1996D0645 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 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 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, education and
training within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996 to 2000)
(OJ L 95, 16.4.1996, p. 1)
Amended by:
OfficialJournal
No page date
►M1 Decision No 521/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Coun-
cilof 26 February 2001 L 79 1 17.3.2001
NB: This consolidated version contains references to the European unit of account and/or the ecu, which from 1 January
1999 should be understood as references to the euro — Council Regulation (EEC) No 3308/80 (OJ L 345, 20.12.1980,
p. 1) and CouncilRegul ation (EC) No 1103/97 (OJ L 162, 19.6.1997, p. 1).
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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, education and training within the framework for
action in the field of public health (1996 to 2000)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUR-
OPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
and in particular Article 129 thereof,
Having regard to the proposalfrom the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and SocialCommit-
tee (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 on 31 January
1996 by the Conciliation Committee,
(1) Whereas, pursuant to Article 3 (o) of the Treaty, Community
action must include a contribution towards the attainment of ahigh level of health protection; whereas Article 129 of theTreaty expressly provides for Community competence in thisfield insofar as the Community contributes to it by encouraging
cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by lend-
ing support to their action;
(2) Whereas the actions to be carried out must be undertakenwithin the framework for action in the field of public health setout by the Commission and take into account, as the Councilrequested in its Resolution of 27 May 1993 (
5), other actions
undertaken by the Community in the field of public health or
having an impact on public health;
(3) Whereas the Council, in its Resolution of 2 June 1994 (6)i n
response to the Commission communication of 24 November1993 on the framework for action in the field of public health,included health promotion, education and training among the
priority areas for action for which the Commission was invited
to bring forward proposals for action;
(4) Whereas, in their Resolution of 23 November 1988 concerninghealth education in schools (
7), the Counciland the Ministers
for Education meeting within the Councilemphasized that cer-tain eating habits, the uncontrolled use of some chemical sub-
stances and medicines, drug abuse, smoking and environmental
pollution have a harmful effect on health, also bearing in mindthe problems of safety and accident prevention;
(5) Whereas, in their Resolution of 3 December 1990 concerningan action programme on nutrition and health (
8), the Council
and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member
States meeting within the Councilunderl ined that the promotion1996D0645 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 252, 9. 9. 1994, p. 3, and OJ No C 135, 2. 6. 1995, p. 2.
(2) OJ No C 102, 24. 4. 1995, p. 15.
(3) OJ No C 210, 14. 8. 1995, p. 81.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 March 1995, (OJ No C 89, 10.
4. 1995, p. 72), CouncilCommon Position of 2 June 1995 (OJ No C 216,
21. 8. 1995, p. 21) and Decision of the European Parliament of 25 October
1995 (OJ No C 308, 20. 11. 1995). Decision of the European Parliament of
15 February 1996 (OJ No C 65, 4. 3. 1996) and CouncilDecision of 16February 1996.
(
5) OJ No C 174, 25. 6. 1993, p. 1.
(6) OJ No C 165, 17. 6. 1994, p. 1.
(7) OJ No C 3, 5. 1. 1989, p. 1.
(8) OJ No C 329, 31. 12. 1990, p. 1.
