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"B DECISION No 1296/1999/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 29 April 1999
adopting a programme of Community action on pollution-related diseases in the context of the framework
for action in the field of public health (1999 to 2001)
(OJ L 155, 22.6.1999, p. 7)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
"M1 Decision No 521/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 26 February 2001 L 79 1 17.3.20011999D1296 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 1
DECISION No 1296/1999/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 29 April 1999
adopting a programme of Community action on pollution-related diseases
in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health
(1999 to 2001)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in
particular Article 129 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 189b of the
Treaty (4), in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation
Committee on 4 February 1999,
(1) Whereas pollution-related diseases are growing in importance
throughout the Community and raising public concern;
(2) Whereas, in accordance with Article 3(O) of the Treaty, Community
activities are to include a contribution to the attainment of a high levelof health protection;
(3) Whereas Article 129 of the Treaty expressly provides for Community
competence in this field, insofar as the Community contributes by
encouraging cooperation between the Member States and, if necessary,
lending support to their action, promoting coordination of theirpolicies and programmes, and fostering cooperation with thirdcountries and the competent international organisations in the sphere
of public health; whereas Community action should be directed
towards the prevention of diseases, and the promotion of healtheducation and information;
(4) Whereas, by helping to improve knowledge and understanding of
pollution-related diseases, their association with pollutants and their
prevention and to attain a wider dissemination of information aboutthese matters, by ensuring improved comparability of information onthese subjects and by developing actions complementary to existing
Community programmes and actions, while avoiding unnecessary
duplication, this programme will contribute to the achievement of theCommunity objectives set out in Article 129 of the Treaty;
(5) Whereas Article 130r of the Treaty provides that Community policy on
the environment shall contribute to protecting human health;
(6) Whereas the prevention of pollution-related diseases has to include not
only measures aimed at the sources and concentrations of pollutantsand on limiting exposure, but also public health actions directed at thepublic to enable individuals to reduce exposure and mitigate adverse
effects on health and whereas data on health effects and on exposure
should be collected in parallel with data on concentrations of airpollutants;
(7) Whereas, in their Resolution of 11 November 1991 on health and the
environment (
5), the Council and the Ministers for Health, meeting
within the Council, invited the Commission, in close cooperation with
the competent authorities of the Member States, to take stock of theknowledge and experience available in the Member States, the!B
(1) OJ C 214, 16.7.1997, p. 7, andOJ C 156, 21.5.1998, p. 21.
(2) OJ C 19, 21.1.1998, p. 6.
(3) OJ C 64, 27.2.1998, p. 91.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 11 March 1998 (OJ C 104, 6.4.1998, p.
136), Council Common Position of 30 April 1998 (OJ C 227, 20.7.1998, p. 10) and
Decision of the European Parliament of 8.10.1998 (OJ C 328, 26.10.1998, p. 145).
Decision of the Council of 22 April 1999 and Decision of the European Parliament
of 14 April 1999.
(5) OJ C 304, 23.11.1991, p. 6.1999D1296 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 2
Community and international organisations regarding the relationship
between health and the environment;
(8) Whereas pollution-related diseases were identified as a priority area
for Community action in the Commission’ s communication of 24November 1993 on the framework for action in the field of publichealth;
(9) Whereas in its Resolution of 16 January 1996 on the Medium-Term
Social Action Programme 1995-1997 (
1) the European Parliament
asked the Commission to present, under the proper procedures, the
action programme on pollution-related diseases provided for in thatcommunication;
(10) Whereas, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, action on
matters which do not fall within the exclusive competence of the
Community, such as action on pollution-related diseases, should be
undertaken by the Community only if and insofar as, by reason of itsscale or effects, its objectives can be better achieved by theCommunity;
(11) Whereas this programme should contribute to the provision of
information to the public and specific groups and voluntary
organisations supporting persons directly or indirectly affected by
pollution-related diseases;
(12) Whereas the pr oposed measures in this programme will yield
Community added-value by bringing together activities alreadyundertaken in relative isolation at national level and by complementing
one another with significant results for the Community as a whole, by
contributing to the strengthening of solidarity and cohesion in theCommunity and by leading, where the need is recognised, to theestablishment of best-practice norms and standards;
(13) Whereas cooperation with international organisations competent in the
sphere of public health and with third countries should be fostered;
(14) Whereas a modus vivendi (
2) between the European Parliament, the
Council and the Commission concerning the implementing measures
for acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
189b of the Treaty was reached on 20 December 1994;
(15) Whereas this Decision lays down, for the entire duration of this
programme, a financial framework constituting the principal point ofreference, within the meaning of point 1 of the Declaration by the
European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March
1995 (
3), for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary
procedure;
(16) Whereas, in order to increase the value and impact of this programme,
there should be monitoring and continuous evaluation of the actionsundertaken with particular regard to their effectiveness and the
achievement of the objectives set, with a view, where appropriate, to
making the necessary adjustments;
(17) Whereas this programme should last three years in order to help to
develop policies and strategies in this field and to take into account anydevelopments that may take place in the general context of the
Community framework for action in the field of public health;
(18) Whereas it is appropriate to provide for an advisory committee
procedure for the implementation of this programme which is
appropriate to its limited duration and developmental nature,!B
(1) OJ C 32, 5.2.1996, p. 24.
