CONCLUSIONS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS FOR HEALTH OF THE MEMBER STATES MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL of 13 November 1992 concerning health education (92/C 326/02)

THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS FOR HEALTH OF THE MEMBER STATES MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

HAVING regard to the Treaties establishing the European Communities,

HAVING regard to the resolution of the Council and of the Ministers for Education meeting within the Council of 23 November 1988 concerning health education in schools (1),

HAVING regard to various resolutions, conclusions and decisions of the Council and the Ministers for Health meeting within the Council concerning health education particularly in schools, including: Decision 90/238/Euratom, ECSC, EEC of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council of 17 May 1990 adopting a 1990 to 1994 action plan in the context of the 'Europe against cancer' programme (2); Decision 91/317/EEC 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 (3); the resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council of 31 December 1990 on Community action to combat the use of drugs including the abuse of medicinal products, particularly in sport (4); the resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council of 31 December 1990 concerning an action programme on nutrition and health (5),

HAVING considered the communication from the Commission to the Council of Education Ministers on the implementation of the resolution of the Council and the Ministers for Health meeting within the Council of 23 November 1988 concerning health education in schools,

CONSIDERING that many illnesses and deaths are related to people's lifestyles and behaviour;

CONSIDERING that school is a vital setting for systematically developing a healthy lifestyle at an early age and presenting consistent messages on health education that will enable sickness and accidents to be reduced;

CONSIDERING that there are a variety of other settings in which health education also has a central role, including local communities, homes, hospitals and workplaces and that it is important that health messages in all such settings should reinforce each other and ensure effective health education, appropriately targeted at specific groups at all ages;

CONSIDERING that in planning and developing stronger cooperation between Member States at the Community level and with international organizations over health education it is important that good practice and possible models for better health education should be identified and disseminated in all settings;

CONSIDERING that institutions and people involved in health care, for example school doctors and nurses, can make an important contribution to the promotion of health education in schools;

WELCOME the Commission's communication and endorse the value of this initiative in strengthening cooperation between Member States in developing more effective health education;

INVITE the Commission to consider the opportunities for adopting any or all of the recommendations in its communication as models for the development of cooperation over health education in other settings, targeted effectively at specific groups at all ages;

EMPHASIZE the importance of close cooperation between health and education authorities and CONSIDER IT DESIRABLE that the most effective use be made of existing professional expertise in public health in Member States

- in planning effective health education in schools which reinforces and is reinforced by health education in other settings, and

- in explaining to children and young people the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

(1) OJ No C 3, 5. 1. 1989, p. 1.

(2) OJ No L 137, 30. 5. 1990, p. 31.

(3) OJ No L 175, 4. 7. 1991, p. 26.

(4) OJ No C 329, 31. 12. 1990, p. 4.

(5) OJ No C 329, 31. 12. 1990, p. 1.