Brussels, 14/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - In a draft resolution adopted on 13 February, MEPs from the European Parliament's culture and education committee call on the member states for measures to preserve Europe's gastronomic heritage - particularly through the promotion of local and regional traditions.
The report underlines the importance of school education for acquiring the knowledge and habits of healthy eating. This would also include raising awareness among young people about the consumption of alcohol in order to prevent abuses and to improve the state of health. The member states should provide for specific lessons and workshops in national school programmes, as well as training for teachers and exchanges and partnerships with recognised gastronomic institutions. The common agricultural policy funds could also be used to encourage good eating habits at school. Publicity or sponsorship for food products must be forbidden in schools, the MEPs state, calling on the European Commission and member states to deal with the content of food publicity more strictly. The MEPs also propose that high-level training, and professional exchanges and mobility from the domain of restaurants and gastronomy be more supported through national measures. Lastly, local and regional products and production should be encouraged, the MEPs state, including through European programmes for recognition and labelling, such as denominations of origin, geographical indications and traditional specialities. (IL/transl.fl)