In the context of the ongoing EU debate on a possible strategy to address cardiovascular diseases, Competere has submitted a letter to members of the Renew Europe Group within the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT). The letter invites reflection on how public health policies should preserve fundamental liberal principles while addressing public health policies. 

Download the letter

The contribution comes at a time when discussions around the proposed “An EU Cardiovascular Diseases Strategy” and related amendments are gaining momentum, bringing forward a range of policy options – from fiscal measures to labelling systems and food classification frameworks. Against this backdrop, the reflection highlights both the urgency of tackling cardiovascular diseases and obesity, and the importance of ensuring that policy responses remain balanced, effective, and forward-looking.

Shaping Choices or Preserving Freedom?

Renew Europe’s long-standing commitment to evidence-based policymaking, individual freedom, and open, competitive markets has positioned the group as a key voice in shaping European policies. At the same time, we invite reflection of how these principles are reflected in the current debate. 

Discussions on measures such as taxation, front-of-pack labelling, and food classification systems raise a broader question: should public policy primarily aim to inform and empower individual choices, or move further towards shaping behaviours and market outcomes? 

To what extent are core liberal principles – such as freedom of choice, diversity, and market openness – fully reflected in the current policy debate?

A More Prescriptive Policy Approach?

The direction of current discussions invites further consideration on whether increasingly interventionist tools risk simplifying complex public health challenges. 

Prescriptive and outdates measures targeting specific nutrients and food categories highlight the difficulty of addressing multifactorial issues – linked to behaviours, lifestyles, and socio-economic contexts – through simplified frameworks.

Moving Beyond Simplification

These dynamics point to the need for policy approaches that better reflect the complexity of contemporary lifestyles and evolving scientific evidence.

Innovation and new technologies – such as data, artificial intelligence, and wearable technologies – offer new opportunities for more personalised, evidence-based approaches to prevention, supporting healthier and more balanced lifestyles.

Public health policies grounded in liberal principles should remain guided by clear priorities: to strengthen knowledge rather than restrict choice, and to enable innovation rather than prescribe outcomes.

In this context, Competere calls on Renew Europe to reaffirm and clearly uphold its liberal principles – ensuring that future policy choices fully reflect a commitment to freedom of choice, open and competitive markets, and robust, evidence-based policymaking. We stand ready to engage and contribute to the development of policy solutions that are both effective and fully consistent with these values.