2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B DECISION No 1786/2002/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 23 September 2002
adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008)
(OJ L 271, 9.10.2002, p. 1)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Decision No 786/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 21 April 2004L 138 7 30.4.2004
▼B
DECISION No 1786/2002/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIA-
MENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 23 September 2002
adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public
health (2003-2008)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and
in particular Article 152 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of
the Treaty (4), in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation
Committee on 15 May 2002,
Whereas:
(1) The Community is committed to promoting and improving
health, preventing disease, and countering potential threats tohealth, with a view to reducing avoidable morbidity and prema-ture mortality and activity-impairing disability. To contribute tothe well-being of European citizens, the Community must
address in a coordinated and coherent way the concerns of its
people about risks to health and their expectations for a highlevel of health protection. Therefore, all health-related activitiesof the Community must have a high degree of visibility andtransparency and allow consultation and participation of allstakeholders in a balanced way, in order to promote better
knowledge and communication flows and thus enable a greater
involvement of individuals in decisions that concern their health.In this framework, attention should be given to the right of theCommunity population to receive simple, clear and scientificallysound information about measures to protect health and preventdiseases, with a view to improving quality of life.
(2) Health is a priority and a high level of health protection shouldbe ensured in the definition and implementation of all Commu-nity policies and activities. Under Article 152 of the Treaty, theCommunity is required to play an active role in this sector bytaking measures which cannot be taken by individual States, in
accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.
(3) In the context of the public health framework set out in the
Commission communication of 24 November 1993 on theframework for action in the field of public health, eight actionprogrammes were adopted, namely:
— Decision No 645/96/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 29 March 1996 adopting a programme of
Community action on health promotion, information, educa-
tion and training within the framework for action in thefield of public health (1996 to 2000) (
5),2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000, p. 122 and C 240 E, 28.8.2001, p. 168.
(2) OJ C 116, 20.4.2001, p. 75.
(3) OJ C 144, 16.5.2001, p. 43.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 4 April 2001 (OJ C 21, 24.1.2002, p.
161), Council Common Position of 31 July 2001 (OJ C 307, 31.10.2001, p.27) and Decision of the European Parliament of 12 December 2001 (not yet
published in the Official Journal). Decision of the European Parliament of 3
July 2002 and Decision of the Council of 26 June 2002.
(
5) OJ L 95, 16.4.1996, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision No 521/
2001/EC (OJ L 79, 17.3.2001, p. 1).
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— Decision No 646/96/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 29 March 1996 adopting an action plan tocombat cancer within the framework for action in the field
of public health (1996 to 2000) (
1),
— Decision No 647/96/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 29 March 1996 adopting a programme ofCommunity action on the prevention of AIDS and certainother communicable diseases within the framework for actionin the field of public health (1996 to 2000) (
2),
— Decision No 102/97/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 16 December 1996 adopting a programme of
Community action on the prevention of drug dependencewithin the framework for action in the field of public health(1996 to 2000) (
3),
— Decision No 1400/97/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 30 June 1997 adopting a programme of
Community action on health monitoring within the frame-
work for action in the field of public health (1997 to2001) (
4),
— Decision No 372/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 8 February 1999 adopting a programme ofCommunity action on injury prevention in the frameworkfor action in the field of public health (1999 to 2003) (
5),
— Decision No 1295/1999/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council of 29 April 1999 adopting a programme of
Community action on rare diseases within the frameworkfor action in the field of public health (1999 to 2003) (
6), and
— Decision No 1296/1999/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council of 29 April 1999 adopting a programme ofCommunity action on pollution-related diseases in the
context of the framework for action in the field of public
health (1999 to 2001) (
7).
Furthermore, Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parlia-
ment and of the Council of 24 September 1998 on setting up anetwork for the epidemiological surveillance and control of
communicable diseases in the Community (
8) was adopted.
Pursuant to that Decision, the Commission adopted on 22December 1999 Decision No 2000/57/EC on the early warningand response system for the prevention and control of commu-nicable diseases (
9).
(4) Other activities in the context of the public health frameworkincluded Council Recommendation 98/463/EC of 29 June 1998on the suitability of blood and plasma donors and the screening
of donated blood in the European Community (
10) and Recom-
mendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 on the limitation ofexposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields 0 Hz to300 GHz (
11).
