28/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the World Heart Day, on 30 September, Commissioner David Byrne stressed the need to combat cardiovascular diseases, as well as obesity which is one of the main contributing factors. Noting that this is on the increase in the European Union - it affects one adult in ten in Ireland and close to one in five in the United Kingdom -, the Commissioner pleaded in favour of a Community nutrition policy. In that context, he said that the different Community policies linked to nutrition will have to be the subject of further assessment on both food and public health levels.