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of a healthy lifestyle as regards nutrition is vitally important to
enable people to make the necessary choices for ensuringappropriate nutrition in keeping with individualneeds;
(6) Whereas, in their Conclusions of 13 November 1992 (1), in
response to the Commission communication to the Councilof11 May 1992 on health education in schools, the Council andthe Ministers for Health of the Member States meeting within
the Council identified school as a vital setting for systematically
developing a healthy lifestyle at an early age that would enablesickness and accidents to be reduced; whereas they consideredthat there were a variety of other settings such as local commu-nities, homes, workplaces and hospitals, in which health educa-
tion had a centralrol e; whereas they invited the Commission to
strengthen cooperation between Member States in implementingeffective health education measures in the various settings;
(7) Whereas in its resolution of 19 November 1993 on public
health policy after Maastricht (2) the European Parliament for-
mulated a series of proposals for Community action in the fieldof accident prevention and prevention of cardiovascular diseaseswhich are not currently the subject of Community programmes;
(8) Whereas, in its Resolution of 2 June 1994 concerning cardio-vascular diseases (
3), the Councilinvited the Commission to
examine actions to encourage their prevention and further studyof the risk factors for such diseases;
(9) Whereas the results of the integrated approach adopted in the
joint World Health Organization — Council of Europe — Eur-
opean Community Project entitled ‘The European Network ofHealth-Promoting Schools’ are encouraging with respect toways of implementing health promotion in particular settings;
(10) Whereas it is recognized that socio-economic conditions such asurbanization, housing, unemployment and social exclusion haveto be taken into consideration in the promotion of health, parti-cularly for those living in deprived areas;
(11) Whereas health education and information are expressly men-tioned in the provisions of the Treaty dealing with publichealth, and constitute a priority for Community action in publichealth;
(12) Whereas, by reason of its scale and effects, Community actionin support of health promotion enables the objectives envisagedto be more effectively achieved;
(13) Whereas cooperation with the competent internationalorganiza-
tions and with non-member countries should be strengthened;
(14) Whereas a multiannual programme should be launched with
clear objectives for Community action, and priority measuresshould be selected, as well as appropriate mechanisms for the
evaluation of such action, with a view to promoting the health
of all the citizens of the Community;
(15) Whereas this programme must contribute to raising awarenessof health determinants and risk factors and encourage the devel-
opment of an integrated approach to health promotion;
(16) Whereas, from an operationalpoint of view, the activities
undertaken in the past in terms of both the establishment ofCommunity networks of non-governmentalorganizations and ofthe mobilization of all those involved in health promotion and
education should be safeguarded and developed;
(17) Whereas the programme must take account of past and current
measures implemented in the Member States either by the com-petent authorities or by other parties involved in health policy;1996D0645 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ No C 326, 11. 12. 1992, p. 2.
(2) OJ No C 329, 6. 12. 1993, p. 375.
(3) OJ No C 165, 17. 6. 1994, p. 3.
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(18) Whereas, however, possible duplication of effort should be
avoided by the promotion of the exchange of experience and by
the joint development of basic information modules for the gen-eral public, for health education and for training members ofthe health-care professions;
(19) Whereas the objectives of this programme and the actionsundertaken to implement it form part of the health protectionrequirements referred to in the third subparagraph of Article129 (1) of the Treaty and as such form a constituent part of the
Community's other policies;
(20) Whereas it is important that the Commission ensures implemen-
tation of this programme in close cooperation with the Member
States; whereas, to that end, provision should be made for a
procedure to ensure that Member States are fully involved inimplementing the plan;
(21) Whereas a modus vivendi between the European Parliament, the
Counciland the Commission concerning the impl ementing mea-sures for acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laiddown in Article 189b of the Treaty was concluded on 20December 1994;
(22) Whereas this Decision lays down, for the entire duration of thisprogramme, a financialframework constituting the principalpoint of reference, within the meaning of point 1 of the
Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and Com-
mission of 6 March 1995, for the budgetary authority duringthe annualbudgetary procedure;
(23) Whereas this programme should run for five years in order toallow sufficient time for actions to be implemented to achievethe objectives set;
(24) Whereas, in order to increase the value and impact of the actionprogramme, a continuous assessment of the measures underta-ken should be carried out, with particular regard to their effec-tiveness and the achievement of objectives at both nationalandCommunity level and, where appropriate, the necessary adjust-
ments should be made;
(25) Whereas responsibility for measures concerning sex educationin general, especially measures designed to further integrate
such education within schools, lies with the Member States,with due regard to their structures, especially schools,
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Establishment of the programme
1. A programme of Community action on health promotion, infor-
mation, education and training, hereinafter referred to as ‘the pro-gramme’, shall be adopted for the period 1 January 1996 to ►
M131
December 2002 ◄within the framework for action in the field of
public health.
2. The objective of the programme shall be to contribute towards
ensuring a high level of health protection and shall comprise actionsaimed at:
— encouraging the ‘health promotion’ approach in Member States'
health policies by lending support to various cooperation measures(exchanges of experience, pilot projects, networks, etc.),
— encouraging the adoption of healthy lifestyles and behaviour,— promoting awareness of risk factors and health-enhancing aspects,— encouraging intersectoral and multidisciplinary approaches to
health promotion, taking account of the socio-economic factorsand the physicalenvironment necessary for the heal th of the indi-vidual and the community, especially for disadvantaged groups.1996D0645 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 4
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3. The actions to be implemented under the programme and their
specific objectives are set out in the Annex under the following head-ings:
A. Health promotion strategies and structures
B. Specific prevention and health promotion measuresC. Health information
D. Health education
E. Vocational training in public health and health promotion.
Article 2
Implementation
1. The Commission shall ensure the implementation, in close coop-
eration with the Member States, of the actions set out in the Annex,►
M1in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 5a(2)
and (3)◄.