(5) The public health framework was reviewed in the Commissioncommunication of 15 April 1998 on the development of public2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ L 95, 16.4.1996, p. 9. Decision as last amended by Decision No 521/
2001/EC.
(2) OJ L 95, 16.4.1996, p. 16. Decision as last amended by Decision No 521/
2001/EC.
(3) OJ L 19, 22.1.1997, p. 25. Decision as amended by Decision No 521/2001/
EC.
(4) OJ L 193, 22.7.1997, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision No 521/2001/
EC.
(5) OJ L 46, 20.2.1999, p. 1.
(6) OJ L 155, 22.6.1999, p. 1.
(7) OJ L 155, 22.6.1999, p. 7. Decision as amended by Decision No 521/2001/
EC.
(8) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998, p. 1.
(9) OJ L 21, 26.1.2000, p. 32.
(10) OJ L 203, 21.7.1998, p. 14.
(11) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999, p. 59.
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health policy in the European Community, which indicated that a
new health strategy and programme were needed in view of thenew Treaty provisions, new challenges and experience so far.
(6) The Council in its Conclusions of 26 November 1998 on thefuture framework for Community action in the field of publichealth (
1), and in its Resolution of 8 June 1999 (2), the Economic
and Social Committee, in its opinion of 9 September 1998 (3),
the Committee of the Regions, in its Opinion of 19 November1998 (
4), and the European Parliament, in its Resolution A4-
0082/99 of 12 March 1999 (5), welcomed the Commission
communication of 15 April 1998 and supported the view thatactions at Community level should be set out in one overallprogramme to run for a period of at least five years andcomprising three general objectives, namely improving informa-
tion for the development of public health, reacting rapidly to
health threats and tackling health determinants through healthpromotion and disease prevention, underpinned by inter-sectoralaction and the use of all appropriate Treaty instruments.
(7) In its Resolution of 29 June 2000 on the follow-up to the Evoraconference on health determinants, the Council considered thatthe increasing differences in health status and health outcomes
between and within Member States called for renewed and coor-
dinated efforts at national and Community level; welcomed theCommission's commitment to submit a proposal for a new publichealth programme containing a specific strand of action aimed ataddressing health determinants by means of health promotion
and disease prevention underpinned by intersectoral policy and
agreed that there was a need to develop the appropriate knowl-edge base for this and, therefore, that an efficacious healthmonitoring system should be established for this purpose;stressed the importance of the new Community public healthstrategy building upon the activities on specific determinants
taken in the existing programmes, especially with respect to
tobacco, nutrition and alcohol and that it was important notonly to ensure continuity with existing actions, but also to takeforward work on these issues in a fully coherent and systematicway.
(8) The Council reaffirms its Conclusions on combating tobacco
consumption of 18 November 1999, in which it underlined the
necessity of developing an overall strategy, and invited theCommission, inter alia , to strengthen cooperation between health
and other policy areas, with the aim of ensuring a high level ofhealth protection in these areas.
(9) The Council on 18 November 1999 agreed unanimously a Reso-
lution on the Promotion of Mental Health.
(10) According to the WHO World Health Report 2000 the five
major burdens of disease (in disability-adjusted life years) are:1. neuropsychiatric disorders, 2. cardiovascular diseases, 3.malignant neoplasms, 4. unintentional injuries and 5. respiratorydiseases. Infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, and anti-micro-bial resistance are also becoming a threat to the health of all
people in Europe. An important task of the programme would
be to identify better the main burdens of disease in the Commu-nity and, in particular, the main health determinants.
(11) The programme should contribute to the exchange of informa-tion on quality standards identified in the field of public health.
(12) It is essential to collect, process and analyse data at Communitylevel for the purpose of effective public health monitoring at2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 4
(1) OJ C 390, 15.12.1998, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 200, 15.7.1999, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 407, 28.12.1998, p. 21.
(4) OJ C 51, 22.2.1999, p. 53.
(5) OJ C 175, 21.6.1999, p. 135.
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Community level and in order to obtain objective, reliable and
compatible and comparable information which could beexchanged and would enable the Commission and the Member
States to improve information to the public and formulate appro-
priate strategies, policies and actions to achieve a high level ofhuman health protection. Data from the private sector shouldalso be taken into account for the completeness of theprogramme. All relevant statistics should be broken down and
analysed by gender.
