The Health Ministry of Italy organized a two-day meeting on Health in the Mediterranean, as part of Italy’s rotating EU presidency. Greek Health Minister Makis Voridis said that the meeting of health ministers from around the EU as well as the Middle East and Northern Africa was a “valuable opportunity for a fruitful exchange of views”.

Taking the podium, Mr. Voridis said that the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle had a positive impact on the health of citizens. “I think it has become evident that chronic diseases are related to the lifestyle,” he said.

Mr. Voridis said that the Greek EU presidency had also viewed issues of lifestyle, dietary habits and the Mediterranean diet as a priority. “The Greek Presidency worked substantially on those two issues which the Italian presidency is now putting forward,” he said, adding the importance of this.