Building Capacity Project - Objectives

General objectives

1. Support the European Commission, Member States, regions and municipalities in the implementation of the Commission’s Communication on alcohol.
   
   
2. Ensure the full participation of the newer Member States and Accession countries in the implementation of an effective alcohol policy.
   
   
3. Signal the importance of all countries, including southern European countries, in the implementation of an effective alcohol policy.
   
   
4. Support the objectives of the Lisbon strategy by contributing to a reduction in the social exclusion caused by the harmful use of alcohol, and by highlighting the role of a alcohol policy in promoting a viable and economically productive Europe.
   
   
5. Contribute to a reduction in the health inequalities that are due to the harmful use
   of alcohol, both between the newer and older Member States, and within
   countries.

Specific objectives

1. Build and maintain an Alcohol Policy Network of European countries and European organizations;
   
   
2. Broaden the base of alcohol policy matters to ensure that the network includes a wide range of organizations representing different sectors;
   
   
3. Support effective policy making by preparing, publishing and disseminating 24 fact sheets on relevant alcohol and alcohol policy issues;
   
   
4. Maintain and extend a user friendly Internet data base inventory of country experiences with alcohol policies, including country infrastructures, laws and regulations, experiences and practices;
   
   
5. Prepare a health and economic impact assessment of a range of alcohol policies at European and country levels, supported by a guidance and training manual;
   
   
6. Convene a European Alcohol Policy Conference during 2008, as part of the Slovenian EU Presidency, but hosted by the Government of Catalonia;
   
   
7. Build the capacity of MS to develop and implement an alcohol policy through a series of advocacy schools on alcohol policy, focusing on training the trainers;
   
   
8. Support alcohol policy implementation in the regions, in partnership with the Assembly of European Regions;
   
   
9. Support alcohol policy implementation in municipalities and local communities;
   
   
10. Review the evidence and build an inventory of policies and practices to reduce alcohol-related accidents and injuries, with a focus on intentional and unintentional injuries in the workplace, in public places, in domestic and family settings.