HEPA Recommendation Adopted on EU Level

On 25 November the Council of the European Union adopted a recommendation on promoting health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA).

The recommendation makes a call to member states to develop cross-sectoral initiatives involving policy areas such as sport, health, education, environment and transport. Since it is now well established that regular physical activity contributes to a healthy lifestyle and a healthy workforce, the Council thus wishes to contribute to the achievement of key objectives defined in the Europe 2020 Strategy, notably with regard to growth, productivity and health.

According to recent surveys (i.e. 2010 Eurobarometer), it has been established that almost two thirds (~60%) of the EU population seldom or never engage in physical exercise.

The full recommendation can obtained here:

http://ec.europa.eu/sport/news/documents/hepa_en.pdf

The EU Physical Activity Guidelines (2008) can be obtained here: http://ec.europa.eu/sport/library/documents/c1/eu-physical-activity-guid...