DECISION OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS FOR HEALTH OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL of 4 June 1991 adopting a plan of action in the framework of the 1991 to 1993 'Europe against AIDS' programme (91/317/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THE MINISTERS FOR HEALTH OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Whereas the increase in AIDS is of major concern to Member States and the Community as demonstrated by the various instruments and Community texts adopted with a view to combating AIDS; whereas, in particular, in their resolution of 22 December 1989 on the fight against AIDS (3), the Council and the Ministers for Health, meeting within the Council, requested the Commission to develop exchanges of information and experience, defining, as a matter of priority, the details and contents of an action plan incorporating appropriate measures to prevent and control AIDS;
Whereas the present plan of action for the programme 'Europe against AIDS' includes the guidelines already adopted; whereas it also contains other measures intended to contain AIDS;
Whereas, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Member States in this area, promoting cooperation and the coordination of national activities as well as their assessment at Community level and the stimulation of Community activities make a valuable contribution to the fight against AIDS;
Whereas it is appropriate that a three-year plan of action should be laid down;
Whereas it is necessary to estimate the Community financial resources required for implementing this plan of action; whereas the amount of these resources must be included in the financial perspective defined in the interinstitutional Agreements,
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
1. The Commission shall implement, in close cooperation with the competent authorities of the Member States, the 1991 to 1993 plan of action set out in the Annex.
For this purpose it shall be assisted by an advisory committee composed of representatives of Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.
The duties of the committee shall in particular be:
- to examine projects and measures involving cofinancing from public funds,
- to coordinate, at national level, projects partly financed by non-governmental organizations.
The Commission representative shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.
The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes.
The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.
2. When implementing the plan of action, the Commission shall take account of projects financed under its biomedicine and health research programme and of its results, and incorporate these in the relevant measures under the action plan, ensuring that they have a complementary and synergistic effect.
3. The Commission shall collaborate with international organizations active in this field, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Council of Europe.
4. The Commission shall regularly publish technical information on the progress of the plan of action.
Article 2
1. The annual appropriations allocated for the activities provided for under the programme shall be adopted within the budgetary procedure.
2. The amount of the Community contribution deemed necessary to implement the action covered by this Decision for 1991 to 1992 shall be ECU 6 million.
Article 3
1. The Commission, in collaboration with the advisory committee referred to in Article 1 (1), shall continuously assess the action undertaken and the priorities set.
2. The Council and the Ministers for Health of the Member States, meeting within the Council, shall carry out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the action undertaken.
To this end, the Commission shall submit to the Council a report on the subject during the second half of 1992. That report shall also be sent to the European Parliament. Done at Luxembourg, 4 June 1991.