(13) The Community and its Member States have at their disposal
certain means and mechanisms in relation to information andmonitoring in the field of public health. It is therefore necessaryto ensure a high level of coordination between actions and initia-tives taken by the Community and the Member States toimplement the programme, to promote cooperation between
Member States and to enhance the effectiveness of existing and
future networks in the field of public health.
(14) It is essential that the Commission ensure the effectiveness andthe cohesion of measures and actions of the programme at bothmicro- and macro-level as well as the promotion of cooperationbetween the Member States. Any structural arrangements whichwould be established under the auspices of the Commission to
this end should collect, monitor and evaluate data, and develop
surveillance methods and a basis for rapid and coordinatedresponses to health threats. Such structural arrangements wouldconsist of a strengthened central resource and closely involvethe relevant institutions designated by the Member States.
(15) There is in particular a need to ensure, relying on competent andrelevant expertise, appropriate sustainable coordination, in the
area of health information, of activities in relation to the
following: definition of information needs, development of indi-cators, collection of data and information, comparability issues,exchange of data and information with and between MemberStates, continuing development of databases, analyses, and wider
dissemination of information. Such coordination should also be
ensured in the area of rapid reaction to health threats, of activ-ities in relation to epidemiological surveillance, development ofsurveillance methods, exchange of information on guidelines andon prevention and control actions, mechanisms and procedures.
(16) It is essential that the Commission, through appropriate struc-tural arrangements, ensures the effectiveness and cohesion of
measures and actions contained in the programme and promotes
cooperation between the Member States. To enable such struc-tural arrangements to operate smoothly and effectively, it isessential to establish sustained cooperation with the health autho-rities of the Member States, while respecting Member States'responsibilities.
(17) The Commission should make, as appropriate, further proposals
on the kind of structural arrangements needed for the implemen-
tation of the public health strategy, especially regarding healthmonitoring and rapid reaction to health threats.
(18) The overall aim of the public health programme is to contributetowards the attainment of a high level of physical and mentalhealth and well-being and greater equality in health mattersthroughout the Community, by directing action towards
improving public health, preventing human diseases and disor-
ders, and obviating sources of danger to health with a view tocombating morbidity and premature mortality, while takinggender and age into consideration. To fulfil this aim, actionsshould be guided by the need to increase life expectancy without
disability or sickness, promote quality of life and minimise the
economic and social consequences of ill health, thus reducinghealth inequalities, while taking into account the regionalapproach to health issues. Priority should be given to health-promoting actions that address the major burdens of disease.The programme should support the development of an integrated2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 5
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intersectoral health strategy to ensure that Community policies
and actions contribute to protecting and promoting health.
(19) In order to achieve this, the programme should take into accountthe importance of education, training and networking.
(20) The Treaty requires that a high level of human health protectionis ensured in the definition and implementation of all Commu-nity policies and activities. A strong link is to be establishedbetween all Community policies having an impact on healthand the Community strategy for public health. Within the publichealth programme, a priority task will be to develop criteria and
methodologies for evaluating policy proposals and their imple-
mentation. In developing the measures under the programme,and joint strategies and actions with other relevant Communityprogrammes and actions, it should be ensured that these otherCommunity policies and actions incorporate the health aspect,and that they are underpinned by intersectoral policy.
(21) Achieving the overall aim, and the general objectives of theprogramme requires effective cooperation of the Member States,their full commitment in the implementation of Community
actions, and the involvement of institutions, associations, organi-
sations and bodies in the health field as well as the public atlarge. To ensure sustainability and efficient use of existingCommunity investment and capacity, established Communityand national networks should be used to pull together expertiseand experience from Member States on effective methods for
implementation of health promotional and preventive interven-
tions and on quality criteria. A dialogue should be ensured withall key partners committed to improving public health and theirexpertise should be incorporated in an efficient and transparentCommunity knowledge base. Cooperation should be established
with bodies and non-governmental organisations active in the
field of health through appropriate mechanisms, such as healthfora.
