Mr President, today is our first reading of one of the most important matters of concern to the citizens of Europe, the action programme for public health. This is the first time advances in European policy in the health sector have been set out, achievements and weaknesses have been identified and the difficulties in applying a consistent Community policy have been made clear. The European Parliament must use its vote on the report in question to signal its support for health promotion, the principle of prevention and improved medical services at all levels. Obviously, sectors such as research and the environment impact directly on public health and proper account must be taken of them in action programmes. We also feel that the European Union should work with international organisations and non-governmental health organisations so that there is a constant flow of information and exchange of experiences and we can respond immediately to serious threats. We also need to stress how important it is to increase public awareness and for the public to be actively involved in health issues. If we are to win the confidence of European citizens in Community policies on issues which affect them, specific problems relating directly or indirectly to health need to be examined promptly and transparently. Under the new programme, three global objectives replace the eight programmes currently in operation. We are hopeful that the new, special objectives will be selected not in a fragmentary manner and under pressure, but on the basis of the priorities set by the World Health Organisation and other organisations working in this sector. As far as creating a European Coordination and Monitoring Centre is concerned, I think that it should work under the aegis of the Commission and should draw up programmes of priorities in the health sector, taking account of international data. Similarly, it should collect, monitor and evaluate the relevant information so that it can propose and then coordinate strategies and measures. I must, of course, stress that the confidentiality of personal data on individuals or groups of people must be respected when collecting information. I think it is very important that mental health has been included for the first time as an area for action under a public health programme. My congratulations for that to the Commissioner, who demonstrated a personal awareness and responded to our proposition by including this issue in his proposal. Scientific data clearly show the extent and seriousness of neuro-psychiatric illnesses and our response, albeit belated, must be direct and effective. Finally, as regards the budget, even though I believe that funding should not be sparing in this sector and am aware of the objective difficulties of the budget, I believe that an increase of EUR 80 million, i.e. the amount spent on extending the operation of existing programmes, is perfectly realistic. I am confident that, despite all the difficulties, the European Commission and the Council will agree to this increase and finally, I should like to thank the rapporteur for his efforts to find compromise solutions which substantially improve the initial proposal.

Political group: PSE