2. The Commission shall cooperate with the institutions and organi-
zations which are active in the field of health promotion, information,education and training.
Article 3
Budget
1. The financialframework for the impl ementation of the pro-
gramme for the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2000shall be EUR 35 million, for the period from 1 January 2001 to 31
December 2001, EUR 7,27 million, and for the period from 1 January
2002 to 31 December 2002, EUR 7,27 million.
2. The annualappropriations shal lbe authorized by the budgetary
authority within the limits of the financial perspective.
Article 4
Consistency and complementarity
The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and comple-
mentarity between actions to be implemented under the programmeand the other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, as part
of public health action or the fields of education and vocational train-
ing (Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci programmes), research (BiomedII) and health and safety at work.
Article 5
Implementing measures
The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision, relat-
ing to the matters referred to below shall be adopted in accordance
with the management procedure referred to in Article 5a(3):
(a) an annualwork programme indicating the priorities for action;
(b) the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting and finan-
cing projects under the programme, including those involving
cooperation with internationalorganisations competent in the fiel dof public health and participation of the countries referred to inArticle 6(2);
(c) the evaluation procedure;
(d) the arrangements for dissemination and transfer of results;
(e) the arrangements for cooperating with the institutions and organi-
sations referred to in Article 2(2).1996D0645 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 5
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The necessary measures for implementing this Decision as regards
other matters shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory proce-dure referred to in Article 5a(2).
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. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of
Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions ofArticle 8 thereof.
The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall
be set at two months.
4. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.
Article 6
International cooperation
1. In the course of implementing the programme, cooperation with
non-member countries and with internationalorganizations competent
in the field of public health, in particular the World Health Organiza-tion and the Councilof Europe as wel las non-governmentalorganiza-tions active in the areas covered by this programme, will be encour-aged and implemented ►
M1in accordance with the procedures laid
down in Article 5a(2) and (3) ◄.
2. This programme shall be open to participation by the following
countries:
(a) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions pro-
vided for in the EEA Agreement;
(b) the associated countries of centraland eastern Europe in accor-
dance with the conditions laid down in the Europe Agreements,
the AdditionalProtocol s to these Agreements and the decisions ofthe 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 appropria-
tions in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.
Article 7
Monitoring and evaluation
1. In implementing this Decision the Commission, acting in coop-
eration with the Member States, shall take all the necessary measuresto ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the actions of the pro-
gramme, as provided for in Article 1.
2. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and
the Councilan interim report in Jul y 1998 and a finalreport uponcompletion of the programme. These reports shall include the resultsof the evaluation referred to in paragraph 1. These reports shall alsobe submitted to the Economic and SocialCommittee and the Commit-tee of the Regions.1996D0645 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 6
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ANNEX
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME ON HEALTH PROMOTION
(1996 to 2000)
A. HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGIES AND STRUCTURES
ObjectiveTo encourage the evaluation of the impact of health promotion policies and
instruments and the development of a health promotion approach in the
Member States by promoting the devising and assessment of health promo-
tion strategies and dissemination of the best practices.
Actions1. Surveys and comparative analyses of the impact of Community and
national health promotion policies and instruments and of health promo-
tion structures and strategies and the assessment of the latter; activities
to encourage and support cooperation between Member States on various
strategic aspects of public health and health promotion.
2. Support for transnational networks of national, regional or local health
promotion bodies, adopting an integrated approach (i.e. an approach cov-
ering the various determinants, contexts and population groups) and pro-
motion of joint activities and projects.
B. SPECIFIC PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION MEASURES
ObjectiveTo improve knowledge, particularly in conjunction with measures under the
Biomed programme, of the situation and the problem of health promotion
in relation to certain risk factors and health determinants and to certain dis-
advantaged social groups. To promote intersectoral and multidisciplinary
approaches to health promotion directed at vulnerable or disadvantaged
groups.
Measures3. Support for integrated health promotion measures and projects relating
more specifically to groups which are disadvantaged as a result of their
vulnerability or social exclusion, of social and cultural differences or of
living in unfavourable areas or environments, together with measures to
combat exclusion and precarious situations.