(22) In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportion-
ality set out in Article 5 of the Treaty, Community action on
matters which do not fall within the exclusive competence ofthe Community, such as public health, should be undertakenonly if and in so far as, by reason of its scale or effects, itsobjective can be better achieved by the Community. The objec-tives of the programme cannot be sufficiently achieved by the
Member States because of the complexity, transnational char-
acter and lack of complete control at Member State level overthe factors affecting health, and therefore the programme shouldsupport and complement the Member States' actions andmeasures. The programme can provide a significant added value
to health promotion and to health systems in the Community
through the support of structures and programmes whichenhance the capabilities of individuals, institutions, associations,organisations and bodies in the health field by facilitating theexchange of experience and best practices and by providing abasis for a common analysis of the factors affecting public
health. Also, the programme may have added value in the event
of threats to public health of a cross-border nature, such as infec-tious diseases, environmental pollution or food contamination, tothe extent that they prompt joint strategies and actions. Theprogramme will enable the Community to contribute towards
fulfilling its Treaty obligations in the field of public health while
fully respecting the responsibilities of the Member States for theorganisation and delivery of health services and health care. Thisdecision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve thoseobjectives.
(23) The measures under the programme underpin the health strategyof the Community and will yield Community added value byresponding to needs arising out of conditions and structuresestablished through Community action in other fields, by addres-sing new developments, new threats and new problems for which2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 6
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the Community would be in a better position to act to protect its
people, by bringing together activities undertaken in relativeisolation and with limited impact at national level and by
complementing them in order to achieve positive results for the
people of the Community, and by contributing to the strength-ening of solidarity and cohesion in the Community. The newhealth strategy and public health action programme shouldprovide the opportunity to further develop the citizens' dimen-
sion of Community health policy.
(24) In order to ensure that actions can address broad health issues
and threats effectively in cooperation with other Community
policies and activities, while avoiding duplication, the
programme should provide for the possibility of undertakingjoint actions with related Community programmes and actions.A proactive use of other Community policies, such as structuralfunds and social policy could influence health determinants in a
positive way.
(25) Effective implementation of the measures and actions and
achievement of the desired impact of the programme require
comparability of the data collected. Compatibility and interoper-
ability of the systems and networks for exchanging informationand data for the development of public health would also makea valuable contribution and further efforts towards these objec-tives should be pursued. It is of prime importance thatinformation is exchanged on the basis of comparable and compa-
tible data.
(26) In general, the measures and actions under the programmeshould take account of the development of new technologies
and IT applications and, in particular, there should be close coor-dination with the plans drawn up and implemented in the field ofpublic health under the integrated action programme for an elec-tronic Europe (e-Europe), and other relevant programmes, whileavoiding overlapping, and taking particular care to ensure equal
accessibility to health information.
(27) The Feira European Council in June 2000 endorsed the ‘e-
Europe 2002 Action Plan on an Information Society for All’,
which under Health Online urges Member States to develop an
infrastructure of user-friendly, validated and interoperablesystems for health education, disease prevention and medicalcare. It is essential that the new information technology isexploited to make health information as accessible as possible
to citizens.
(28) In the execution of the programme, full use should be made of
the relevant results generated from the Community research
programmes, which support research in areas covered by the
programme.
(29) The experience acquired from different charters in the field ofpublic health should be taken into account.
(30) In the implementation of the Community programme there must
be compliance with all the relevant legal provisions in the field
of protection of personal data, and the establishment of mechan-isms to ensure the confidentiality and security of those data.
(31) The programme should last six years in order to allow sufficienttime to implement measures to achieve its objectives.
(32) It is essential that the Commission should ensure implementation
of the programme in close cooperation with the Member States.
In order to obtain scientific information and advice to implementthe programme, cooperation with scientists and experts of inter-national standing is desirable.
(33) Consistency and complementarity should be ensured betweenactions to be implemented under the programme and those envi-saged or implemented under other policies and activities, inparticular in the light of the requirement to ensure a high level2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 7
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of human health protection in the definition and implementation
of all Community policies and activities.
(34) Close cooperation and consultation will be expected withCommunity bodies responsible for risk assessment, monitoringand research in the fields of food and feed safety, environmentalprotection and product safety.
(35) This decision lays down, for the entire duration of theprogramme, a financial framework constituting the prime refer-ence, within the meaning of point 33 of the Interinstitutional
Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament,
the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline andimprovement of the budgetary procedure (
1) for the budgetary
authority during the annual budgetary procedure. The financialframework should correspond to the needs and objectives of theprogramme.
(36) Funding from other Community policies earmarked for jointactions under the programme is additional to the financial frame-work laid down for the programme.
