Press release -
International Coeliac Day - Big moment for coeliac rights in the EU
On International Coeliac Day, we take the opportunity to highlight a historic step forward in coeliac advocacy within the European Union.
Just two days ago, on 14 May, AOECS joined forces with the Association of Coeliacs of Catalunya to present a formal petition before the Committee on Petitions (PETI) at the European Parliament in Brussels. This marked the first time a coeliac-related petition was brought directly to the attention of the Committee during an ordinary meeting.
The petition, presented by Esther Roger (Association of Coeliacs of Catalunya) and seconded by AOECS Secretary General Veronica Rubio, called for stronger EU action to improve the quality of life for people living with coeliac disease. It raised concerns around diagnosis delays, insufficient food labelling standards, lack of dietary support, and inconsistent national policies across Member States.
In response, all political groups unanimously accepted the petition, which now remains open and under active review. The President of the PETI Committee confirmed that the European Commission (DG SANTE) will conduct a formal investigation and deliver a written response within three months.
“This milestone underlines that coeliac disease is not only a medical condition but also a matter of EU citizens’ rights,” said Veronica Rubio. “We will continue working at EU level to ensure coeliacs are not left behind in food and health policies.”
Next steps:
The petitioner will continue to push for policy improvements in Spain at both regional and national level.
AOECS will support this initiative and collaborate with national societies to push for EU-wide recognition and harmonised support for coeliacs.
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The Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) is an independent, non-profit umbrella organisation of over 40 member and affiliated National Coeliac Societies. Together with our members, we represent people affected by coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis across Europe and beyond.
We are involved in several international initiatives to raise awareness of coeliac disease, gluten free diets, and encourage research into coeliac disease early diagnosis, patient’s quality of life and cure.
