the series, aimed at summarising the existing evidence on the impact of diet and lifestyle on gut microbiota and human health and exploring the potential of EU policy in delivering improved gut health. 
 
Speakers:

• Prof. Shira Zelber-Sagi, School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Israel 
• Prof. Benoit Chassaing, Chassaing Laboratory, INSERM, France
• Floriana Cimmarusti, Secretary General, Safe Food Advocacy for Europe(SAFE) and Consumers Representative on the European Food Safety Authority’s Management Board
• Dirk Hadrich, Policy and Programme Officer, European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation, People Directorate, Combatting diseases Unit
• Prof. Michael Manns, Co-Chair of the EASL- Lancet Liver Commission and President of Hannover Medical School, Germany

Event report

Cancer and the gut microbiome

Top experts provided the latest insights into:

• The gut microbiome’s potential in preventing tumour development
• The role of the gut microbiome in the initiation and progression of malignant digestive diseases
• The role of the gut microbiome in the treatment of cancer

Speakers:

• Prof. Thomas Seufferlein, Head of Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Ulm, Germany
• Prof. Herbert Tilg, Head of Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endocrinology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria

The impact of ultra-processed foods

The expert speakers explained how ultra-processed food impacts our gut health, with a focus on:

• The burden of ill-health due to unhealthy diets
• The impact of common components of ultra-processed foods on gut microbiome
• The role of food reformulation and nutrition labelling

Speakers:

• Prof. Shira Zelber Sagi, Head of School of Public Health-University of Haifa, Israel
• Prof. Benoit Chassaing, Principal Investigator, Chassaing Lab at Inserm, France

The link to obesity and liver disease

This webinar  explored the links between gut microbiome, nutrition, obesity and liver diseases, with a focus on:

• Insights into the role of microbiome in obesity and liver disease
• Use of microbiome data for improved nutrition and health
• The role of food policy in obesity prevention

Speakers:  

• Eran Segal, Principal Investigator at SegalLab, Weizmann Institute, Israel  
• Floriana Cimmarusti, Secretary General, Safe Food Advocacy Europe (SAFE) 

Digestive cancers, which include colorectal, pancreatic, gastric, oesophageal and liver cancer, are responsible for 28% of cancer-related deaths in the EU. 

Way forward:

• Support initiatives on digestive cancers, within the remit of the new EU Cancer Plan and include a lifestyle approach on prevention.
• Prioritise the implementation of standardized population-based and quality-controlled screening programmes in member states and ensure that guidelines are updated.
• Increase funding for pancreatic cancer research (basic science and clinical studies)

Chronic digestive diseases inflict a heavy healthcare and socio-economic burden in Europe. These diseases often affect patients at a younger age and lifelong disorders can have a significant impact on society. IBD, for example, affects 3 million people across Europe and costs the EU up to €5.6 billion per year.

More on IBD

Way forward:

• Support a greater emphasis on health in the 2019-24 mandate.
• Recognise the socio-economic burden of chronic digestive diseases.
• Increase funding for the prevention and management of chronic digestive diseases and their impact on health systems.
• Build a comprehensive EU strategy on chronic diseases.

The European region has the highest level of alcohol consumption in the world, with 25% of deaths from digestive diseases directly attributed to alcohol.

More on alcohol consumption

Way forward:

• Prioritise protection from excessive alcohol consumption, including the prevention of aggressive marketing and deliver on a regulatory approach to labelling.
• New EU Alcohol Strategy to support EU countries in reducing alcohol-related harm.

UEG Open Letter to EU leadership

Based on the key findings of the White Book 2 study, we address the EU leadership with six policy recommendations to create a stronger health policy environment for digestive health in the EU. 

Read Open Letter
 

Pancreatic & Gastric Cancers – Joint DiCE, PCE and UEG Policy Solutions

Together with Digestive Cancers Europe and Pancreatic Cancer Europe, we have issued joint policy solutions for lifting the neglected burden associated with gastric and pancreatic cancer. 

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UEG Position Paper on Obesity and Digestive Health

The obesity epidemic is one of the most significant public health challenges that Europe now faces. This position paper highlights the role of overweight and obesity in digestive diseases and puts forward our recommendations for policy interventions.

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Joint UEG-DiCE Letter – EU Cancer Screening Recommendations

We  raise  our  serious  concerns  regarding  the developments  that  we  understand  are taking place in respect to approving the new EU Council Recommendations on Cancer Screening.