(37) It is essential that there should be flexibility to allow redeploy-ment of resources and adaptation of activities while respectingthe need for transparency as well as the criteria for selecting
and ordering priorities according to magnitude of risk or poten-
tial of effect, the outcome of evaluation, public concerns,availability of interventions or potential for their development,subsidiarity, added value and impact on other sectors. There isa need, however, to maintain a balance between the three objec-tives of the programme, allocating budget resources fairly
between them.
(38) Practical measures are essential in order to attain the objectives
of the programme. Consequently, when implementing the
programme and earmarking resources under it, the importance
of practical measures should be emphasised.
(39) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision
should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/
468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for theexercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commis-sion (
2).
(40) The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agree-ment) provides for greater cooperation in the field of publichealth between the European Community and its Member States,on the one hand, and the countries of the European Free TradeAssociation participating in the European Economic Area
(EFTA/EEA countries), on the other. Provision should also be
made to open the programme to participation of the associatedCentral and Eastern European countries in accordance with theconditions established in the Europe Agreements, in their addi-tional protocols and in the decisions of the respective
Association Councils, of Cyprus, funded by additional appropria-
tions in accordance with the procedures to be agreed with thatcountry, as well as of Malta and Turkey, funded by additionalappropriations, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.
(41) The applicant countries should be actively involved in the devel-opment and implementation of the programme and considerationshould be given to a strategic approach to health in those coun-tries, and especially to their specific problems.
(42) On the accession of new Member States, the Commission shouldreport on the consequences of these accessions for theprogramme.
(43) Cooperation with third countries and the competent internationalorganisations in the sphere of health, such as the WHO, the2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 8
(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
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Council of Europe and the OECD, should be fostered, not only
in the field of collecting and analysing data (including indica-tors) but also in the field of intersectoral health promotion, in
order to ensure cost effectiveness, avoid overlapping of activities
and programmes and enforce synergy and interaction, takingparticular account of specific arrangements for cooperation suchas that between the WHO and the Commission.
(44) In order to increase the value and impact of the programme thereshould be regular monitoring and evaluation, including indepen-dent external evaluations, of the measures taken. It should bepossible to adjust or modify the programme in the light of these
evaluations and of developments that may take place in the
general context of Community action in health and health-relatedfields. The European Parliament should be informed of theannual work plans which will be drawn up by the Commission.
(45) The programme of Community action in the field of publichealth builds on the activities and the eight programmes underthe previous framework and on the work of the network forepidemiological surveillance and control of communicablediseases in the Community, and pursues all the objectives and
measures therein in the form of a global and integrated health
strategy. The decisions concerning those eight programmes arecovered by the new programme and should therefore be repealedwith effect from 31 December 2002,
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Establishment of the programme
1. This Decision establishes a programme of Community action in
the field of public health, hereinafter referred to as ‘the programme’.
2. The programme shall be implemented in the period starting on 1
January 2003 and ending on 31 December 2008.
Article 2
Overall aim and general objectives
1. The programme, which shall complement national policies, shall
aim to protect human health and improve public health.
2. The general objectives of the programme shall be:
(a) to improve information and knowledge for the development of
public health;
(b) to enhance the capability of responding rapidly and in a coordi-
nated fashion to threats to health;
(c) to promote health and prevent disease through addressing health
determinants across all policies and activities.
3. The programme shall thereby contribute to:
(a) ensuring a high level of human health protection in the definition
and implementation of all Community policies and activities,
through the promotion of an integrated and intersectoral healthstrategy;
(b) tackling inequalities in health;
(c) encouraging cooperation between Member States in the areas
covered by Article 152 of the Treaty.
Article 3
Community actions and activities
1. The general objectives of the programme as set out in Article 2
shall be pursued by means of the actions listed in the Annex.2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 9
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2. These actions shall be implemented in close cooperation with
Member States through support to activities of a transversal nature,which may be used to implement all or part of the actions and which
may, where appropriate, be combined. These activities are the
following:
(a) Activities related to the monitoring and rapid reaction systems
(i) network activities operated through structures designated by
Member States and other activities of Community interest for
the purposes of public health monitoring and providingnational information, as well as data at Community level, infurtherance of the objectives of the programme;
(ii) activities to counter health threats, including major diseases,
and react to unforeseen events, enable investigations and coor-dinate response;
(iii) preparation, establishment and operation of appropriate struc-
tural arrangements coordinating and integrating networks for
health monitoring and for rapid reaction to health threats;
(iv) development of appropriate links between the actions
concerning the monitoring and rapid reaction systems.