4. Examination of the role of nutrition and other life-style factors in the
etiology of diseases and information to the public to improve under-
standing of basic nutritionalprincipl es and of new techniques and meth-
ods of presenting and preparing foodstuffs.
5. Promotion of analysis, evaluation and exchange of experience and infor-
mation and support for actions in respect of innovative measures for the
prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, taking
account of the risk factors for such diseases.
6. Support for exchanges of experience and information concerning the
rational use of medicines, in particular generic medicines and self-medi-
cation, in cooperation with generalpractitioners and pharmacists.
Exchange of experience on providing the public with information on the
use of medicines, in particular medicines available without prescription.
7. Promotion of examination, assessment and exchanges of experience and
support for actions concerning measures to prevent alcohol abuse and
the health and social consequences thereof.
8. Support for measures to promote regular physical activity and to reach
sound physicaland mentalhygiene practices.
9. Support for studies on ageing populations in the European Union and
promotion of exchanges of experience and information on the prevention
of age-related illnesses in conjunction with the other specific pro-
grammes.
C. HEALTH INFORMATION
ObjectiveTo improve knowledge of mechanisms for devising health messages and
assessing health information methods and encourage an exchange of infor-
mation and documentation between professionals and those responsible for
public health and health promotion policies.1996D0645 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 7
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Measures
10. Support for and coordination of work in the Member States to improve
knowledge of the psychological, sociological and cultural mechanisms
and the economic factors involved and of information methods to
encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles; support for the assessment
of results and for dissemination of the best practices.
11. Surveys of public opinion on various aspects of health promotion
(Eurobarometer survey) and support for the preparation and assessment
of specific information campaigns including those coordinated at Com-
munity level or in several Member States.
12. Support for the development of a European infrastructure, for example
in the form of transnationalnetworks, reference centres containing
information and documentation on public health and health promotion
for use by professionals, administrators and decision-makers in the field
of public health, and dissemination to interested parties of information
on the Community's activities in this field.
D. HEALTH EDUCATION
Objective
To encourage greater integration of health education in schools, including
sex education; to foster the development and dissemination of the best
health education experiments and methods tailored to different contexts
(e.g. school, work and leisure) and different target groups (e.g. children,
adolescents and young adults, and workers).
Measures13. Exchanges of experience between Member States concerning the devel-
opment and distribution of appropriate health education programmes,
teaching materials and modules. Support for information campaigns,
demonstration projects and innovative experiments aimed at promoting
healthy lifestyles and responsible behaviour including support for the
European Network of Health-Promoting Schools in cooperation with
the WHO and the Councilof Europe.
14. Support for, coordination and evaluation of health education projects
which are aimed at young persons and adolescents who have left the
schoolsystem and are devised and impl emented either by official
bodies or by private associations and non-governmentalorganizations
in settings such as sport and leisure activities and socio-cultural activity
centres.
15. Support for innovative means of providing continuing structured health
education, involving distance teaching and information technologies,
for adults and the elderly.
16. Support for health education measures in the workplace, particularly in
relation to nutrition and the risks involved in tobacco and alcohol con-
sumption, as well as mental health factors, including prevention of
stress-related risks.
E. VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH PRO-
MOTION
ObjectiveTo help to familiarize the various categories of health staff, those who
decide on and administer health policy or action and those in the front line
of health promotion (e.g. teachers, educators, social workers) with knowl-
edge, ideas and methods relating to public health, prevention, health promo-
tion, information and health education.
Measures17. Review and assessment of existing structures and training schemes in
public health and health promotion and compilation of a European
directory. Support for cooperation between schools of public health,
universities and bodies providing training in this area with a view to
the development of common training courses and exchanges of students
and teaching staff in conjunction with existing education and training
schemes.
18. Promotion of cooperation beween Member States on the content of
training courses and training activities in the fields of public health and
health promotion for professionals, administrators and decision-makers,
emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches (including social, economic,
psychological and environmental aspects).1996D0645 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 8
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19. Support for training activities relating to health education in schools
aimed at teachers, instructors and other staff concerned including devel-
opment of modules, teaching aids and educational materials.
20. Encouragement and support for exchanges of experience relating to the
training of health professionals in health promotion and the early detec-
tion and prevention of diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, and
in identifying and controlling risk factors and situations, including those
linked to alcohol abuse.1996D0645 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 9