Division Alcohol (Annex — point 2.2.1)

In line with the Commission's Communication on an EU strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm^f1, and in order to further develop policies to reduce alcohol-related harm, particular priority will be given to the following:

• EU-wide overview of the market and regulation regarding types of alcoholic beverages with particular appeal to minors (alcopops, RTDs, flavoured beers, alcoholic energy drinks as well as other products such as alcoholic gels and ice creams). Mapping of the situation at EU level will contribute to the development and coordination of Member States' activities in the framework of the EU alcohol strategy, with special attention on the protection of children and young people.

  [Call for tenders]

• Further studies on the affordability of alcoholic beverages in the EU, building on the findings regarding links between affordability, consumption and harm presented in a recent study commissioned by DG SANCO^f2.

  [Call for tenders]

• Cooperation between the EC and the WHO Regional Office for Europe on further development of joint data gathering and common knowledge base relating to the alcohol situation and alcohol policies in Member States. This is a follow-up to a previous project in which a joint survey of alcohol consumption, harm and policies was carried out in 2008, a.o. for monitoring the implementation of the EU alcohol strategy. Continued cooperation on the development of the survey instrument and presentation of data is essential for supporting and evaluating the implementation of the EU alcohol strategy also in the future. The objective for this project is to improve monitoring of alcohol related developments and indicators in Member States in order to underpin the implementation of the EU alcohol strategy, to avoid overlap in reporting obligations for Member States. WHO is uniquely placed to revise and develop indicators at the European level. A direct grant agreement with the WHO to develop the European system will ensure that the European approach is fully coherent and compatible with the global approach. This will facilitate easy comparative analysis between the EU, its Member States and other parts of the world.

  [Direct grant agreement with WHO]