(b) Activities on health determinants
development and implementation of health promotion and disease
prevention activities across all Community policies and involving,as appropriate, non-governmental organisations, innovative or pilotprojects and networks between national institutions and activities.
(c) Activities related to legislation
(i) preparatory work for Community legislative instruments in the
field of public health;
(ii) health impact assessment of Community legislation;
(iii) coordination of the position of the Community and its Member
States in fora in which health-related matters are discussed.
(d) Activities related to consultation, knowledge and information
(i) development and dissemination to competent authorities in
Member States, to health and other professionals and, where
appropriate, to other stakeholders and the general public of
health information, knowledge, including statistics, reports,reviews, analysis, and advice on issues of common interest tothe Community and to Member States;
(ii) information and consultation on health and health-related
matters at the Community level, involving all stakeholderssuch as patients' organisations, health professionals, healthcare providers, trade unions, social partners and NGOs in the
field of public health;
(iii) sharing of experience and exchange of information on health-
related matters between the Community and authorities andcompetent organisations of Member States;
(iv) encouraging education and vocational training in the field of
public health relevant to the objectives of the programme;
(v) developing and maintaining networks for the exchange of
information on best practice in public health and the effective-ness of health policies;
(vi) obtaining scientific information and advice from high-level
scientists and experts;
(vii) supporting and promoting activities by the Community and
the Member States with regard to good practice and to soundguidelines for public health based on scientific data.
(e) Promotion of coordination at the European level of non-govern-
mental organisations which are developing activities defined aspriorities under the programme. They may be operating eithersingly or in the form of several coordinated associations.2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 10
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Article 4
Joint strategies and actions
To ensure a high level of human health protection in the definition and
implementation of all Community policies and activities, the objectivesof the programme may be implemented as joint strategies and jointactions by creating links with relevant Community programmes andactions, notably in the areas of consumer protection, social protection,
health and safety at work, employment, research and technological
development, internal market, information society and informationtechnology, statistics, agriculture, education, transport, industry andenvironment, and with actions undertaken by the Joint Research Centreand relevant Community bodies with which cooperation shall befostered.
Article 5
Implementation of the programme
1. The Commission shall ensure the implementation, in close coop-
eration with the Member States, of the actions set out in theprogramme, in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 andensuring its harmonious and balanced development.
2. In order to assist implementation, the Commission shall ensure,
through appropriate structural arrangements closely associating theMember States, the coordination and integration of networks for health
monitoring and rapid reaction to health threats.
3. The Commission and Member States shall take appropriate
action, within their respective areas of competence, to ensure the effi-
cient running of the programme and to develop mechanisms at
Community and Member State level to achieve the objectives of theprogramme. They shall ensure that appropriate information is providedabout actions supported by the programme and that the widest possibleparticipation is obtained in actions requiring implementation through
local and regional authorities and non-governmental organisations.
4. The Commission shall, in close cooperation with the Member
States, pursue the comparability of data and information and, where
possible, the compatibility and interoperability of the systems and
networks for exchange of data and information on health.
5. In implementing the programme the Commission, together with
the Member States, shall ensure compliance with all relevant legalprovisions regarding personal data protection and, where appropriate,the introduction of mechanisms to ensure the confidentiality and safetyof such data.
6. The Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States,
shall ensure the transition between those actions developed within thepublic health programmes adopted by the Decisions referred to in
Article 13 which contribute to the priorities set out in this programme,
and those to be implemented under this programme.
Article 6
Consistency and complementarity
The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and complemen-
tarity between the actions to be implemented under the programme andthose implemented under other Community policies and activities,
including the policies mentioned in Article 4. In particular, the
Commission shall identify those proposals of particular relevance tothe objectives and actions of the programme, and inform theCommittee referred to in Article 9 of how health considerations aretaken into account in these proposals and of their expected healthimpact.2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 11
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Article 7
Funding
1. The financial framework for the implementation of the
programme for the period specified in Article 1 is hereby set at EUR
353,77 million. EUR 227,51 million shall be for the period up to 31December 2006.
For the period beginning on 1 January 2007, the amount proposed shall
be deemed to be confirmed if, for the phase in question, it is consistentwith the financial perspective in force for the period beginning on 1
January 2007.
Expenditure on technical and administrative assistance related to the
structural arrangements referred to under Article 3(2)(a)(iii), and activ-ities arising therefrom, shall be met from the overall budget of theprogramme.
2. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary
authority within the limits of the financial perspective.
Article 8
Implementation measures
1. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision
relating to the matters referred to below shall be adopted in accordancewith the management procedure referred to in Article 9(2):
(a) the annual plan of work for the implementation of the programme,
setting out priorities and actions to be undertaken, including alloca-tion of resources;
(b) the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting and finan-
cing the actions of the programme;
(c) the arrangements for implementing the joint strategies and actions
referred to in Article 4;
(d) the arrangements for evaluating the programme referred to in
Article 12;
(e) the arrangements for the preparation of any structural arrangements
for the coordination of health monitoring and rapid reaction tohealth threats;
(f) the arrangements for transmitting, exchanging and disseminating
information and for rapid reaction on health threats under the
programme, without prejudice to the implementation measurescarried out under Decision 2119/98/EC.
2. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision
relating to all other matters shall be adopted in accordance with theadvisory procedure referred to in Article 9(3).
Article 9
Committee
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee.2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of
Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of
Article 8 thereof.
The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be
set at two months.
3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of
Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions ofArticle 8 thereof.
4. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 12
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Article 10
Participation of the EFTA/EEA countries, the associated central
and eastern European countries, Cyprus, Malta and Turkey
The programme shall be open to the participation of:
(a) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions estab-
lished in the EEA Agreement;
(b) the associated countries of central and eastern Europe, in accor-
dance with the conditions laid down in the Europe Agreements, intheir Additional Protocols and in the Decisions of the respective
Association Councils;
(c) Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the
procedures to be agreed with that country;
(d) Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations in accor-
dance with the provisions of the Treaty.
Article 11
International cooperation
In the course of implementing the programme, cooperation with third
countries and with international organisations competent in the sphere
of public health, in particular the World Health Organisation, the
Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development, or able to have an impact on public health such asthe World Trade Organisation and the United Nations Food and Agri-culture Organisation shall be encouraged in accordance with theprocedure laid down in Article 9(3). In particular, the health informa-
tion system and the capacity to respond to health threats should be,
where appropriate and possible, coordinated with the activities of theWorld Health Organisation.
Article 12
Monitoring, evaluation and dissemination of results
1. The Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States,
shall regularly monitor, where appropriate with the help of experts,
the implementation of the actions of the programme in the light of theobjectives. It shall report annually to the Committee. The Commissionshall transmit a copy of its main findings to the European Parliamentand to the Council.
2. At the request of the Commission, Member States shall submit
information on the implementation and the impact of this programme.
3. By the end of the fourth year of the programme, the Commission
shall have an external assessment conducted by independent qualifiedexperts of the implementation and achievements during the three firstyears of the programme. It shall also assess the impact achieved onhealth and the efficiency of the use of resources, as well as the consis-tency and complementarity with other relevant programmes, actions
and initiatives implemented under other Community policies and activ-
ities. The Commission shall communicate the conclusions thereof,accompanied by its comments, to the European Parliament, theCouncil, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee ofthe Regions. The Commission shall also submit to those institutions
and bodies a final report on the implementation of the programme by
the end of the year which follows the end of the programme.
4. The Commission shall make the results of actions undertaken and
the evaluation reports publicly available.2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 13
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Article 13
Repeal
The following Decisions are hereby repealed on 31 December 2002:Decision No 645/96/EC, Decision No 646/96/EC, Decision No 647/96/
EC, Decision No 102/97/EC, Decision No 1400/97/EC, Decision No
372/1999/EC, Decision No 1295/1999/EC, Decision No 1296/1999/EC.
