Nina Carberry: Ringfence 5% Erasmus for Sport
Nina Carberry, MEP, addressed the Commissioner on the growing obesity crisis in Europe and called for 5% of the next seven-year Erasmus Plus budget to be ring-fenced for sport. She argued that physical activity is central to prevention and that every euro invested in sport can return up to €2 in healthcare savings.
Key demand: Nina Carberry sets out a clear proposal to allocate 5% of the upcoming Erasmus Plus budget to sport, aimed at supporting grassroots sport, school activity and community health. The call is framed as a practical prevention measure to reduce obesity and ease pressure on healthcare systems.
Evidence and urgency: Carberry cites WHO findings and post-COVID trends in Ireland and across the EU to underline the scale of the problem: high adult and child overweight and obesity rates. She stresses that obesity is a disease shaped by many factors and that prevention through physical activity must be prioritised.
Policy implications: The speech links investment in sport to economic savings and public health benefits, urging Commissioners and legislators to treat prevention as an integral part of health policy. Carberry frames the Erasmus Plus ring-fence as a cost-effective tool to support schools, grassroots clubs and community initiatives that increase activity levels and improve lives.
Key demand: Nina Carberry sets out a clear proposal to allocate 5% of the upcoming Erasmus Plus budget to sport, aimed at supporting grassroots sport, school activity and community health. The call is framed as a practical prevention measure to reduce obesity and ease pressure on healthcare systems.
Evidence and urgency: Carberry cites WHO findings and post-COVID trends in Ireland and across the EU to underline the scale of the problem: high adult and child overweight and obesity rates. She stresses that obesity is a disease shaped by many factors and that prevention through physical activity must be prioritised.
Policy implications: The speech links investment in sport to economic savings and public health benefits, urging Commissioners and legislators to treat prevention as an integral part of health policy. Carberry frames the Erasmus Plus ring-fence as a cost-effective tool to support schools, grassroots clubs and community initiatives that increase activity levels and improve lives.
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Transcript
Commissioner, obesity in Europe has been described as an epidemic. In 2022, the WHO reported that obesity had reached alarming levels in Ireland following COVID-19. With 57% of adults and 8% of children under 5 overweight or obese, across the EU over half of adults and nearly one in three children are now affected. Obesity is a disease shaped by many factors. It is not only a major health challenge, it also places a huge burden on our healthcare systems and economies. Physical activity remains central to prevention. We know that every euro invested in physical activity can return up to €2 in healthcare savings. So if we are serious about prevention, we must invest in physical activity. That's why I call for 5% of the next 7-year Erasmus Plus budget to be ring-fenced for sport, to support grassroot sport, school activity and community health. Because tackling obesity is not just about policy, it's about improving the health and lives of millions of Europeans.