(2) OJ C 102, 4.4.1996, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 102, 4.4.1996, p. 4.1999D1296 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 3
HA VE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Duration and general objective of the programme
1. A programme of Community action against diseases which are caused,
triggered or aggravated by environmental pollution, hereinafter referred to as
‘this programme’, is hereby adopted for the period from 1 January 1999 to
"M131 December 2002 3in the context of the framework for action in the
field of public health.
2. The general objective of this programme is to help to develop policies
and strategies, in the field of health and the environment, focusing on the
prevention of pollution-related diseases, including the improvement of
knowledge and understanding of health risks associated with them, by:
(a) improving information on pollution-related diseases; and
(b) improving knowledge and understanding of the assessment and manage-
ment of these diseases, and the effectiveness of preventive actions.
3. The actions to be implemented under this programme and their specific
objectives are set out in the Annex.
Article 2
Implementation
1. The Commission shall ensure implementation of the actions set out in the
Annex in close cooperation with the Member States, "M1in accordance
with the procedure laid down in Article 5a(2) 3.
2. The Commission shall cooperate with institutions and organisations
active in the field of pollution-related diseases.
Article 3
Consistency and complementarity
The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity
between the actions to be implemented under this programme and thoseimplemented under other relevant Community programmes and actions, in
particular the programme of Community action on health monitoring within
the framework for action in the field of public health (1997 to 2001) adoptedby Decision No 1400/97/EC of the European Parliament and of theCouncil (
1) and actions in the environmental and research fields.
Article 4
Budget
1. The financial framework for the implementation of the programme for
the period from 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2001 shall be EUR 3,9
million and for the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002,EUR 1,3 million.
2. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority
within the limits of the financial perspective.
Article 5
Implementing measures
The measures necessary for implementing this Decision, relating to the
matters referred to below, shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory
procedure referred to in Article 5a(2):
(a) the work programme;!B
(1) OJ L 193, 22.7.1997, p. 1.!M1
!B
!M11999D1296 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 4
(b) the criteria and procedures for selecting and financing projects under the
programme;
(c) the procedure for monitoring and continuous evaluation referred to in
Article 7.
Article 5a
Committee
1. the Commission shall be assisted by a committee.
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision
1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
3. The committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.
Article 6
International cooperation
1. Subject to Article 228 of the Treaty, in the course of implementing this
programme, cooperation with third countries and with international
organisations competent in the sphere of public health shall be encouraged
and implemented as regards the actions covered by this programme "M1in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 5a(2) 3.
2. This programme shall be open to participation by the following countries:
(a) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions provided for
in the EEA Agreement;
(b) the associated countries of central and eastern Europe in accordance with
the conditions laid down in the Europe Agreements, the Additional
Protocols to these Agreements and the decisions of the relevant
Association Councils;
(c) Cyprus which shall be funded by additional appropriations, in accordance
with procedures to be agreed with this country;
(d) Malta and Turkey which shall be funded by additional appropriations in
accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.
Article 7
Monitoring and evaluation
1. In the implementation of this Decision, the Commission shall take the
necessary measures to ensure the monitoring and continuous evaluation of
this programme, taking account of the general and specific objectives referred
to in Article 1 and in the Annex.
2. In the final year of operation of this programme, the Commission shall
submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a full evaluation reporttogether with its conclusions on the need for future actions. This report shallalso be submitted to the Economic and Social Committee and to the
Committee of the Regions.
3. The Commission shall incorporate in the report referred to in paragraph 2
information on Community financing in the various fields of action and on
complementarity with the other actions referred to in Article 3, as well as theresults of the evaluation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. The said
report should also address developments within the framework for
Community action in the field of public health, with regard to the field ofaction covered by this programme.!M1
!B
!M1
!B1999D1296 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 5
ANNEX
ACTIONS AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
I. ACTIONS TO IMPROVE INFORMATION ON POLLUTION-RELATED
DISEASES
Objective: to contribute towards a better understanding of the role of
pollutants in the causation and aggravation of diseases in the
Community.
1. Establishing priorities for the identification of those diseases in which
specific pollutants are thought to play a role, inter alia by comparing the
prevalence and/or incidence of such diseases with data on environ-mental factors in the different parts of the Community in order toestablish any relationship between them, and by making this informa-
tion known to the public.
2. Examining the quality of epidemiological data for these diseases and
identifying where data are lacking, with the aim of contributing toimproving the existing basis for developing further European coopera-tion in the epidemiological field and encouraging the continuation ofCommunity research, taking into account work carried out atinternational level, including any WHO studies.
3. Reviewing data currently available on the toxicology of pollutants
involved in these diseases and identifying gaps in knowledge which itwould be important to address, taking into account long-term effectsand possible synergies between pollutants.
II. ACTIONS TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE
ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF POLLUTION-RELATED DIS-
EASES
Objective: To improve the level of knowledge and understanding of the
assessment and management of pollution-related health risks.
1. Contributing to improve the comparability of data used in preventive
actions against pollution-related diseases, through exchanges ofinformation.
2. Supporting the exchange of information aimed at achieving better
public understanding of pollution-related health risks.
3. Promoting actions and exchanges of information on the methods of
increasing the level of knowledge of the general public and opinion-formers about pollution-related risks to health, their assessment andmanagement; promoting work on the public perceptions of pollution-related risks to health throughout the Community and and of the impacton pollution and health of the various policies; promoting, initially via
professionals, knowledge of behaviour patterns, ways of life and eating
habits that could reduce the health risks caused by various types ofpollution.!
B1999D1296 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 6