Article 14
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the
Official Journal of the European Communities .2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 14
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ANNEX
ACTIONS AND SUPPORT MEASURES
1. To improve health information and knowledge for the development of public
health by:
1.1. developing and operating a sustainable health monitoring system to
establish comparable quantitative and qualitative indicators at Commu-
nity level on the basis of existing work and of accomplished results,
and to collect, analyse and disseminate comparable and compatible
age- and gender-specific information on human health at Community
level concerning health status, health policies and health determinants,
including demography, geography and socioeconomic situations,personal and biological factors, health behaviours such as substance
abuse, nutrition, physical activity, sexual behaviour, and living, working
and environmental conditions, paying special attention to inequalities in
health;
1.2. developing an information system for the early warning, detection and
surveillance of health threats, both on communicable diseases, including
with regard to the danger of cross-border spread of diseases (including
resistant pathogens), and on non-communicable diseases;
1.3. improving the system for the transfer and sharing of information and
health data including public access;
1.4. developing and using mechanisms for analysis, advice, reporting, infor-
mation and consultation with Member States and stakeholders on health
issues relevant at Community level;
1.5. improving analysis and knowledge of the impact of health policy devel-
opments and of other Community policies and activities, such as the
internal market as it affects health systems, in contributing to a high
level of human health protection, including developing criteria and
methodologies for assessing policies for their impact on health and
developing other links between public health and other policies;
1.6. reviewing, analysing, and supporting the exchange of experiences on,
health technologies, including new information technologies;
1.7. supporting the exchange of information and experiences on good prac-
tice;
1.8. developing and operating a joint action with the plans drawn up under e-
Europe to improve availability to the general public on the Internet of
information on health matters, and considering the possibilities for
establishing a system of recognisable Community seals of approval for
Internet sites.
The existing data and the information provided by the system is to be easily
accessible to the Community, relevant users in Member States and, as appro-
priate, international organisations.
The statistical element of the system will be developed, in collaboration with
Member States, using as necessary the Community Statistical Programme to
promote synergy and avoid duplication.
2. To enhance the capability of responding rapidly and in a coordinated fashion
to threats to health by:
2.1. enhancing the capacity to tackle communicable diseases by supporting
the further implementation of Decision No 2119/98/EC on the Commu-
nity network on the epidemiological surveillance and control of
communicable diseases;
2.2. supporting the network's operation, in the Member States and the coun-
tries participating on the basis of Article 10 of this decision, in
particular in relation to common investigations, training, continuous
assessment, quality assurance and, where appropriate, in relation to its
contribution to the actions described in the Annex, points 1.2 and 1.3;
2.3. developing strategies and mechanisms for preventing, exchanging infor-
mation on and responding to non-communicable disease threats,
including gender-specific health threats and rare diseases;
2.4. exchanging information concerning strategies in order to counter health
threats from physical, chemical or biological sources in emergency
situations, including those relating to terrorist acts, and developing or
using, when appropriate, Community approaches and mechanisms;
2.5. exchanging information on vaccination and immunisation strategies;2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 15
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2.6. enhancing the safety and quality of organs and substances of human
origin, including blood, blood components and blood precursors by
developing high standards of quality and safety for the collection,
processing, storage and distribution and use of these substances;
2.7. implementing vigilance networks for human products, such as blood,
blood components and blood precursors;
2.8. promoting strategies and measures concerning the protection of human
health from possible adverse effects from environmental agents such as
ionising and non-ionising radiation and noise;
2.9. developing strategies for reducing antibiotic resistance.
3. To promote health and prevent disease through action on health determinants
across all Community policies and activities by:
3.1. preparing and implementing strategies and measures, including those
related to public awareness, on life-style related health determinants,
such as nutrition, physical activity, tobacco, alcohol, drugs and other
substances and on mental health, including measures to take in all
Community policies and age- and gender-specific strategies;
3.2. analysing the situation and developing strategies on social and economic
health determinants, in order to identify and combat inequalities in
health and to assess the impact of social and economic factors on health;
3.3. analysing the situation and developing strategies on health determinants
related to the environment and contributing to the identification and
assessment of the health consequences of environmental factors;
3.4. analysing the situation and exchange information on genetic determi-
nants and the use of genetic screening;
3.5. developing methods to evaluate quality and efficiency of health promo-
tion strategies and measures;
3.6. encouraging relevant training activities related to the above measures.
4. Support measures
4.1. Community assistance may be provided to support the actions and activ-
ities referred to in Article 3.
4.2. In carrying out the programme, the Commission may require additional
resources, including recourse to experts, for instance for the monitoring
system, the evaluation of the programme or the preparation of new
legislation. It may also require experts to work for the Community struc-
tural arrangements for the coordination and integration of networks for
health monitoring and for rapid reaction to health threats. The report
referred to in Article 12(1) shall be accompanied, if need be, by any
proposal regarding adjustment of the requirements.
4.3. The Commission may also undertake information, publication and disse-
mination of actions. It may also undertake evaluation studies and
organise seminars, colloquia or other meetings of experts.2002D1786 — EN — 30.04.2004 — 001.001 — 16