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Digestive Cancer Screening Across Europe

This position paper presents the available evidence and main issues that need to be addressed to ensure the successful implementation of screening for four main types of cancer. It aims to provide recommendations to aid informed decision-making on reducing the burden of digestive cancers across Europe.

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Bringing pancreatic cancer treatment to the 21st century

With this position paper we call for policy makers to urgently address several research gaps: identification of the correct tools to achieve earlier diagnosis, development of new strategies to overcome therapy resistance, and the improvement of the quality of life and patients.

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COVID-19 and Digestive Health: Implications for prevention, care and the use of COVID-19 vaccines in vulnerable patients

This position paper serves to inform policy makers, patients, healthcare professionals and the general public of the latest evidence on the impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on digestive health. In the same vein, it aims to improve understanding of the clinical considerations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with chronic digestive conditions and to present UEG’s latest recommendations to support evidence-informed decision making.

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AI in Gastroenterology: A window of opportunity

To maximise the life-changing opportunities offered by AI and robotics, we must overcome a variety of challenges. In this position paper, UEG highlights the value AI can provide to the field of gastroenterology, identifies the challenges we face and sets out a 4-step pathway forward.

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UEG Position Paper on AI 

Owing to their rapid development, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies offer great promise for gastroenterology practice and research. This position paper conveys the calls of the GI community in relation to the upcoming EU legislation on AI.

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Pancreatic Cancer: a medical emergency 
 

There is an urgent need to address the insufficient research funding into pancreatic cancer research. In this position paper we call for greater focus on the key developments needed to tackle the current challenges of pancreatic cancer and improve the outcomes.

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UEG’s response to the interim report of the Mission Board for Cancer

Following the publication of ‘Conquering cancer: Mission possible’ interim report, we responded with a statement aimed at emphasizing how certain proposed measures, if taken, could aid the prevention, diagnosis and management of digestive cancers.  

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Position paper addressing unhealthy dietary patterns through mandatory front-of-pack labelling

To promote optimal digestive health and to reduce the burden inflicted by obesity and chronic digestive diseases, we call in this position paper for the adoption of mandatory front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) across the EU.

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Position paper concerning COVID-19 and digestive health

This position paper features our recommendations and calls to governments, EU institutions and interest groups across Europe concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Coordinating European Action Against Colorectal Cancer – CRC Manifesto

In this manifesto, we call for the implementation of organised, population-based screening programmes across the entirety of the EU and for Member States to improve the coverage and quality of existing programmes and reduce the burden of colorectal cancer.

Read the manifesto

Digestive cancers: Why actions are needed?

This position paper gives an overview of the burden of digestive cancers within Europe and outlines activities to improve the current state of art.

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UEG Statement on EU’s Cancer Plan

As an organization representing the field of digestive health, we welcome the importance given to developing a Cancer Plan at EU-level and take this opportunity to draw attention to the growing threat posed by digestive cancers amongst the European population.

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UEG Statement on EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy

We aim at reducing health inequalities across Europe and stand ready to assist the EU institutions with medical and scientific expertise across all the key aspects addressed by EU’s Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy.

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UEG and WONCA joint statement on reducing the burden of chronic digestive diseases

This UEG and WONCA joint statement sheds light on the burden of chronic digestive diseases in Europe. It highlights the role of primary care physicians in reducing this burden and recommends key actions that can be taken in primary care settings.

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Key priorities for Horizon Europe Strategic Plan on Cluster 1 and its health-related challenges

The UEG Research Committee contributed to the consultation on Horizon Europe Strategic Plan, underlining UEG key priorities on Cluster 1 of the new EU research programme and its health-related challenges.

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Joint press statement: Spirits industry afraid of their own ingredients?

In response to the spirits’ industry approach to labelling their products, UEG together with Eurocare, EPHA, EASL, CPME, AIM and NordAN released a joint press statement pointing out the shortcomings of the self-regulatory approach on alcohol labelling.

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Horizon Europe, Framework Programme 9 (FP9)

In its position paper on Horizon Europe, Framework Programme 9, UEG makes five main calls to EU’s policymakers which correspond to the main areas of concern in gastroenterology.

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Improving digestive health in Europe: Time to act

This position paper raises awareness about the magnitude of digestive diseases in Europe. It also creates awareness regarding the major risk factors for digestive health and calls for immediate action at EU-level.

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